The Beginner’s Guide to Nightclub Security
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Table of Contents
Nightclubs are pulsing with music, mixed drinks, and attractive singles, but they’re also hot spots for intoxicated patrons, out-of-control crowds, pickpockets, and drug activity. These security risks can quickly jeopardize the safety and reputation of your business.
Most people come to your club to party and mingle – not create trouble. Of course, one bad actor is all it takes to have a dangerous situation on your hands. The only way to protect your customers, employees, and property is to hire a specialized security team to monitor the premises.
Below, we cover the biggest security risks facing your club. You’ll also discover tips for hiring and training security staff, installing surveillance cameras, and more.
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7 Nightclub Security Risks You Can’t Ignore
Here’s a rundown of the biggest security threats nightclub owners can’t afford to ignore.
Theft in Your Nightclub
Crowded clubs are lightning rods for theft. While your employees are busy attending to customers, anything from liquor bottles to money could disappear.
Point-of-sale locations where people hand over their cash and credit cards, such as bars, are especially vulnerable to theft. Individual nightclub patrons and staff are at an increased risk for someone to pickpocket their valuables, such as handbags, wallets, watches, and jewelry.
People are less likely to steal when security guards are visible. Video surveillance systems can also deter such activity.
Vandalism is a Large Risk for Nightclubs
The destruction and damage of property is always possible when there’s a crowd. Vandalism can be accidental, intentional, or the result of intoxication or negligence.
Sometimes it’s as simple as a patron or employee using a permanent marker to scribble on a bathroom wall. But nightclub vandalism can be as extreme as damaged stereo equipment, shattered cocktail glasses, broken windows, smashed doors, and graffiti-painted exteriors.
To discourage vandalism at your club, install video surveillance systems and ensure security personnel are regularly monitoring the area.
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Physical Altercations are Far Too Common in Nightclubs
Because people are drinking, the risk of bar fights and sexual assaults at night clubs is high. Your security team should undergo rigorous bouncer training and be prepared to intervene if things get physical. If you hire security employees with martial arts or other self-defense expertise, all the better.
Organizations like Safe Bars can also teach your employees how to create safe nightlife environments free from spiked drinks, sexual assaults, and similar threats.
External Threats
Mass shootings can happen anywhere, and crowded nightclubs are no exception. In 2016, a mass shooter entered Orlando’s Pulse nightclub and killed 49 people.
Your bouncers can prevent shootings by checking people for firearms and other weapons at the door. Metal detectors are highly recommended and should deter patrons from carrying guns.
Underage Drinking is a Daily Security Concern
Club owners caught serving alcohol to underage patrons can lose their business and liquor licenses. Use fake ID detection technology and train your security team to spot fake IDs.
Drug Activity
Let’s be honest: people go to clubs to party. For some clubgoers, partying and drug use go hand in hand. Many patrons visit the restroom in an effort to conceal their drug use, but some are brazen enough to use or sell them on the nightclub floor. You can deter them by training your security guards to recognize suspicious drug-related behavior.
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Intoxicated People
Training your bartenders to not over-serve patrons can go a long way to reduce security risks related to intoxication. Then again, some people’s alcohol tolerance is lower than others, and drug use can create just as many problems.
It’s important to have security guards who can monitor for fights and disturbances and make sure no one gets too out of hand. Security personnel and bouncers can also remove troublemakers who put others in danger, as well as restrain violent offenders until law enforcement arrives.
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What Kind of Security Does Your Nightclub Need?
The size and location of your club will determine the scope of the security precautions you should take.
Bigger clubs might need several security guards who can regularly walk around to monitor different areas and rooms. Clubs in high-crime areas may need extra security staff at the front door, while small clubs in low-crime areas might be able to get away with one front-door security guard who can check IDs.
Clubs in high crime areas or college towns, where underage drinking is quite common, may also consider putting an ID scanning system in place. ID scanning systems can verify that all IDs are legal and valid and can screen out guests that aren’t allowed on the premises.
Knowing how many security guards to hire is the best way to keep your club safe without overspending. Too many guards can make patrons feel unsafe, sending a message that your establishment is dangerous and needs considerable protection. On the other hand, not hiring enough guards can make it trickier to notice and address security risks.
It’s best to assign nightclub security staff to specific roles, such as:
- Doorman: Checks IDs and permits entry.
- Door bouncer: Handles would-be patrons who make a scene or won’t leave when denied entry.
- Floor bouncer: Removes patrons who misbehave once they’re already inside.
- Frisker: Checks guests for weapons upon entry.
- Surveillance guard: Monitors all video camera feeds from a back room or another secure location.
Depending on the size and layout of your nightclub, you may also want to designate specific staff members as bar security, dance floor security, or lounge security.
How and Where to Set Up Nightclub Security Cameras
Every nightclub can benefit from installing a CCTV monitoring system. Video surveillance cameras should be placed at all:
- Authorized doors and exits
- Emergency entry and exit points
- Point-of-sale systems, computers, and cash drawers
- Areas where inventory like food and alcohol are stored, as well as coat checks and rooms containing employees’ personal items
- Exterior restroom doors or corridors leading to restrooms
Nightclubs are dark, which means that any cameras you install must be optimized for low-light conditions.
Cameras should cover all areas of the club, but it’s unlawful to place them in certain locations. Do not place cameras in bathrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms for employees, or any other location where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Once your cameras are properly installed around your club, be sure to perform routine tests, maintenance, and inspections to make sure they’re functioning and capturing the best-possible image quality.
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Why Nightclubs Should Hire Private Security Service
Professional private security companies don’t only staff your establishment with physical security guards. They provide a wide variety of services that you might not even realize.
Conduct a Security Risk Assessment
The first thing your professional security team will do is complete a thorough risk assessment to identify all weak points in your security system.
Security teams will identify parts of the club that need monitoring via surveillance cameras. They’ll consider the surrounding neighborhood to determine how many interior and exterior security guards you may need. They’ll assess the entire perimeter of the club, including any parking lots or pathways that need better protection.
Nightclubs often contain lots of expensive DJ equipment, speakers, and lighting equipment, all of which increase the risks for fire hazards. Your security team will assess the placement and location of such equipment and may recommend the need for fire watch security. They may also recommend moving some of that equipment out of high-traffic areas.
Install Alarms
Professional security services can install alarm systems and access control systems, including interior and exterior door alarms.
Exterior door alarms notify you if someone tries to break in after hours or gain unlawful entry from an unauthorized access point. Interior door alarms are essential for emergency exit doors and fire safety doors that should remain closed unless there is a fire or immediate emergency.
Control Access
Security guards and bouncers at your front door can control who enters and who doesn’t. This is critical for many reasons.
All establishments, no matter how big or small, must abide by maximum occupancy laws for fire safety. However, security guards at the front door may decide to permit entry to even fewer people to provide everyone inside with a safer and more comfortable experience.
Bouncers and front door staff can also deny entry for a variety of other factors. These include invalid ID, not meeting the dress code, or already looking or behaving intoxicated.
Provide Crowd Control
It takes more than a “big guy” at the door to provide your club with proper security protection. Professional security companies can provide you with security personnel who have undergone the proper security training programs.
These training programs teach them about crowd control, communication skills to de-escalate conflicts, and how to patrol and monitor the club to detect and thwart all types of suspicious activity. They are also trained on use of force laws and know what they are and aren’t allowed to do with unruly patrons and unwanted guests.
Establish Emergency Protocols
Security officers establish emergency protocols and put plans in place to address any dangerous situation that could arise. From active shooters to medical emergencies, your security team will create strategic plans for evacuation and emergency response.
In addition to putting these plans in place, your security company can also train your staff on the proper protocols.
Install, Monitor, and Maintain Camera Systems
Private security firms can install your camera system and provide both in-house and remote 24/7 monitoring. You can rest assured that your nightclub is under the watchful eye of video surveillance.
The presence of visible cameras is an excellent crime deterrent. Captured footage can also help you review crimes and identify suspects after an incident occurs.
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People go to nightclubs to dance, enjoy some drinks, meet new people, and gather with friends. As a nightclub owner, you have a duty to make your establishment a safe environment. With well-trained nightclub security guards and up-to-date security systems in place, you can create a safe and secure environment where your patrons will want to return time and time again.
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