Showsec secures 2010 Camp Bestival Party Weekend
A ¡°delicate balance of maintaining safety and security¡± coupled with a very customer-focused operation for festival organisers Rob da Bank and John Hughes (as well as the Loud Sound production team) characterised Showsec¡¯s involvement with this year¡¯s Camp Bestival.
The team of 280 event security professionals from Showsec¡¯s offices across the UK, including 80 from the new South Coast area, ensured that all visitors were greeted in friendly fashion by knowledgeable and friendly staff.
The 2010 Camp Bestival event ran over the weekend of July 30-31 and 1 August at Lulworth Castle, set against the backdrop of England¡¯s dramatic Jurassic coastline in Dorset. The event is inspired by the halcyon days of summers past. If you were to picture the 1950s British Holiday Camp with a twist then that¡¯s what Camp Bestival is all about.
A family-oriented event, there was live music and a boutique campsite plus an area for children with story telling around campfires, an Insect Circus, a kid¡¯s summer party and dressing up games.
History of Camp BestivalThe ¡®world of Bestival¡¯ was born out of ten fun years of pioneering music events and record releases courtesy of Rob da Bank¡¯s Sunday Best empire.
The BBC Radio 1 DJ had a dream to one day create his vision of how the modern day festival should be. Along with creative director and wife Josie da Bank and co founders/partners John and Ziggy from Get Involved, that dream was realised with Bestival and then further fulfilled with Camp Bestival.
Speaking about the 2010 event, Showsec¡¯s southern regional manager Steve Reynolds explained: ¡°Customer care was a high priority for everyone. We worked with all stakeholders to create a plan and briefed staff very thoroughly in that area.¡±
Reynolds went on to say: ¡°It was imperative we created a relaxed and safe environment for the 25,000 capacity crowd from the moment they arrived on site. Parents with small children had travelled for hours, so all our members of staff were encouraged to welcome guests courteously, familiarise themselves with all key locations for giving directions and to be patient at all times.¡±
Co-ordinating operations with local agenciesShowsec¡¯s festival security manager Tracey McCarthey co-ordinated operations with local agencies and implemented a seamless family oriented security operation.
McCarthey told SMT Online: ¡°We carefully selected staff for the specialist audience profile comprised of 10,000 children and 15,000 adults. Andy Edwards supervised the Kids Field, and with so many attractions staff kept a constant vigilance for lost children, with clear communication through radio communication and the event Control Room resulting in all families being quickly reunited.¡±
Apparently, Mr Tumble was the star attraction of the dynamic Kids Field, which was complete with an interactive circus, art and kiddies¡¯ catwalks to keep the children amused.
Adults were entertained by bands including The Fall, Madness and Tinchy Stryder on the main stage. This audience spanned every group from the old experienced gig-goers to the younger, smaller and inexperienced members of the audience.
With some boisterous teenagers also ¡®in the mix¡¯, this profile required attentive monitoring by the pit team as crowds inevitably became excited at the front of the stage.
