Pit Stop Vol. 2-Venue Security

by Jenn Cohen

Ahhh, Venue Security . . . they just don’t let you have any fun; always telling you, ‘no.’ You’re just there to have a good time, right? Hang out with friends, get wasted, get rowdy in the pit, and enjoy some music. Right?

Often times, in the confines of a photo pit, there will be anywhere from two to four security guards, (depending on the size of the venue, and the crowd that the band draws). They stand statuesque, on high alert, constantly scanning the crowd, ready to take action, if/when necessary. These actions can include saving your ass from hitting the floor as you crowd surf toward the stage (after you decided to put your safety, literally, in the hands of total strangers); collecting your wallet, phone, shoe, shirt, whatever you may have lost along your surfing adventure; as well as picking up your “friend” who has taken too much “insert drug here,” just passed out, and needs medical attention.

It seems that at every show, some smart-ass concertgoer feels it’s necessary to puff up their chest, and give venue security a hard time about one thing or another. After the show, this same person can be found outside the venue, ranting about what dicks the security guys were for kicking him out, and that he didn’t anything wrong, (come on, now).

What you should take into account, is that part of the reason you leave a concert feeling like it was the ‘greatest show ever,’ is because you’re leaving in one piece. You’re smiling because you didn’t get dropped on your head, the drunk guy/girl who was 86’d wasn’t there to pick a fight with you, and therefore, you were able to enjoy the show without incident.

Often times, when I’m shooting from the photo pit, I’m not able to keep track of what’s happening behind me in the crowd, (as I am there to photograph the band). And security has saved my ass many times from the people being launched over the crowd toward the stage. Unless security is there to grab them, their last stop would be crashing into a photographer, or landing on their head in the photo pit. Both bad endings.

So consider this: What if security isn’t there to kill your buzz? What if they’re actually on your side? What if you took a second to think, ‘Man, these guys put up with a lot of shit,’ and maybe you can just smile, and not be a dick at the next show, or stop your friend from being a dick at the next show. Then everyone has the potential leave what might very well be, ‘the greatest show ever.’

Tags: venue security

Category: Shop Talk