Monday, January 11, 2010

Crowd Management-Taming the Beast


Managing a crowd is like managing a monster. A massive, ferocious monster with a never ending supply of aggressive fodder to throw at its enemies. Although vicious and deadly, this monster is predictable and certainly can be tamed. Knowing the monster’s wants, needs and capabilities as well as its expectations, limitations and motivations; will give the monster tamer a series of indicators and tools for managing the beast that is the crowd.
The ABC’s of Crowd Management
A: Access
Act to limit the crowd’s ACCESS to one’s self, team, unauthorized areas or one’s protectee/ s by…
B: Barriers
Erecting or presenting BARRIERS, gaining and maintaining high ground, and circumventing the mass’s capabilities with evasive routes and movement while implementing…
C: Control
Dominant CONTROL of the crowd through the use of deterrent measures, proactive manipulation, problematic subject nullification/ apprehension/ ejection, audio volume, lighting control, posturing and in some cases, strategic shows of force.
Managing a calm and happy crowd is likened to a shepherd controlling his flock. All the sheep fall in line and bleat as they mill around in accordance with the herder's commands. The ante is upped however when dealing with a more energetic or rowdy crowd. This is more akin to corralling a herd of cattle. Controllable yet dangerous if you fall off your mount. Do not fall off of the horse. Stay in control. Stay above the crowd. More to come on this...
Gonkafied
Bryan M. Seaver

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