A ‘Who’s Who?’ of pop and rock music descended on Belfast last weekend to celebrate the best of the past year in a glittering awards show that was watched by more than 600 million viewers around the world through the global TV network.
Eleven live performances and a host of international stars took pride of place in Belfast’s Odyssey Arena, as MTV Europe Music Awards gongs were scooped by performers including Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber.
Across town, Irish favourites Snow Patrol and US singer-songwriter Jason Derulo played to 15,000 fans on an outdoor stage at Belfast’s City Hall, while the Red Hot Chili Peppers rocked a third stage at Ulster Hall.
Showsec director Simon Battersby was the 2011 MTV EMA director of security. He told Info4Security: “Months in advance of the events we were putting together the detailed security plans; working with the show producers, the local venues, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Belfast City Council. With such a high profile show visiting Belfast there have been numerous challenges we have overcome to ensure the safe and successful delivery of the EMAs.”
Battersby described the remit as “a particularly complex security operation” requiring extensive engagement with numerous stakeholders.
“The fact that we deployed over 1,000 accredited people on the main show alone gives an appreciation of the size of the production and number of VIP movements we had to manage,” he explained.
Richard Godfrey, executive producer for the 2011 MTV EMA, added: “Security is a huge priority for MTV and, given the scale of this year’s triple-location event, the calibre of international artists and the sheer number of crew and guests, security was a huge and logistically complex task.”
He continued: “Simon Battersby and the Showsec team, along with the PSNI, were outstanding and ensured a faultless and smooth-running security process both in the lead-up and on the night itself.”
Support for the live music industry
Recently, Showsec joined some of the UK’s leading music business professionals when the company sponsored the Live UK Summit and Live UK Music Business Awards for 2011.
The prestigious event, organised by Live UK Events (sister company to Audience Media and the publisher of LIVE UK and Audience magazines), is the only event in the UK dedicated to supporting the country’s contemporary live music industry.
Featuring two days of seminars focusing on topics integral to the future of the industry, and culminating in an esteemed award ceremony with categories including Best Tour Manager, Best Venue Teamwork, Best Festival and Unsung Hero, the event was attended by high profile players from across the sector.
Simon Battersby said: “One of our core business areas is live music. The Live UK Summit and awards offers a great opportunity to spend time with many of our peers. It’s also the perfect environment to discuss the issues affecting our industry and, hopefully, continue to drive ongoing improvements in the live sector. We’d also like to extend huge congratulations to the winners of the awards, and say ”Well done!’ to all of those nominated.”
Showsec provided Security Industry Authority-licensed security professionals to ensure the smooth running of the two-day event.
On board for private Kasabian gig
Of late, Showsec has also implemented a unique event security plan and operation for a private Kasabian gig held inside a Boeing 747 300!
The company was contracted by organisers VEVO just four days before the band’s exclusive performance, so focused immediately on planning a detailed operation.
Showsec’s project manager for the event, Stuart Kennerley, lead a team of ten carefully selected Security Industry Authority-licensed staff to create a safe environment for the show.
The location of the gig was kept secret from 250 attendees, all of whom were the winners of a Kasabian website competition or key members of the media. Fans were initially asked to meet up at Leicester City Football Club’s ground where they were welcomed by members of the Showsec team, who gave them wristbands and escorted them via coach to the secret destination.
Guests were greeted at Bruntingthorpe Airfield by a separate Showsec team and treated to traditional hog roast before being ushered onboard the Boeing 747, which had been specially adapted to create the unique performance space for the chart-topping rock band.
Kennerley commented: “We worked with VEVO to consider all eventualities regarding everyone’s safety for this unusual and highly secretive event in just four days. Writing risk assessments, we needed to make contingency plans for a gig on board a Boeing 747 on an operational airfield.”
He added: “The short turnaround combined with the need for secrecy meant that, apart from myself, the rest of the Showsec team didn’t even know which band were playing.”
Kennerley told Info4Security: “The success of the operation is testament to the expertise within the whole event management team. I was delighted with the extremely professional attitude and manner in which our staff carried out their work.”