Music festivals, like Rolling Loud, are starting up once more, and eager concert-goers are ready to listen to live music again. With that being said, now is the time to start thinking about your music festival security strategy.
Festival security goes far beyond ensuring guests are safe and following guidelines, you are also protecting performers and keeping them safe as well.
If you’ve ever worked as music festival security or event staff, you know how essential a good communication plan is. Anything can happen in a matter of seconds so it’s important everyone stays connected.
A part of your communication plan needs to include two-way radios and accessories.
Why Should Music Festivals Security Use Two-Way Radios?
Two-way radios have channels that let users hear all transmissions when on that channel. Radios usually operate in half-duplex which means only one person can talk at a time. A big security team especially at festivals and concerts can share these channels and know what is happening at all times with no delay.
Two-way radios can vary depending on manufacture and pricing. Shop around to find the best radio for you.
Radios are oftentimes used with accessories like speaker microphones and surveillance kits that only help enhance your communication. We’ll go over the kinds of two-way radio accessories every security officer must-have.
What Radio Accessories Should I Use as Music Festival Security?
Two-way radio accessories are designed to help enhance the way you communicate with your radio. Below are some accessories Security should be used during music festivals and concerts.
- Receive Only Earpieces and Surveillance Kits
- Batteries
- Speaker Microphones
- Antennas
1. Recieve Only Earpieces and Surveillance Kits
Concerts are loud with the music and large crowds. It can be hard to hear incoming radio transmissions with loud noise.
Earpieces and surveillance kits take radio communication from your radio right to your ear, making it easier to hear in loud noise. It also helps keep conversations covert without anyone hearing.
Surveillance kits, unlike receive only earpieces, have push-to-talk buttons and mics to talk back without picking up the radio.
2. Batteries
Festivals go for long hours of the day and into the night. A part of your communication plan needs to consider how long your radio batteries last and if you have enough to change them out when they die. You don’t want to be without radio communication halfway through the festival.
Two-way radios have rechargeable batteries that are designed to last all day long. Look for batteries with a high capacity. The higher the capacity, the longer your battery will last.
3. Speaker Microphones
Speaker microphones make it easy for hands-free communication. Usually clipped onto a uniform or shoulder, speaker mics let you easily talk without picking up the radio.
Speaker microphones come with a push-to-talk that lets you talk right into the mic and broadcast it on the radio. Mics have noise cancelation technology that blocks outside noise, isolating only your voice for clear communication.
Some speaker microphones allow for 2.5mm or 3.5mm jacks where you can use a receive-only earpiece with it. Any radio transmission that comes into the speaker microphone will come in through the earpiece, making it easier to hear.
4. Antennas
Festivals are huge places that hold thousands of people. Two-way radios only work across a certain distance. Antennas help give your radio more distance, letting you talk further away. Many festivals are typically outside making a VHF antenna a great solution.
VHF antennas are great for open fields, without many obstacles like buildings.
Waveband Communications manufacturers two-way radio accessories for major radio models including Motorola, Harris, Kenwood, BK Technologies, and Icom. We help improve security communications through the help of two-way radios. Interested in learning which accessories you need, shop now, or call us at 800-806-1076.
