Elijah Shaw Elijah Shaw is one of the USA’s top bodyguards. He has protected most of the biggest names in Hollywood. As CEO of Icon Services Corporation, a U.S. based security agency which provides Executive Protection services, Elijah Shaw is one of the more recognizable “bodyguard to the stars”. Elijah is President of the […]
Interview With: Elijah Shaw
Interview With: Elijah Shaw Elijah Shaw is one of the USA’s top bodyguards. He has protected most of the biggest names in Hollywood. As CEO of Icon Services Corporation, a U.S. based security agency which provides Executive Protection services, Elijah Shaw is one of the more recognizable “bodyguard to the stars”. […]
Keeping Your Edge – Protectors & The Recording Process
An excerpt from the best-selling book, An Introduction to Celebrity Protection & Touring by Elijah Shaw & Dale June. To get the full book, order at Amazon, Barnes & Nobles or Ebooks.com. Limited Signed Editions available at www.ArmsLengthAway.com
Almost without question, if you are a musician, the recording process is the part you love. This is where they get to be creative; it’s where they take an abstract concept and make it a sonic work of art, one that hopefully will generate revenue. While it can be hard work for the artists, for most it’s a labor of love. They have the ability to get paid and earn a living for doing what they enjoy most.
Celebrity Protection and Touring – Book Review
An Introduction to Celebrity Protection and Touring is a book by Elijah Shaw and Dale June and is reviewed here by Miguel DeCoste
Celebrity Protection and Touring
An Introduction to Celebrity Protection and Touring, is a new book by Circuit Editor, Elijah Shaw and regular contributor, Dale June. The book offers a peek behind the scenes of the close protection industry, more commonly known as the bodyguard business.
Issue 38
In this issue, we bring you, Insider Threat – did you know that the majority of security threats come from internal sources? In Covert Protective Details we’re considering the benefits of operating under the radar, and Tony Scotti explains The Science Behind Protection, On The Move. Also in Issue 38, we’re debunking the myth of age restriction in I am a Late Developer, Elijah Shaw warns us, Don’t Get Comfortable, we learn How to Spot a Vehicle-Borne IED, and we hear from newly published author, Garry Curtis, in The Silent Sniper. Also, in this issue, Orlando Wilson concludes his feature on Countering the Threat of Snipers, and we have the fourth instalment in our Church Security feature.
Issue 35
In this issue we’re leading with a great article from Orlando Wilson who offers advice on how to stay ahead of the threat by thinking like a criminal. In ‘Trouble Ahead’ Joel Whittaker reports from the front line on the desperate situation in Mosul. From his in-depth analysis of recent attacks, Mark ‘six’ James delivers a fantastic article on how to stay safe when confronted with an active shooter situation at an airport. Elsewhere, we consider the Task, Threat & Environment mindset, Elijah Shaw shares a unique moment from a glittering career and finally, we look at the increasing need for church security. All this plus our regular features make for a packed and informative issue of your favourite magazine for security professionals.
Issue 35
In this issue we’re leading with a great article from Orlando Wilson who offers advice on how to stay ahead of the threat by thinking like a criminal. In ‘Trouble Ahead’ Joel Whittaker reports from the front line on the desperate situation in Mosul. From his in-depth analysis of recent attacks, Mark ‘six’ James delivers a fantastic article on how to stay safe when confronted with an active shooter situation at an airport. Elsewhere, we consider the Task, Threat & Environment mindset, Elijah Shaw shares a unique moment from a glittering career and finally, we look at the increasing need for church security. All this plus our regular features make for a packed and informative issue of your favourite magazine for security professionals.
Issue 1
The very first issue of the Circuit Magazine features an Interview with Industry Icon and NABA President Elijah Shaw. In issue 1, we also take a look at Training an Untrained Negotiator and different Body Armour Options for Protection Specialists. Additionally, we bring you articles on; Dress and Behaviour, the Top Ten Tips for Finding Work, Somalia – Country Profile, My First Protection Job and much more!
Keeping Your Edge: Listen in Totality
Someone said this quote to me a long time ago and it really resonated. It was one of those things where the more I thought about what it actually meant, the more insight I gained from just those few short words. The quote itself originated from the American poet, Maya Angeolu. And while it’s very unlikely social media was on her mind, or even a thing, when she drafted it, I think it’s very fitting on how it plays into society today.
The Great Divide – Keeping Your Edge
In many cases this occurs with such frequency that it not only paints a part of the picture of the individual, it becomes the entire painting. In fairness or not, the act of retransmitting news media can be interpreted as an endorsement of the totality of the views. Adding an additional layer, readers/viewers are allowed to engage and interact with the news in ways that far surpass the past. Gone are the days where you could agree or disagree with a newsperson and have to mail a letter into the editor in the hopes that it would be read, and in extremely small cases, reprinted.
Keeping Your Edge: Building a Solid Foundation
Longevity, consistency and remaining relevant are some primary goals of all protectors. These factors are important when establishing a new contract and providing services for a new client. But what is equally important is the mindset that goes into those first days and weeks on the assignment. As such, I wanted to get the personal perspective of Vantrell Wilson, a close protection agent who I have trained with and worked alongside of for years now.
Careering-Ending Accident Turns Tragedy into Triumph
Sometimes you have a plan, and then the universe has something different in mind. After almost seventeen years in the private security industry, a little over 3 years ago I decided to start my own security company UPPER ECHELON SERVICES. I was making great progress building the company. Then in June of 2017, I was involved in a motorcycle accident that would change my life forever. I ended up suffering from an irreparable compound break on my right foot and ultimately blowing my heel to dust.
No Cutting: Get To The Back Of The Line
Having traveled to over 30 countries, building executive protection and estate teams, embarking on 10 major worldwide tours and transitioning from field agent to Director of Security. Despite my successes, I’ve still felt like a student at best, but now finally considering myself a Specialist. Naively, many young protectors are eager to consider themselves “specialists” without undergoing the proper mentorship and gaining the practical experience needed to hold this title.
Keeping Your Edge: What’s the End Game?
I’m sipping a Pina Colada (virgin) and staring at the ocean with the waves cresting about 10 feet from my cabana. I don’t write that to brag, but instead give a peek into an environment that’s a little different for me as I jump into the backstory.
Keeping Your Edge: The Right Tool For the Job
Spend any length of time conducing protection work in the entertainment industry, and you’ll find that things work in cycles.
There are recording cycles, tour cycles, award show cycles and even sporting event cycles. A big portion of these trend annually, and are grouped with similar events, creating momentum, but being careful to avoid overshadowing or encroaching on another event’s moment.
Foot Steps: Mike Brown
Mike Brown is one of those individuals who has found success as an operator by envisioning where he wanted to end up and trusting the process to take him there. In his time in the industry, he has earned his stripes and now reaps the rewards running a successful business and managing the protective detail for a very well-known public figure. I speak to Mike to learn some of his keys to success.
Keeping Your Edge: Support Those You Meet Along The Way
Over the decades I have seen many artists, label executives, managers and agents rise from relative obscurity, to monumental heights. For example, it was an amazing thing to have your Protectee ask you to pick up a 9 year old who’d won some local acclaim because of his singing ability, and take him to a meeting, then subsequently watch his meteoritic rise to arguably the top 1% in pop music, past & present.
Keeping Your Edge: Is Unity In Our Profession Dead?
As the President-Elect wrapped up his speech, now joined onstage by his extended family, my attention was on the members of the United States Secret Service who were close by. I thought of these men and the job that they were tasked to do. Not knowing them personally, I wasn’t aware of their political affiliations, were they a Democratic like Biden, or a Republican, rooting for the current President, Trump? They, like every other citizen of the country, were allowed to cast their votes, and could have picked either, or none. However, at that moment, on that stage, I don’t think it mattered. These agents, surely knowing the risk associated with the occasion, were focused on the task at hand: The safety of their protective charges, no matter their personal political affiliation.
