How many times had I asked myself the question ‘what the bloody hell am I doing here?’ God only knows. I will admit though, these days I don’t need to ask that question as much and in the same context as I used to. Going from operations to administration and then onto training over a 12 year period means that I have somewhat of a luxury ride now. Monday to Friday hours, holidays with the kids and only occasional weekend interruptions when courses are on or we are undertaking professional development with our trainers / clients etc. My venture into the world of close personal protection has been an eventful one; nothing spectacular or heroic, but a learning curve nonetheless
So, You Want To Be A Celebrity Protection Agent?
“Elijah, I’m glad you choose me for the assignment, just so you know I have to be home on the 15th as my son has his little league try-outs.” I’ll have to be honest and say, if the assignment extends past the 15th, I’m likely going to use someone else from the outset. Why? Because VIP clients appreciate familiarity but the rotation of celebrity protection agents does not project stability, instead, it implies just the opposite.
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.
A is for Appendix Carry
Firearms still have a role even in the world of private security. A tool we hope we never have to call upon but is there if needed.
Celebrity Protection Vs. Executive Protection
A stable career in Corporate Executive Protection, more often than not with standard hours, reasonable expectations and a healthy benefits package, or the wild and unpredictable world of Celebrity Protection with its Long hours, temperamental clients, and a job description that includes pretty much everything but the kitchen sink.
Show Time
While no security measures are 100%, these are good guiding principles to minimize the potential for an unwelcome encounter with your celebrity principal during their show.
The Relationship Between Protector and Venue Security
We need to understand several things in order to make the relationship between protector and venue security a success. We need to know who we are connecting with, what their mindset is and what their purpose is. We need to know how to connect with them, how we can get them to do what it is that we desire and how to get them on the same page, OUR page.
Managing the Green Room
Managing the Green Room means creating an environment where the principals are able to prepare, relax, and focus on providing whatever entertainment has brought them to that specific venue.
Understanding the Fan Dynamic
Fans are the lifeblood of the entertainment industry but how important are they? What drives a fan to be faithful to a certain artist, band, or group? How does the fan contribute to the overall successes of artists? And more importantly, how well do you as a protector understand the dynamics of a fan to keep your client safe?
The Problem with Selfies
We have all heard the old saying, “Pictures are worth a thousand words,” so who wants an autograph, when a photo with your favorite celebrity conveys much more perceived authenticity? This also has value in the arena of SOCIAL capital.