What Happens When Security Teams Actually Understand the Work

This past week at Reddawn, we brought in Colin Lish from HSM Touring. Someone who has spent years operating at the highest level of live events across tour security, artist advances and front of stage safety.

It would be easy to call it training.

But what actually happened was a shift in how our team thinks.

Not just about what we do, but why we do it.

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When Experience Turns Into Understanding

There is a difference between doing the job and truly understanding what is happening around you.

For many of the team, that shift happened during the discussions around barrier systems and crowd pressure.

Barriers are often seen as something fixed. A line. A physical boundary.

What became clear is that they are anything but static.

They respond to movement, to energy, to the type of crowd, and even to the artist on stage. Once that clicked, the way our team spoke about their role started to change.

One team member reflected that they had worked many events, but this was the first time they actually understood what was happening when a crowd begins to push.

That kind of awareness changes behaviour.

You do not just stand in a position. You start reading the environment. You notice pressure building earlier. You adjust before things escalate.

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Moving From Control to Flow

Another noticeable shift was how the team spoke about crowd control.

Before, the focus was often on holding positions and maintaining order.

After the session, the language changed.

There was more discussion around movement. How people enter spaces. How they exit. Where pressure builds and how it can be relieved.

One of the strongest takeaways was that it is not about stopping people. It is about guiding them in a way that prevents issues from forming in the first place.

That shift sounds subtle, but it is significant.

It moves security from being reactive to being proactive.

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Seeing the Bigger Picture Before Doors Open

The session also gave the team a much deeper appreciation for what happens before an event even begins.

Tour advances, venue planning and artist requirements can often feel removed from on the ground roles.

Hearing how those decisions shape everything changed that perception.

There was a clear realisation that strong communication between all parties is not just helpful. It is essential.

When everyone is aligned early, the event runs smoother. When they are not, small issues compound quickly.

One team member summed it up simply. You start to see that the event is already set up to succeed or struggle long before doors open.

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A New Respect for Back of House

Something that stood out was how the team began to view back of house operations.

Things like accreditation, pass outs and controlled access can feel procedural.

But through this session, they took on a different level of importance.

There was a strong sense that these systems are what hold everything together.

When access is clear and controlled, movement becomes easier. Artists and crew feel supported. Front of house pressure reduces.

One reflection captured it well. There is a lot more meaning behind what we do backstage than people realise.

It is not separate from crowd safety. It supports it directly.

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Understanding Pressure Changes Everything

One of the more unexpected insights came from learning about how pressure moves through structures and crowds.

Even references to how the Romans understood the dispersion of energy helped frame this in a practical way.

It shifted the way the team thinks about force within a crowd.

Pressure is not just forward. It spreads, builds and shifts depending on the environment.

Once you understand that, decisions around barrier placement, positioning and response become far more informed.

Simon reflected that learning where these barrier principles came from and how they have evolved was one of the most valuable parts of the session.

It changes how you see the setup entirely.

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The Real Outcome

What stood out most was not just what was learned, but how it connected the team.

People began to see how their role fits into a wider system.

Communication became a central theme. Not just on radios during the event, but across all stages. From planning through to execution.

There was a shared understanding that when communication is strong, everything else improves.

And when it is not, even simple situations can become difficult.

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Why This Matters

This kind of training does not just improve individual performance.

It changes how a team operates.

It improves awareness, strengthens communication and builds confidence in decision making.

That shows up in the real world through smoother crowd flow, reduced risk and environments that feel controlled without feeling restrictive.

At Reddawn, that is the standard we are working towards.

Because security is not just about being present.

It is about understanding the environment you are responsible for.

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