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MTV Europe Music Awards in Safe Hands with Showsec
The 12th annual MTV Europe Music Awards 2005 brought together some of the world’s greatest music stars at the Pavilhao Atlantico in Lisbon, where Showsec provided a security management team, on behalf of MTV, to oversee the security and crowd management across the event and venues.
The prestigious awards in Portugal saw Coldplay pick up two awards, ‘Best Song’ and ‘Best UK and Ireland act’ and Green Day also celebrating a double win with ‘Best Rock Act’ and ‘Best Album’. The show’s highlights included a jaw-dropping opening performance by Madonna and a world exclusive hologram-style animated performance by Gorillaz with album collaborators De La Soul live on stage.
Showsec provided a management team, led by Simon Battersby and Mark Logan to look after all security and crowd management requirements for the event. The team of six Showsec managers implemented a full security plan and liaised with the local, metropolitan and national police forces in order to respond to risks particular to this event. The team oversaw all key areas including the backstage area, talent arrivals, accreditation, red carpet area, front of house, press, stage areas and the pre- and after-show party venue. Approximately 320 local security staff and over 100 police were used to staff the areas. Showsec used an interpreter to help overcome the language barrier and help with negotiations with local agencies.
With only a short lead time to work on the event, effective time management was vital, Showsec developed the plan to incorporate everything from the load in and rehearsals through to show day.
Showsec’s Southern regional manager, Simon Battersby commented: “The event required stringent security precautions, imposed by the Portuguese authorities, which involved full security sweeps of the venues, and at every access point police had to perform airport style searches to ensure a ‘clean’ venue. We had to achieve a balance between achieving the objectives and demands of the police and facilitating the needs of the huge production team that had to work within the time constraints of a live broadcast show.”
Lisa McCormack, VP, head of production, MTV International Production, Operations & Development commented: “Safety is of paramount importance to MTV, and planning and managing security for the MTV Europe Music Awards is a huge undertaking. Showsec managed the relationship between the authorities, the venue and MTV’s staff with professionalism, calm and humour.“
14th November 2005
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