Trusted By Everyone

Don’t just take our word for it. Our products have been trusted by top companies such as Walmart, Sunwing, H&M, and Footlocker for many years. With over 2000 happy companies and customers, you can trust that a purchase from Alpha Crowd Control will be a great decision.

Exceptional Service

Our team of dedicated employees are fully committed to your success. If you are not sure where to start, or if you do not know which stanchions are best for your crowd control needs, our friendly staff will be there to help you every step of the way.

Experience

We have over 20 years of experience to help you with your crowd control needs. This experience helped us to develop the highest quality products from the best materials. We have developed a wide range of products to serve any of your needs, including crowd control stanchions, crowd control barriers, plastic barriers, retractable stanchions, rope and stanchion, accessories, and more.

Any Size Order

Whether you need to buy stanchions for a local movie theatre or for a large food festival, we can help to fulfill your needs by giving you the flexibility to order any number of products, right when you need it.

Low Prices

We offer the most affordable prices while still maintaining high-quality products. Our products come to you directly from the manufacturing facility to keep prices low. However, if you find a lower price, we will be sure to match it.

Proudly Canadian

We are a 100% Canadian-owned company.  We operate out of Canada’s largest city, Toronto. We take pride in our Canadian heritage and we are proud to help many Canadian companies and customers grow over the years.

Customers will always be the number one priority of businesses and events. What they like, what they need, and what they prefer are the guiding principles they consider to address. But how about their customer’s security? Their safety should not be taken for granted and must be handled the same way. In this day and age of overpopulation, everywhere you go seems to be overcrowded, and waiting in line is already beginning to be the way of life; crowd control must really be on the top priority of businesses. When people start lining up outside establishments and events, crowd control management should already be at the forefront.

Crowd control is an organized plan and direction on how to handle large groups of people gathered in an area or an event. Crowd control is needed in order to contain or control the behavior of groups of people to obtain orderliness and avoid untoward incidents. Everything that involves attaining the safety of the public falls in crowd control management.

Why is crowd control important?

More often than not, people just tend to go on their way without being mindful of the proximity with other people. That is why crowd control is essential in every place where people often go, be it an establishment or an event, especially now.

Usually, stanchions are the tools used by event organizers or business owners to control and manage the flow of the crowd. The placement of stanchions effectively creates the ambiance of organization and overall crowd control.

Who needs crowd control?

If your business gets many customers lining up outside every day, then crowd control is for you. If your event caters to a large number of attendees, then crowd control is for you. Anything that will be attended to or visited by a sum of people needs crowd control.

The types of crowd may vary depending on the type of the event. But just to make sure that we are ready for any incidents and unexpected happenings, we must be able to determine the different types of crowd.

According to Sociology Discussion, there are four main types of crowd. They are as follows:

Type # 1. The Like-Interest or Casual Crowd: This type of crowd shares a common external focus of interest but not a common interest. You can say that this is the type of crowd who we can say as just spectators. This crowd does not have a specific object to fulfill. One good example of this is when a crowd gathers because of a fire or an accident.

Type # 2. The Common-Interest or Action Crowd: This usually refers to the crowd who has the same personal interest to fulfill. They usually participate in popular celebrations, events, or even strikes. A good example of this could be the crowd in a concert of a popular artist.

Type # 3. Expressive Crowd: As the name suggests, this type of crowd is the one who expresses their emotions of either joy or sorrow. For example, if their favorite basketball team won the game, they could be singing and shouting for joy and even tease passers-by as they celebrate. This crowd can also be the type to look out for since they are prone to riots or commotions.

Type # 4. Conventionalized Crowd: There are some events or celebrations wherein the attendees or the crowd are allowed to behave differently from who they really are, thus the term conventionalized crowd. A good example would be the crowd in La Tomatina in Spain or the Tomato Festival. People in Spain don’t usually go around throwing tomatoes at each other, but because of this particular event, they have to behave as such.

In order to choose the best crowd control tool, we must first know what the available ones in the market are. The following are some of them:

Stanchions are sturdy upright bars or posts that provide support for some other objects. There are several types of stanchions. There are retractable stanchions, rope stanchions, dual belt stanchions, banner stanchions, safety stanchions, and mini stanchions.

Plastic Barricades are usually made of tough, heavy-duty plastic and are typically lightweight to be easily moved.

Crowd control barriers/fences are made of steel for long-term use and weather resistance.

Whether it is an event, a grocery store, a construction site, hotels, or even hospitals, the use of stanchions is the most effective measure for crowd control. While crowd control measures vary widely depending on the situation, stanchions are the ones you’ll see often. Because stanchions are compact and versatile, installation is a breeze in creating queueing areas. Its primary purpose is to create a space where people can wait in line and keep them away from restricted areas.

Since stanchions are the most used type of crowd control equipment, it is best to know the different kinds of it.

There are four different types of stanchions. They are:

1. Post and Rope Stanchions. It is precisely what its name suggests; they consist of a metal post and a rope attached to it. These are often used at museums and galleries because of their sleek and sturdy design. The ropes and posts can also come in different colors and finishes.
2. Safety Stanchions. This type is usually used in constructions, airports, or warehouses because it is heavy-duty. The belts used are often in brights colors to alert the crowd of danger or prohibition.
3. Retractable Stanchions. This is probably the most used stanchion type because it offers flexibility for different kinds of queuing needs. Retractable stanchions are very durable and can withstand high volumes of traffic. Its belts are usually made from durable nylon that retracts by the use of an internal spring mechanism. This type is commonly used in retail establishments and ticket booths.
4. Plastic Stanchions. This type of stanchion is used for outdoor events because it is weather-proof and economical as well. They can be weighted with gravel or sand to add to their sturdiness.

No two events are the same because each would have a different theme or setup depending on the plan of the management and the organizers. But what all events have in common is its need to have a proper crowd control system and equipment. Stanchions and barriers have become a staple in managing and containing crowds in every event. So, where specifically in the venue should they be installed? The following are key areas where stanchions and barriers can be installed in a venue:

Entrance- This is the main point of crowd control for every event simply because the crowd will start to build up at the beginning of an event at the entrance. Proper installation of stanchions and barriers in the entrance will significantly reduce the stress of the audience as well as the staff while falling in line.

Ticket Booth- Some events would still require you to fall in line in a ticket booth after falling in line from the entrance, so it is also essential to install stanchions and barriers at the ticket booth in order to maintain the orderliness of the event.

Security check/booth- Usually, security checks are being done upon the entrance of the venue. Still, sometimes some events put up a different area for this, especially if they will require some of the audience’s belongings to be surrendered. So, it is still strongly advised to put up stanchions and barriers at the security booth.

Restricted areas- As the name suggests, restricted areas are the parts of the venue where staff and management stay. These areas usually contain the control room, the sound system, the staff room, the artists’ lounge, and other necessary equipment needed in the event. It is only fitting to put up barricades in these areas to avoid the untoward entrance of the crowd or audience.

Meet and greet area- After an event, organizers usually set up a meet and greet area for the audience so they can talk and take pictures with the artists or the performers. This area will require the strictest crowd control measures along with the entrance because the audience can get unruly or impatient in falling in line to meet the performers. There can also be scene-stealers that will arise in this area, so security personnel should also be alert and ready here.

Comfort rooms- If an event is big and is outdoors, comfort rooms should also be placed with barricades or stanchions. This is to prevent any commotion and to maintain orderliness in the event.

Exits- Placing stanchions and barricades on the exit points is as crucial as the entrance because it will prevent any untoward incidents or stampedes. Some event-goers who are tired from the happenings may want to go out of the venue as fast as possible, which may cause a build-up at the exits; that is why crowd control is still essential in this area.

How do you set up crowd control barriers?

There are several things to keep in mind when setting up your crowd control barriers.

First, you must determine the type of crowd that you will be dealing with. Different events or establishments entail different kinds of a crowd, so be sure to study or anticipate the type of crowd you expect. Only then will you be able to determine the type of barriers you need to use, though most events usually use stanchions.

Second, make sure that your barriers are well attended to by your staff. The barriers alone can’t do all the job for you, so you still need the help of staff to man the flow of the crowd.

And thirdly, you must establish a good communication system. If the crowd can see that the event is being organized properly, it will create a sense of security. It will also help if there are roving staff to whom the crowd can raise questions or concerns.

Safety. This is the first and foremost concern when it comes to crowd control. If an event is planned perfectly, the safety of the attendees and everyone involved is assured.

Trust. Having good crowd control can give an impression of good organization, thus gaining the people’s trust.

Loyalty. There could be a more significant chance of getting hired or contracted again if the proper crowd control was established.

Enjoyment. The attendees will surely enjoy the event if proper crowd control was implemented.

Top 3 Best Practices for Crowd Control

Planning and executing an event must involve a well-thought-out plan for crowd control. This is vital for the safety of the guests and staff and minimizing the possibility of any untoward events that can result in complaints and poor event management.

Be sure to use these three best practices if you want your next event to be successful.

Tip No. 1 Have many staff/ushers and security personnel.

From the entrance to the exit, and from the beginning and the end of your event, the presence of ushers and security personnel should be there. Ushers are responsible for attending to customers’ needs and escorting them to their designated seats or places. They can also be responsible for maintaining the order in the waiting area or line. Speaking of the waiting or check-in area where it can easily become chaotic, stanchions should clearly mark and organize the waiting line.

As for security, the security personnel should always be alert to look out for any security breach that may arise. They are also the ones who are responsible for checking the bags of the attendees for any banned weapons or substances. Unruly guests should also be handled by security personnel.

Tip No. 2 Put up proper signages in the entire venue.

Attendees won’t always be familiar with the event’s venue, so you should put up signs for them to navigate the place at ease. The signs that can be included are:

-Entrance and exit, including fire exits -Check-in line -Restrooms -Smoking area -Restricted/staff-only areas -Staff booth

Having these signs put up conspicuously can help keep the venue in order and make the attendees’ experience pleasurable. These signs can also make the job of the ushers/staff easier because people won’t bother them from time to time to ask for the locations of the said places.

Tip No. 3 Always have an emergency plan.

Even the most planned out event can go wrong instantly due to unforeseen incidents; that is why having an emergency plan is crucial. It is imperative that the whole staff and management are prepared and rehearsed for any emergencies that can arise. Always remember that the safety and security of the attendees are all in your hands once they enter the premises of the event.

With all these tips in mind, it can be sure that the next event you will be launching will be a success, and crowd control management will just be a breeze.

No matter how prepared and well planned an event is, emergencies are inevitable. Especially if an event is outdoors, the risks are higher because of several factors. It is important to know what to do and how to handle the crowd in case of an emergency.

Many types of emergencies can occur, they can be:

-Fire

-Bad weather

-Explosions

-Violence

-Earthquake

Since most of these emergencies occur from nature, it will be best to have a concrete evacuation plan. Crowd control will be the hardest during an emergency, so make sure it is well planned for in any event. The safety and security of the crowd are in the hands of the organizers from the start to the finish of an event. It cannot be reiterated how important it is to have a good crowd control plan, with emergencies or otherwise.

Who are the essential people in crowd control management?

Company representatives- Company representatives should always be present during events to oversee, facilitate, and create the impression of organization and ownership.

Venue Manager- Venue managers are the ones responsible for overseeing the entire event and manning the event staff.

Ushers/ Event Staff- Ushers or event staff are the people who are stationed at specific locations at the venue. Some of them may be roving to attend to different concerns simultaneously.

Security personnel- Security personnel are in charge of guarding the event and ensuring that no untoward incidents may happen.

Medical Team- A medical team is usually a group of physicians, nurses, or paramedics who are always on standby in case of a medical emergency during an event.

The Events Industry and Crowd Control

Events and crowd control management should always go hand in hand. You cannot plan an event without thinking of adequately handling the group of people who will attend. The event industry is very dynamic and requires a lot of planning and direction. The events industry should always have in mind that they have to minimize any risks for the crowd while maximizing their experience. That is the only way for an event to be successful. The more planned an event is, the lesser the risks would be for the crowd, and the more enjoyable it would be.

Since every event needs a crowd control plan, it is vital to look for reliable providers of crowd control equipment. Prominent event organizers may have their own equipment like stanchions and barricades, while some only rent or borrow from sponsoring companies. Either way, looking for the best providers of this equipment is still a must for every organization. Here are some tips that can be considered when looking for crowd control equipment companies or providers:

1. The company must have a website. It is vital nowadays to put your business online because looking for everything on the internet is becoming the way of life for almost all of us. According to Bill Gates, “If your business is not on the internet, then your business will be out of business.” If a business is on the internet, it will be easier to search and learn about them and their products. It will also cut time from going to the physical store to know and look for what you are buying if you can already access them from the website. A good company website must have all the necessary information about their products and services for the convenience of their customers.
2. Good customer service. Sometimes people repeatedly purchase products from some businesses not because they have the best in town but because they have the best customer service. It pays to have a good relationship with the customers because it will create a feeling of trust and reliability. It will comfort them to know that they can approach your business swiftly anytime the need arises. So, a crowd control equipment provider with good customer service is the one to look out for. You can check this from reviews about them on the internet.
3. Wide variety of products. Since the events business is evolving and has different needs for every event, the providers you must choose should have various products that can cater to your diverse needs. Having a wide range of products can also show that the provider studies its markets and demands; that is why they produce more products that can custom fit to every need.
4. Value for money. Of course, this is all we are looking for when we want to purchase something. We need to know if we can maximize the money that we spent. A good company will offer this without a blink of an eye. So aside from looking if a company has good customer service, we should also examine if the products that they are offering will be efficient and helpful with our purpose of buying them.