A Sample Security Plan for Nightclubs & Bars

1. Type of Entertainment To Be Offered.

Describe the type of entertainment offered by your establishment. If the band/musicians are not employed by your establishment, ask for a Certificate of Insurance.

2. Number/Utilization of Security Personnel.

For live music events, one in-house security person for each 50 patrons shall be on duty. All security personnel shall be attired in a manner to readily identify them as such. From the time a live music event ends and for 30 minutes thereafter, one-half of all security personnel shall be stationed outside the premises to assist and encourage patrons to leave safely. For large national acts, at least one uniformed law enforcement officer with full police power shall be employed until 30 minutes following the end of the performance. The officer shall be assigned outside as patrons depart.

For live events, pre-sale and day-of-sale ticket sales shall not exceed capacity.

Security staff shall regularly patrol both the women's and men's bathroom facilities. Handheld counters shall be used by staff at the entrance at all times when open.

3. Control & Clearance of Parking Lot.

Video cameras will be mounted to cover the entrance, exits and entire premises. Tapes will be made available upon request by the local Police Department. Security staff shall regularly patrol the immediate exterior of the building at least once every half-hour, doing so on a random basis.

Licensee shall conspicuously post in its parking lot area the following signage: "No Trespassing/Loitering. Your local ordinance that makes it unlawful for any person to enter or remain on such premises. Any violator will be subject to a penalty of no less than $50 nor more than $300 plus costs. The local police officers are authorized to arrest any person violating this provision without any further additional warning or notice to you. If you are not a patron or not here on official business with the owner or the owner's agent, or you are a patron, but you are loitering in the parking area, leave the parking area immediately."

4. Unruly Patrons.

Licensee will familiarize all security staff with provisions of the local ordinance for unruly patron ordinance. When a patron acts in a manner that is violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, or otherwise disorderly, licensee will immediately contact the police and request that the police invoke the provisions of the ordinance.

5. Patrons Who Are Intoxicated.

Licensee, its agents, and employees may not sell, dispense, or give away alcohol to any person who is under the influence of alcoholic beverage as defined in the local ordinance, nor shall such a person be permitted on the premises. When a customer has been "cut off", the server will notify the other employees. Management will support the server's decision to terminate service to any customer. If a customer is too impaired to drive safely, licensee will try to persuade the customer not to drive, and arrange a safe ride. If the customer refuses, management will notify the location Police Department with a description of the person and the license plate number of the vehicle, if possible.

6. Patrons Presenting False ID's.

All identification cards used to prove age must be valid (i.e., may not be expired), and must be government-issued. If the identification card is expired or appears at all questionable to the employee, the employee shall request a second for of identification. The employee shall make sure that the individual purchasing the

liquor resembles the identification card. All employees are encouraged to ask purchasers questions relating to their identification in order to verify the information. If the employee checking an ID has a strong suspicion that an ID is false, altered, or belongs to someone other than the person presenting the ID,he/she shall confiscate the ID and turn it over to management, to be presented to the police.

7. Control/Supervision of Patrons Under 21 (Restaurant Applications).

Licensee will request proof of age from any customer who appears to be 30 years of age or younger, and will refuse service to any customer who cannot produce adequate ID. When selling pitchers, ID's will be requested for each person receiving a glass. Separate types of glassware will be used to distinguish alcohol drinks from non-alcohol drinks.

8. Circumstances Under Which The Police Will Be Called.

The police will be called, in a timely manner, anytime management or staff has information to believe a crime has been or is about to be committed and/or whenever a threat of or act of violence occurs on the premises or off premises in areas that would be considered in view or earshot of the establishment.

9. Handling of Physical Disturbances, Including Fights.

Security or management will ask anyone who is fighting to leave. If necessary, security or management will call the local law enforcement agency for assistance. Licensee will permanently refuse admittance to any chronic problem encounter.

10. Names and Dates of Birth Of All Employees In A Management Capacity.

Provide a listing of all names and dates of birth of all management employees.

Note: Be sure to have a place for your employees to sign off that they have read and understand the procedures designated in the security plan.

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2012 NW Foodservice Show - Seattle

I have to say, the Foodservice show this year was a lot of fun! I went to scope out the best area for a booth in the years to come; to see which areas drove the most traffic and which areas were too congested to engage in meaningful discussion. It seems as though the hot ticket to get people to your booth this year was to offer free frozen yogurt - I was guilty of a sample, even from another insurance booth :) They knew who I was, so I didn't fee bad!

If you run your own restaurant or bar, you definitely owe yourself a trip to the show. Just don't wait too long and miss the free online registration! I missed it by ONE day and ended up paying the $25 - which isn't bad, but still...free would have been much better :)

Looking forward to having a booth when it comes back to Seattle in 2014. Can't decide whether or not we should do Portland; not sure it would bear much fruit for us down there.