Oktoberfest 2021
crowd control and staff coordination across three editions
At Oktoberfest, I worked all three editions held within four weeks, two of them in the auction halls of Hoogstraten. I was responsible for crowd control and for coordinating the staff.
The challenge
A party with thousands of visitors and plenty of beer depends on flow. A queue at the bar or a packed area in front of the stage quickly leads to frustration. Every edition had to run just as smoothly, whatever the venue.
Our approach
I kept an eye on the busiest areas, especially during the most popular sets. When a bottleneck threatened, I moved the right people to the right place or stepped in myself. At the same time, I coordinated the staff so everyone knew what was expected of them.
The result
The Saturday edition in Hoogstraten, with 4,200 visitors, ran smoothly without major congestion. I still use that experience with large crowds today in gatekeeping and festival production.
Images
Photos: Sebastian Sysmans
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