This is a treat. With permission from the guys at Aegis PI, I wanted to post this excellent article on some EP stuff. Specifically, the difference between a professional close protection specialist versus the typical ‘entourage’ body guards that celebrities sometimes use.
Hell, you could apply the same example to these leaders of small countries that tend to use their family or friends (entourage) as body guards, as opposed to using professionals. And in both cases, when you need serious dependable protection or guidance for avoiding any embarrassments, the optimum choice will always be the professional. –Matt
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By Aegis PI
July 22nd, 2010
Just what is the real deal? We will get to that in a bit. What exactly are we talking about here?
That’s simple…
Celebrity Protection.
Not just any Celeb, but one segment specifically, Rappers.
Dear _________, (insert your favorite artist here)
The media and the music industry are filled with story after story of this Hip-Hop artist or that Rapper getting into some sort of trouble because their so called “security” made things worse instead of better. Lets be clear here. They aren’t security at all. They are your boys. Hangers on. The entourage.
They have no formal training in personal security. They think an advance is what happens before pay day. More often then not they are drinking and partying with you. Their felony convictions keep them from legally carrying firearms.
Just because they grew up with you doesn’t mean they are the best person for the job. Yes, your homies loyalty and trust is unshakable. Yes they will do anything for you but is that a good thing? Think about it, how safe are you when your so called ‘bodyguards’ are matching you shot for shot?
You might not know this but the U.S. Secret Service never address their protectee by first name. They hardly ever eat with a protectee and always 100% of the time maintain a professional relationship. Why should your security be any different?
By hiring a professional you are reducing your liability not increasing it. A pro will be able to get you across the border into Canada without getting detained for warrants or other issues. A pro will have everything taken care of ahead of time. Best of all, he or she will be nearly invisible.
Think about it. You demand the best. You have earned it. Not just the bling but a professional security team as well. Professional security. The real deal.
Story here.
The is precisely why I will not work for celebrities. A few years back as I was leaving the Marine Corps, I interviewed with Gavin DeBecker's company in LA. While they are professional, I thought the other people they were offering positions to were not. They looked the part of the "bouncer" and a professional EP operator is not a bouncer. I just don't like the atmosphere to be honest. I have nothing against those that do work in that area of the industry.
Comment by Jason A — Thursday, July 22, 2010 @ 10:20 PM
Good Find, and Kudos to Aegis PI for the article. The only problem I see with this open letter as that's we are the ones reading it, not the decision makers. The celebrity protection industry is just like any other: filled with guys trying to stay employed in the marketplace. Those with superior skills will outshine them any day, however if the potential clients don't know what to look or ask for, they'll usually continue to hire on the lowest denominator– Price and Familiarity. It's up to the protection agents that are going after those accounts to figure out how to make clients aware. Maybe they should start by forwarding them this Blog post.
Elijah Shaw, CEO
Icon Services Corporation
Comment by Elijah Shaw — Friday, July 23, 2010 @ 2:00 AM
Excellent comments guys. Hopefully some managers out there will read this stuff and think twice about what kind of protection their clients need or should have. -matt
Comment by headjundi — Friday, July 23, 2010 @ 4:22 PM