Staff Pro Launches New Access Control System for NAMM

In an effort to combat counterfeit tickets, the National Association of Music Merchants implemented a new black light screening process for their 2012 show at the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center, Jan. 19-22.

The 90,000 attendees at the music-heavy trade show make it the biggest event for the West Coast facility — leading to a spike in fake tickets, improperly reused credentials and attempted sneak-ins. Working with security and staffing firm Staff Pro of Huntington Beach, Calif., NAMM developed a tight credentialing system to minimize fraud.

“We hung black lights on trusses and our security team checked every single badge” for anti-counterfeit ultraviolet ink, said Cory Meredith, president and CEO of Staff Pro, who said the NAMM show was his company's largest implementation of black light credentialing. “It allows you to quickly check a high volume of credentials, but it only works in an indoor setting like a convention center.”

NAMM also considered RFID chips, but found the black light system to be less expensive.

“And this year, none of the credentials were distributed in advance,” Meredith added, noting that many individuals share their credentials with friends who try to save money by sharing.

“All attendees had to show IDs to access this year's show.”

Staff Pro has held the security and staff contract for NAMM for over 15 years.

Interviewed for this article: Cory Meredith, (310) 991-8617