Nothing Safer than a Gator
Every year, during the summer, the largest festival style tour in the U.S comes to St. Pete, Florida. With that tour comes bands, vendors, merchants, non-profit organizations and so much more. It's almost overwhelming, the things at this festival to see and do. So much to take in, so much to notice.
There is however one group of men and women that seem to go unnoticed every year. This year we at Get In Magazine wish to change that. This year we wish to not only give thanks but also give notice to some of the most important men and women at the Warped Tour.
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The men and women we are referring to would be a man by the name of Guy and his Gator Guards. The Gator Guards, a Tampa local security company, formed just last year and has been growing in leaps and bounds ever since; Currently staffing events and venues around the greater Tampa bay area such as Janus Landing, The Ritz Theater, The Vans Warped Tour, just to list a few. But Florida isn't the end of the line for the Gator Guards; Guy also hopes to purchase a Tour style bus in the near future and bring his company to a national level. The Gator Guards have done and are doing in just under a year what it takes other Security companies years to do. |
When we caught up with Guy, we asked him. What has caused such success story to come from such a young company? He retorted with “I treat my crew like family, I pay attention to, and care about, their needs, in return they give me one hundred and ten percent. “It's also because as a crew, we don't just do what we do, we love what we do. We care about these kids, we joke around with them, watch over them, we keep them safe.” “It is because of these things that events and venues keep asking for us by name.”
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This dedication became crystal clear while walking with Guy to patrol the event. Guy and I covered every square inch of Vinoy Park, watching over hundreds of kids and keep them safe and keeping his crew hydrated. At one point in our patrol I watched as the head gator himself took control of an argument between two kids that would have become an all out fist fight. Guy and his Gator Guards jobs extend way beyond mere crowd control. It is also the Guards duty to usher any victims of the heat to medical tents for treatment. Sadly this list of victims included myself. Without delay the security staff came to my aid and brought me to the closest medical tent where I could be cooled down and fed electrolytes. |
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When it comes to Guy and his fellow Gators these events aren't a 9 to 5 gig, they're a passion and for that passion, dedication the countless hours devoted to the safety of hundreds of people including myself I extend a much deserved thank you to Guy and his Gator Guards.
To visit Gator Guards MySpace page click here
By. Tim Fisher
