One of the questions I’m asked most is, “How do I find work?” It can be very difficult to secure bodyguard or executive protection contracts and I’d like to address what I perceive as a shortcoming in terms of landing good jobs: Self-Promotion.

If going solo is your desire, go after the work diligently and persistently. Sales and marketing is very much a numbers game. You’ll be rejected or ignored a hundred times for every nibble or yes you’ll receive. It’s rough going at first but in time, if you conduct yourself well, apply yourself to personal and professional development, your reputation will bring work to your door or nowadays, your email inbox.

Marketing only just begins when the client says yes. Everyday, every action, every report, and every oral statement you make is marketing for yourself. You have to earn each and everyday of employment in the private sector as there’s no union or civil service to hold your spot open if you’re content with just getting by. There’s no job security in the private sector unless you personally take charge and build that stability for yourself.

There are different approaches to Marketing and you can determine which approach you need based on what stage your business is in. For example, if you are basically starting out, which means not many people know of you, then your market approach at this point is – Public Relations. First, a good website will help with this, especially if you want to do assignments internationally. You’re still working but at the same time you’re promoting yourself by doing a better than great job. Then, you would move forward to asking your employers to give you testimonials/recommendations, which most employers will be more than glad to recommend you to their family and friends provided that you have done a better than great job for them. At this time you would ask them if it is ok to post these testimonials with pictures on your website. If they say yes then great! However, if they say no, then you must respect that. As you become well-known for performing quality work then all you have to do is allow your professionalism to do the marketing for you, which will translate into word-of-mouth which in this business is the best marketing you can have at little or no cost to you!

Everything in the private sector boils down to marketing. You can have the finest training and experience in the world but if you want to be self-employed or if you want to sell yourself, you have to be savvy at marketing.

Certainly there have been libraries full of books written on the subject; however, I just want to communicate the mindset necessary for success. Everything is marketing and marketing is everything!

Once you obtain an interview with a prospective employer, ensure you enter the meeting with great confidence and have intentions on landing the job. Listen well to what the interviewer has to say and try to sense what they are looking for. You’ll know quite swiftly if they’re on a ‘fishing trip’ or just invited you out of curiosity. Just be cool, honest and leave a good impression. Dress for success. Leave the bridge open because you never know what a meeting may lead to.

These are just a few random and spurious thoughts for your consideration. I’m not the guru of anything but I’ve kept myself gainfully and for the most part passionately employed since 1983. I’ve made more mistakes than most but each one has taught me valuable lessons and helped me get to where I am today. Don’t be afraid to make a few mistakes yourself. Failures are just rungs on the ladder to success.

By: Sean Spellecy

Smile Bodyguard Smile…

No Neck, No Smile, Intimidating Stare, Mean Looking, No Smile, etc… Sound familiar? It is the way bodyguards have been described for years. It is time we changed the way we look. I own a personal protection agency in Tulsa, Oklahoma and one of the first things I look for in a prospective agent is the ability to smile. Why you ask? Are not bodyguards supposed to scare people off without even so much as a movement? Do we not want people to intimidate just on a glance, a glance that tells any would be threat that coming near our asset would be a mistake? The answer is of course we do!

However, the problem rests in being mindful enough to turn it on and off. The “Bodyguard Industry” needs rejuvenation and reinvention and it starts with a smile. What we have done here in Tulsa, and what will be replicated throughout the country in the next two years is not just learning the importance of smiling. However, it does lend itself to the recipe for our success. “Smiling” lets your client know that you have a personality, that you know how to enjoy life, and most importantly, you are confident in who you are and what you are doing.  Does the ability to smile make up for the ability to recognize a dangerous situation beforehand? How about the ability to disarm a threat, or move your asset through a hostile crowd? Absolutely not. Yet, I have had men and women through my door (and then out again) that I am sure could handle themselves quite well.

They just never smiled!

Just to be clear, there are several terms that are used and are somewhat interchangeable for “Executive Protection Specialist.” They include: CPO (Close Protection Operative), and also “Bodyguard.”  Wikipedia describes a bodyguard or EPS as: a type of security guard or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, loss of confidential information, or other threats.

Now to be truthful, rarely is an attempt made to assault, kidnap or assassinate a protectee. Most often, bodyguards serve to defend against over-zealous fans, or the Paparazzi, who have increasingly invaded the privacy and safety of celebrities in the interest of getting photos and stories for print and electronic media use.

There is also the less-than-glamorous side of EPS work, which many people don’t talk about, because it belies the “mystique” of the job. I share a few items with you below, so you have a better picture of what it means to work as a bodyguard:

You may be called upon to play chauffeur. You will be driving the client and his friends all over town, to and from the airport, and will probably be expected to maintain the car, which means taking it to the car wash, keeping the tank filled and the car in perfect running order.

You may be expected to protect property, which can mean looking after your client’s purchases from a high-end department store while they continue to shop.

Your protection may extend to the client’s children, which means you may have a child making demands on you, which you are required to meet. This protection may also extend to looking after the family’s dog…and picking up after it!

It is expected that you will be available around the clock. Duties may include: managing transportation and planning routes, escorting the celebrity and entourage to social events, and looking after the safety and well-being of anyone in the celebrity’s circle of friends. If your protectee’s friends party until 5:00 a.m. and then are too intoxicated and need a ride home, you will be expected to drive them home…and clean up the car, should they get sick.

You will be asked to perform tasks that will fall into the “personal assistant” category. This can mean picking up dry-cleaning, making phone calls, picking up lunch, and the like. It can mean getting up at 3:30 a.m. to meet your client and his gal-pal at the grocery store because they decide on a whim that they want to pick up some food, and didn’t think to bring any money (since they never have to think about it–their “people” take care of these things.) It will be you, bleary-eyed and half-asleep, who will be called upon to bring them money to pay for their purchases!

Newcomers, you now have an accurate picture of what it is to bodyguard. If you think this work is the way it was portrayed in “The Bodyguard,” starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston–guess again!

 

It is important to have the right wardrobe for the job interview, and for the job itself. But you can learn from the above story. You don’t need to spend a fortune on suits to look sharp. Be sure to check with your employer as to his/her expectations for on-the-job attire. Some clients prefer that their Executive Protection Staff NOT wear suits, but rather “blend” more in dress slacks and shirts. For the most part, however–you will need to own a few suits for the job, and that can get expensive.

Did you know that you can purchase designer-named suits that look great without having to pay a fortune? You can find suits for $20-$60 if you go to thrift stores or second-hand stores. (Ebay also has suits but remember, you cannot try these on before you purchase.) At the bottom of this article are some of the “designer names” you may want to watch for in your quest for a nice suit.

Finding a really nice suit without breaking the bank (especially when you’re just starting out) is a little bit of a treasure hunt…but you can find what you need if you just put in a little effort. What you need are 3 dark suits in these colors: black, dark blue, dark brown, and charcoal gray. Also, you will need dress shirts (button downs) and a few ties. Purchase several white shirts, and maybe one or two in colors for special occasions. You will have to comb carefully through the racks to find the really nice or designer stuff, but they can be found, and for a fraction of the cost of buying retail. You will need to visit more than one store, so set aside an afternoon to look. HOT TIP: Go first to the upscale department stores to see what is current in suits and ties. For example: Pants with cuffs come and go. Polyester is dated, and not the right fabric for this kind of work. Pinstripes? A little risky, be careful because if too wide, you’ll look like a 1920′s gangster! Select ties that are fairly “subtle” nothing too bright, too busy with patterns. Keep things low-key.

Before you spend any money on a previously-owned suit, here is a check-list:

• Try it on. Sit down in it in the dressing room. Be sure you can move easily in
it. Try it on with a button-down dress shirt, so you can see how the cuff of the
shirt looks under the sleeve of the jacket. Make sure neither the sleeves of the
coat or the pants legs are too long. Nothing looks worse than an ill-fitting suit.
Think about bringing the shoes you’d wear with the suit–and wear white socks.
Try on the suit with those dress shoes and white socks, and you’ll know right away if the pants are too short–you should not see any socks!!

• If at all possible, bring a friend with you for a 2nd opinion–don’t let a low price tag influence your decision, because you could end up with a cheap suit you hate and that doesn’t look right on you. Ask another shopper for their opinion if you can’t bring a friend along!
 
• Find the brightest light in the store and check for: stains, spots, rips, tears, missing buttons, frayed or stained hems. Check the under arms for any rips or stains. Triple-check the zipper. Smell the garment. Some smells can never be removed from clothing. A missing button is not the end of the world…sometimes there is a spare inside the jacket. Or, you could replace ALL the buttons with new buttons, with the help of a tailor (unless you’re handy with a needle and thread.) If it’s a great suit, new buttons is a small investment to make.

• Invest the money in dry-cleaning the item prior to wearing it.

Lastly, don’t forget to hit the after-season sales at the major department stores. Chances are, if you are a very large man, that there will be nice suits left at the end of a season (“average” sizes
always sell first.) Take advantage of these markdowns. You may only wear it in the current season a few times, but you’ll be ready for the following year.

#10 http://www.commandpost.org

An A-Z listing of resources for individuals in the protective services. Need to charter a helicopter for your principal? Want to know where to purchase special equipment? Learn about biochemical security? A compendium of odds and ends of interest.

#9   http://www.freelancesecurity.com

Just as the name suggests, this is a “Bulletin Board” of sorts where jobs are posted. A lot of private investigation work, surveillance, fraud detection. Post your services as a security consultant here to be considered for employment opportunities.

 #8   http://www.myspace.com

This is a place to promote yourself and your services. A lot of my friends gave me a hard time when I created a profile here (’cause a lot of young people use this site) BUT I have been able to reconnect with so many old colleagues and friends, and have heard from so many people with similar interests that I think it merits a spot in my Top Ten.

#7 http://www.linkedin.com

“Grown-Up” version of MySpace. Another place for you to post a profile and network with like-minded individuals in this field. Find old friends and make new ones! Good for self-advertising.

#6 http://industry-icon.com/blog/

My buddy Elijah Shaw’s ongoing blog. Smart guy, with interesting information to impart. Currently working as Usher’s bodyguard. (Sorry, my friend, but I had to rank my website a little higher than yours–hope you understand!)

#5 http://www.specopsadvantage.com

A website connecting Security personnel with employers. Database of over 20,000 resumes. Definitely a military slant, most individuals have armed services backgrounds.

#4 http://www.bodyguardcareers.com
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Yup, we love our own website! Harlan Austin has 20+ years of celebrity and executive protection experience. Job listings, insider tips and on-the-job stories as well as timely articles relating to Executive Protection. Growing database of talent, connecting buyers to security personnel.

#3 http://www.executive-protection-news.com

Bruce Alexander runs Executive-Protection-News. He is the President of All Source Consulting Group LLC, and instructor to the US Department of State. He really knows his stuff. This is a solid website with good info, I like the site so much that I put it ahead of my own!

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#2 http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/bodyguard

Yahoo’s Bodyguard And Executive Protection Forum is a list of professionals who offer bodyguarding and executive protection services. Primary purpose is to share ideas, techniques and resources as well as network with other professionals involved in the industry.
#1 http://tacticalforums.com

This is the Granddaddy of all Bodyguard sites, with a wealth of information. I personally visit frequently. Top-notch site.

Each one of BTI courses is tailored according to each student, something you should look for in an Executive Protection academy.

This course is all inclusive from training to lodging and meals, *Includes lunch and dinner daily, lodging is 2 students per room where applicable.

Course also includes 30 state CCW permit course** and copy of the EPS 1 Training Manual. BTI offers veteran and team discounts, please call today for details.
Call 805-497-3907
**Only students who pre-qualify will be granted CCW/Weapons training.
Please mention that you saw this ad on bodyguardcareers.com

I have known David for years and he is a man of integrity, intelligence and an expert in the arena of Executive Protection. I highly recommend his training program and materials for any aspiring EPS/Bodyguard. If you are interested in learning more about this line of work, LaManno’s materials are an excellent starting point.

To learn more about David LaManno, and his company, Bodyguard Training International go to: http://www.usabodyguards.com/

Strong.
Funny.
Firm.
Competitive.
Outgoing.

Most people recognized him back in the day–At 6’8″ nearly 400 pounds, and with his distinctive Santa Claus beard, Charles”Big Chick” Huntsberry became something of a celebrity in his own right. Prince’s former bodyguard had a cameo appearance in the film Purple Rain, and served as his lead bodyguard until 1985.

Hard to believe it has been 17 years since his passing. He was only 49.

I first met Big Chick when my buddy Brown Mark invited me along to a few band rehearsals. Big Chick had been in Law Enforcement in Tennessee at one time, and worked for the band AC/DC. After meeting Chick, I was inspired to do this type of work, and thankfully, Brown Mark put in a good word for me. I was a big guy, but both guys pretty much laughed when I naively stated “I want to be a bodyguard, too.” I spent the next 6 months working out like crazy –yes, I was under the assumption you just needed to be big to be a bodyguard (see What It Means To Be Professional) to learn the truth about this career!) Big Chick thought I had the right personality and attitude for the job, and saw the work I’d put into getting physically fit. He gave me my first job as a bodyguard.

He then taught me there was a lot more to the work than being a big man.

Big Chick and I spent a lot of time together on the road in the mid-1980s, working on the Purple Rain tour. He was a funny, funny guy who loved to laugh, loved to cuss, and was constantly busting me with practical jokes. I remember the one time I got him pretty good, though. I went to his room and knocked on his closed and locked hotel door…well, what he didn’t know was that I had my stun gun on the metal door handle, and hit the juice, so when he tried to open it to let me in, he got a little jolt. He yelped, then tried it again. Another jolt. “What’s wrong?” I asked, “I keep getting shocked when I touch the M.F. door,” he replied. (Insert any number of colorful expletives) I told him it was probably a malfunction with the electronic card reader, and to try again. Well, I zapped him a coupla times, then put away my stun gun.

WELL one of my road brothers squealed on me and Big Chick got wind of how I’d messed with him. I was put back on luggage detail for a few weeks–the crummiest, lowest task to deal with on tour. He was the boss, though, and he had the last laugh!

Big Chick had the most sinister laugh–he’d stick his tongue out the side of his mouth, and laugh that evil little laugh–and you’d just KNOW you were in for some trouble. Because he was such a big man, he’d often split his pants–and he’d get so mad!! Meanwhile, we’d all nearly cry from laughing–which would just make him more angry.

One of the funniest things I can recall is when Big Chick decided to design uniforms for all of the bodyguards in the entourage. I still cringe when I think about it. He designed suits that were double-breasted, purple satin with white belts. We looked like little school patrol boys. All the guys argued and complained and told him we really didn’t want to wear those uniforms. He insisted we put them on. So, we’re all standing there, when Prince comes in to rehearsal. He takes one look at all of us and FALLS out laughing…if I remember correctly, he said Big Chick and all of us looked like “Friar Tuck and his Merry Men.” We never had to wear those again. I did feel kind of bad for Chick though–he had the best of intentions and was so earnest in his attempt to get the guys looking sharp.

I miss Big Chick, he was a good man to work with and really made those days on the road fun. We worked hard, but we sure laughed hard and played hard, too. He once told Gilbert and I “you two are like my sons–and I didn’t used to like black people.” Given that he was a good ‘ole boy from Tennessee, I took that as a big compliment.

I guess you could say we both taught each other something important.

I Love the 80′s but talk about bad fashion statements. I’m sure I was on the 1984 bodyguard top ten for worst dressed.

See link: Worst Dressed Bodyguards

Have a safe weekend

Hucky