Does your event involve participants continuously flowing through over multiple hours? This project shows how I keep long shifts operationally tight, with attention to safety, participant flow and real-time adjustments. The execution holds up even under fatigue and pressure.
Context
ESN organized a 24-hour "sled push" world record event at Rotterdam Central Station, with the
public, commuters, and a continuous livestream. The event had to meet the official record
requirements while also running safely and smoothly in a busy station environment.
Challenge
A record attempt in a public, high-traffic location adds extra complexity: there's a constant
flow of participants and spectators, while you also have to comply with venue rules (NS), safety
requirements, crowd control, and strict timing.
At the same time, registration must be fully reliable and the experience needs to stay strong
for both on-site audiences and the livestream.
My Responsibility
I was responsible for a team of 15 crew members during the first 12 hours
and led the full on-floor execution:
welcoming, guiding, and briefing participants (rules + schedule)
facilitating warm-up and getting participants ready
ensuring compliance with rules (record rules + venue/NS agreements)
coordinating safety and injury response together with first aid
managing backstage/access control (participants only in warm-up/gear areas)
supporting the audience experience through alignment with the host
live tracking of pushes per record-organization requirements (including spot checks)
coordinating with the social media team and the 24/7 livestream crew
Planning & Execution (my shift)
36 participants split into groups of 6
Each group pushed for 2 hours, meaning timing, changeovers, and pacing had to stay tight
Continuous staffing at the busiest points to prevent congestion (warm-up, start/finish, backstage)
Continuous alignment with host/livestream to keep the event tight for both on-site and online audiences
Result / Delivery
Smooth execution of the first 12 hours within a 24-hour live record setting
Safe, controlled operations in a busy station environment, in line with venue/NS agreements
Reliable registration per record requirements, with successful checks
World record achieved! 🏆
Skills
Event operations • Team lead (15) • Run of show • Participant management • Crowd/guest flow •
Safety & incident handling (with first aid) • Access control • Live tracking/registration •
Stakeholder coordination • Communication under pressure
Interested in working together?
I help organisations with event management, brand activations and operational execution on location
