Keeping Busy

A major survival tactic for Security guards is the art of keeping busy. Certain scenarios require you be on high alert, but for guards in an art museum the biggest fight is staying awake.

Where I work the man-power is not always utilized in the best way. We have some people that work here that are not required on boring days. Even the really important people do not anything, but that is beside the point.

On a daily basis you are given menial tasks. Such as; checking the art, checking your gallery for any anomalies, and doing the daily inventory. We do not know exactly what to check while checking the art, so most just do not do it.

Making sure your gallery is in check is actually done very early in the morning by Maintenance. The paper work we would do if our Manager actually printed it out.

Everyone complains about the paperwork but I personally made a game out of it to speed the day along. Our Lead Officer, or at least one of them, has a hard time on really slow days. He typically gets on the radio every couple of hours to let the office know he’s still there.

Then there are the Rovers or “Floater” officers that just wander around the museum all day. On days like that it really helps to have your laptop with you.