Safety Meeting Script

When encountering a potentially dangerous patron, it’s absolutely normal to experience heightened
adrenaline and other emotional/physiological effects. Please remember: it is never an employee’s
responsibility to “be nice” or “represent the organization in a positive light” if the employee feels threatened
in any way (physically or emotionally.) An employee of SLO REP should not worry about any possible negative
repercussions from the organization when dealing with an abusive patron.

Never-the-less, our human instincts to “be nice” often take over, and it is sometime difficult to find the right
words to diffuse an unacceptable situation.

SCRIPT FOR DIFFUSING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PATRONS (IN LOBBY):

As soon as you feel personally uncomfortable, say one (or more) of the following:

“You are making me feel uncomfortable-can you please move away from me?”

 This is especially effective when there are other people within earshot. In a controlled environment
like the lobby, saying this loud enough for others to hear it is usually enough for others to notice and
prepare to step in, discouraging any escalation on the part of the perpetrator.

“Let me get my supervisor from (upstairs) (backstage) (the back) to speak with you.”

 If you know that there is another employee/key volunteer on the premises, saying this in a loud voice
and then moving toward the area where that person is can be an effective response.

If no one else is in the building, the safest place to go is outside (in public-even at nighttime in our
area-preferably out FRONT, although, if you do go out BACK you can make your way to PALM street quickly. If
you are alone and feeling threatened, do not worry about leaving the aggressor in the theatre by themselves.
Get out of the nearest exit and into a public area ASAP. If the aggressor follows you, begin yelling/attracting
attention to the situation.

This is will be an ongoing discussion for the staff and volunteers of SLO REP. As always, please let your
supervisor know if any one of our policies or procedures is making you feel uncomfortable; our employee’s
safety and comfort is our #1 priority.
WHEN TO CALL THE POLICE- (805) 781-7317

The question of when to call the police is a complicated one. Of course, if an employee, volunteer, or patron
is ever in an immediately threatening situation, 911 should be called; however, calling the non-emergency
police is a decision based on many factors. There are too many possible variables to address them all, so, here
are some general guidelines:

An employee should call the San Luis Obispo Police Department if:

 Transient(s) are congregating on the front/back patio during a period when patrons will be there and
after being asked to leave, they do not.

 There has been a suspected theft of personal/theatre property at any time during regular operational
hours.

 Non-ticketed people enter the premises when patrons are there and do not leave after being asked.

In nearly all cases, staff should verbally notify the person that the theatre and immediate surrounding areas
(font and back patio) are private property and that they will be calling the police in 1 minute if they do not
leave.

Again, if there is any immediate danger, call 911. If you call the non-emergency police, it will usually take
between 5-30 minutes for them to arrive.