WHEN you're looking after one of the biggest stars in the world, the devil is in the details, as Taylor Swift's security team has come to find out.
Superstar singer Taylor certainly looks like she's loving life right now, whether it's taking in boyfriend Travis Kelce's NFL games or selling out stadiums on her blockbuster tours.
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But with Taylor's exalted fame and fortune come increased risks - and so she and fellow "high-net-worth" individuals are shielded by specialists who plan a journey with them every step of the way.
Protective Security expert Peter Dalton, who was part of the planning for Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 and the arrival into the UK of Donald Trump the following year, knows exactly the lengths celebrities take to ensure maximum safety.
The Ready for It singer is the center of attention whenever she's seen, and although many are fans just eager to see their idol in the flesh, her security guards will be on alert for anyone trying to get too close.
The work that goes into the whole trip from the start, however, is exhaustive and packed full of detail.
Dalton, who is working on next summer's Paris Olympics and has previously assisted with the security operation at the soccer World Cup, showed The U.S. Sun how some close protection officers - " I don't like bodyguards - it sounds too Hollywood," he clarifies - use the OnePlan program, which details everything in an app, from safe routes to entry details at the stadium or venue.
No stone is left unturned - and there's optimal focus not just at the event they've traveled to, but at all times.
Thanks to social media, it's not hard to find out if your favorite star is out and about, so security at the celebrities' homes is similarly ramped up.
"Stars like Taylor would have the kind of security similar to a member of the Royal family or government official," Dalton told The U.S. Sun.
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When Taylor tells her security detail she's planning on watching Travis and his NFL champs the Kansas City Chiefs, calls are made to the stadium manager - ordinarily someone with a background in law enforcement, the FBI, or the military - to get the ball rolling.
Her team would make contact without disclosing her identity straight off the bat, describing her as a "high net worth individual."
These code words would indicate a process of arriving and leaving the venue would be needed, and appropriate plans would be put into place.
Arriving into the VIP suites, away from the fans in the stands, can be a low-key way of starting off the night, but once faces start appearing on the screens or word gets around, Dalton says, from a security perspective, the "dynamic changes quickly."
"You start worrying about the worst-case scenario," he said.
Dalton admits the chances of physical harm are low, but there's still a job to do. Fans think they can get too close, cameras and other media also attempt to take their share of the action.
The security team, which could cost upwards of $3 million a year for 24/7 protection, is there not just to keep the stars safe, but also to ensure their experience can be as hassle-free and normal as possible.
"A large part of close protection is maintaining the dignity and the discretion of your clients," he added.
Away from sporting events or nights on the town, even everyday rituals come with a protection plan.
The amount of security during a trip to Starbucks may be reduced - yet different threats appear.
Dalton, who trains Interpol and police teams as a Protective Security, Major Events, and Incident command consultant, says the advancement of computer hackers means A-listers, just like everyone else, are at risk of having their personal data taken.
A seemingly harmless act of nipping onto a coffee shop or restaurant's Wi-Fi could leave people open for a rapid cyber attack.
Dalton has seen it happen a number of times and knows it's not hard to pull off.
"It's easy - and if you are a technical person with open source intelligence training, they are going to know your movements and habits," he revealed.
When Lionel Messi made a star-studded entrance into MLS this season, Inter Miami's DRV PNK Stadium had never seen anything like it.
Owner David Beckham always brought some glitz and glamour - but now Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, and Diddy were all taking in the action with him.
Messi, whose own security guard has been a social media hit after clips of him protecting the Argentina superstar went viral, has a Swift-like effect on crowds.
That inspired OnePlan to create their very own GOAT security package which they claim has "all the tools you need for the superstar’s visit. Plan for the team bus journey, plot zones for the away fans, place the GOAT’s bodyguard, add the VIP guestlist and so much more."
"Stadiums are witnessing an increase in fans, an influx of celebrity spectators, and a surge in media coverage," said a company spokesman.
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"The stakes have never been higher when it comes to planning, security and logistics."
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