How the locks work
Vinyl: a snap fastener that locks once. It can't be opened again, so the band has to be cut to be removed.
Woven: a plastic lock with barbs. The band is pulled tight through the lock but can't be loosened. It is removed with scissors.
Tyvek: a self-adhesive tab with cuts that make the band tear if someone tries to peel it off. We don't sell Tyvek wristbands at the moment.
How bands get passed on
- The band is loose and is pulled off over the hand.
- The band is cut and repaired with tape, glue or a knot.
- Yesterday's band is used again.
- Unused bands disappear from the storeroom.
- A plain band with no print can be bought somewhere else.
At the door
- Let staff put the band on, not the guest.
- Tighten it so it can't be pulled over the hand, but not so tight that it chafes.
- Look at the lock at every pass. A repaired band shows.
- Refuse bands with tape, glue or a knot.
- Teach all entrance staff the colour system before doors open.
Make the band hard to copy
A woven band with a ready-made design or your own artwork is harder to imitate than a plain-colour band. It costs nothing extra, because woven bands are printed in full colour.
Change the colour every day or night and print the day on the band. Then yesterday's band is worthless. How to build the system is covered in the guide to colour-coded wristbands.
On vinyl, the combination of band colour, ink colour and text is harder to match than a colour alone.
Handle the bands like cash
Unused bands are tickets. Count them when they are delivered and keep them locked away. Give each entrance a set number and count back what is left at closing.
Leftover day bands are used up when the day ends. Cut them up.
How cut and unused bands are dealt with afterwards is covered in the guide to environment and waste.
Questions and answers
Can a vinyl band be taken off and put back on?+
No. The snap fastener locks once and the band has to be cut to be removed.
Can a woven band be loosened?+
No. The plastic lock has barbs that only let the band through in one direction. It can be tightened but not loosened, and it is removed with scissors.
How tight should the band be?+
Tight enough that it can't be pulled over the hand, but not so tight that it chafes.
Which band is hardest to cheat with?+
One that changes colour every day and has a print of its own. Woven bands in full colour with a ready-made design or your own artwork are the hardest to imitate.