Having DJ’d for around eight years in Anchorage, and having been a clubgoer for many years both before and after my DJ years, I’ve worked with and seen a lot of both really good, and really bad people. Ogre, the doorman at the Vogue, is definitely one of the good ones. He’s just put up two posts that I loved.
First off, what he looks for when hiring bouncers (which also explains much of why I’ve found him to be one of the best bouncers I’ve met):
I have some hard and fast criteria for the bouncers I hire. Right off the bat i have the three rules:
- Talk some serious shit. I’d rather you never even touch the person you’re throwing out. This requires a quick wit, an even temper, and a good understanding of how to read people. I had one bouncer who could get people to leave by saying “Leave.” and then staring at them and not saying anything, so it’s not just what you say.
And secondly, some generic advice for clubgoers:
Drunk normal guys looking to score with hot death chicks with no frame of reference:\
You suck and should be bludgeoned to death with a street sign.Metal guys who think that a fishnet shirt will make them goth: Most of us think you’re an assclown.
Much more on each of those links, of course.
I ran a bar in Valdez Alaska and had a rock band every weekend. My bouncer was a 22 yrold (looked 16) but other than a baby face was a dead ringer for Hoss Cartwright http://bonanza1.com/hoss/
That is if you remember Bonanza? http://bonanza1.com/
In a year of hard rock and roll weekends I never ever, EVER saw him throw a punch, not one fight! He sweet talked everyone right out the door. Most of them didn’t even know they were being “bounced” till he closed the cab door and tapped on the roof. Often times he would say “Now you call me in the morning, and I’ll come pick you up and bring you back to your car” And he did!
When he gave his notice because he was going off to college it broke my heart.
I like clubs with bouncers like that! Muscles, Talent and Brains.
My hats off to the hard working men and women that man the clubs every night!
And either I was a great clubgoer, Or I can’t remember jack s..t.
I remember going to clubs every weekend for years!
But I don’t remember ever doing one single thing on that list?
Long long ago I got fired from a radio station because the boss’ wife didn’t like me.(There is no court of appeals for the boss’s wife.)So I wound up selling tv’s at Silo for a time. Around Xmas Silo would hire club bouncers to stand around the door and deal with the shoplifters.
Our bouncer/”customer service relations host” was Jimmy. Jimmy was only into busting heads. He talked about it the way some guys go on and on about their golf game. Per Jimmy it was a never ending war between himself and “Mr. Billy Badass.”
When I dj’d for three months in the Disco era the closest thing we had to a bouncer was the deadbolt on the dj booth. Granted that didn’t stop the flying beer bottles.
Being a good bouncer has nothing to do with being big or Bruce Lee. It’s all about the attitude that you
have. I’m 6’8″ and somewhere in the neighborhood of 425lbs. and I would much rather talk someone out of
the bar than come to blows with them. Physical contact is bad for everyone involved. The bar loses money,
the patron goes to jail, and if I manage not getting hurt then chances are I’m out a shirt from the
scuffle. People who do this for thrills or to get into fights should probably be working in another career
field. I’ve been at this for almost 19 years and have seen my share of nasty situations. If I had been
looking for trouble I’d probably be buried a long time ago.
Be safe;
Wolf
I’ve worked with “The Big, Bad Wolf” for a long time, and known him even longer.
When we worked together, we had a rule that should have been one of the 10 commandments. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, use the minimum use of force to control the situation. It’s cheaper (breakage and lawsuits), and the customer comes back knowing that he/she is in good hands and protected. Those that screw up know we will brook no crap, and WILL make you leave. Busting heads may get it done in some places, but talking them out is easier, and less painfull on the head.
I work at a bar as a bouncer on the weekends and have seen an increase of tension with the development of new street drugs, as well as beer and liquor. This summer has proven to be weekend fightnight. Even dealing with the largest person outthere can be easy when respect is given and expected. Only a few times have we had to “Muscle” anyone this summer. It is amazing how “NICE” will work with about 90% of the customers. Two weeeks ago I had two Women fighting, they both had each others hair and would not let go. With a little pursuation from a quick choke hol, the women I had in my hands let go. When she stood up, she gained her composure and the hugged me and thanked me, and came back last weekend and appologized for fighting. It’s all how you approach the situation. PARTY ON!!!!!