When I bounced 10 years ago it was very violent on hip hop night especially. Always violent fights. But we had gansta rappers at our club. When Too Short was there I kept my back to the wall the whole time. I never let anyone get behind me as a rule. The night my knee was destroyed I had two choices:
1. Let my friend get popped in the face and take out the guy who was coming up behind me.
2. Take the guy down who had a free shot at my friend's face but leave my back vulnerable.
I'd make the same choice again even though some local bad ass swept my left knee from behind as I had the weight of myself, my friend, and the guy I had by the throat, all on my left leg which at the time and still currently has a detached ACL. My knee cap was totally torn off and about 4 inches above my leg. I was completely vulnerable during the big fight that ensueded. One of my buddies nearly snapped the guy's neck that hurt me. I honestly thought his neck was going to snap.
The next week the club was shot up in a drive by. Sonehow the shooters missed all the patrons.
I ran with a hardcore crowd back then. It's a miracle I made it through.
After I had my knee surgery I needed money and was living in my car so I ended up bouncing alone at a bar that Hell's Angels marked as theirs. I knew I couldn't fight with my knee so I got as huge as I possibly could to prevent issues. I was always extremely respectful to the bikers. When I saw a bad ass at any club I worked at after that I made sure to introduce myself to the obvious leader, and befriend them. You'd be surprised how those who are looked at as bad, and who very terrible things, will go out of their way to protect a friend. I found this with gang members as well. You respect them, and they return the favor, even more so than your traditional "good person."