OT: bouncing gigs...

cal · Aug 26, 2005

Guys that info. on bouncing at bars, clubs, strip clubs, please chime in...

Im waiting to hear back on my future career (just graduated from grad school) but the wait could be 8-9 months before i land a job in my chosen line of work...

i have a buddy from gym that says he might be able to find a gig at a club, working as bouncer, ...and im gonna check out a club that is hiring...

questions:

what is the best way to get this kind of job, not like they really post these jobs,

what should i avoid in meeting with owner/manager...

any other tips comments would be appreciated...

thanks.

Steak Helmet · Aug 26, 2005

I ran a nightclub for 5 years...I look at character...if you are always acting tough I would fire you in a heartbeat. Be confident, but never ever act like you own the joint. As patrons get drunk they get liquid courage...if you are acting like billy bad ass, they will try something with you or cause something to get you involved. Let the owner know that you talk people through things, but if a fight does break out, you will snag one of them and take them out the door. LEave the other in the club for 10 to 20 minutes until the guy has a chance to leave the area. then excort the other out...just let them know he is done there for the night and he can come back in the future.

If you are good sized and confident, I would hire you, but if I sense billy bad ass attitude, I woudl not hire you. greet people when they come in...people are there to have fun.

Mr Pickles · Aug 26, 2005

dont ask him while you're drinking... go in just for that... stop in a few times and BEHAVE

we had a few guys that seemed great then once they got comfy with the MGR, they got drunk and acted a fool.. no hire

and you're right, you cant be billy badass... just be nice

i got out of a lot of fights cuz i was nice to all the customers and asked them to do me a personal favor and just walk away from a fight... easier than breaking up a fight... being nice and getting to know the regulars (and getting them on your side ) will get you 90% of the way there.... quick thinking and whoopin ass will cover the other 10%

big_byrd52 · Aug 26, 2005

Just go by a few times and hang out with ur friend. get him to introduce u to everyone, and it will fall into place.

Steak Helmet · Aug 26, 2005

Booucing is fun...you meet a lot of people and for some reason the ladies like it

BUT!!!! remember to keep you eyes open. I did not mind the staff talking with some ladies, BUT you need to keep your head on a swivle(sp).

Do you job and I am sure if you manager is cool he will not mind you chatting with people. Just work hard and be smart about things.

bigbaldbulldog · Aug 26, 2005

alot can happen

I have worked in bars 20 years and i have bounced several of that...it is not an easy job and when thinsg go wrong they can go really wrong...know who you are working for and with...your fellow bouncers are the ones that will have your back and if noone has your back Cal your toast in this line of work..

expect injuries and trips to the hospital as part of job and hope it does not happen..you can only learn how to do this job "on the job" and things that you learn the wrong way hurt you or others...if you do not have to do this i woudl avoid it..i work at several bars in the Central New York area so maybe we'll run into each other...but first

Queefer · Aug 26, 2005

If you are bigger then most of the guys that work there and are a pleasant easy going guy, you'll get hired, no problem.

The Myth · Aug 26, 2005

Like BBB said...

When things go south, they can really go south. Make sure the other guys in the club have your back. If something break out, you will be a prime target for some sucker punchers to have a freebie at your expense. I have been there and sometimes at the end of the day you have to ask yourself, is the job work the risk.

JustWannaBeHuge · Aug 26, 2005

I don't mean to hijack his thread, but is it the same for strip clubs? I've gone to the flynt club in baltimore a few times and most of their bouncers are small guys. one of the dancers told me I should try to bounce there as she said i was "hulky" I could use the extra bucks, so i been thinking about it.

JW

Big A · Aug 27, 2005

JustWannaBeHuge said:
I don't mean to hijack his thread, but is it the same for strip clubs? I've gone to the flynt club in baltimore a few times and most of their bouncers are small guys. one of the dancers told me I should try to bounce there as she said i was "hulky" I could use the extra bucks, so i been thinking about it.

JW

Strip bars are easy - no trouble ever happens and they pay MUCH better than normal clubs. But they are BOOOOORIIIINGGG!!!

Steak Helmet · Aug 27, 2005

just don't start humping all the strippers....WAIT just do not let the boss find out if you do

the worst is having to stop some guy jerking off under the table.

bigbaldbulldog · Aug 27, 2005

been there done that

I worked in a strip club for 18 months and hated it the last 17 months...the drama, bullshit and drug use is insane and i felt like a father and babysitter to everyone of one them..

They bitched all the time about how they hate it, how they guys treated them like hookers and how they didn't make squat for cash that night...i'd love to show off my boobs for 5 hours and make $800 cash and never clam it and cry poverty...or they rip soem guy off for lap dances and tell him he owes for 8 songs ($200) and he really got 5 songs ($125)..and i have to smooth it over

But back to the point, i had more problems at my strip club since sooo many of these girls made these guys feel like they were boyfriends that when they found out they were not and that most of them had husbands and kids they went nuts... it is a differnt type and element of society that i do not care to ever work in one again..

have your back at all times bro covered or you will get jacked...make friends in the club with patrons and your stay there can be a lot easier and safer

STEVO 47 · Aug 27, 2005

I worked one of the largest and most popular night clubs in the baltimore
area back in the early 80's. and man, I could tell you stories you wouldn't
believe.

BigMatt · Aug 27, 2005

Why would you take the risk?
One of my friend was boucing for many months...
It's dangerous bro... Some guy slam his beer bottle on his head and he needed surgery to remove all the glass pieces stuck in his head...

If you like "club" environnement why would you not aplly for Barman?(If your good looking and have a great personality)
Those guys make money AND get the girls easier..Trust me i was once one...

AWN2004 · Aug 27, 2005

Working in a strip club is ,in my opinion, easier than bouncing at a bar in say a college town or wherever. Most bars in the popular spots and college towns in particular, are like fight clubs. You get a lot of drunk, younger guys and chicks in there and shit can go south in a hurry. Strip bars, on the other hand, kind of have this unspoken rule that if you get out of line somebody is going to escort you out of the building and use your head to open the door on the way out. The cash is great and if you are in a large club (50+ girls) on the weekends you can rake in the cash. Most strip bars kind of have the bouncers act as bar backs at the end of the night so expect to do all the odds and ends such as cleaning and getting things back to order. A word to the wise.....don't sleep with any of the girls. Strippers will hold that shit over your head and you will never get tipped out again. Money is more important than a piece. You are the girls and the clubs insurance policy so to speak so just remember that and do your job well and youll get paid really well. I know from expierence that club managers like straight shooters with a good head on their shoulders. All the guys that ever got hired at the place I worked were refered to us from other bouncers or they came in the afternoon before we opened and talked with the manager. Dealing with the "problems" at the club were not that bad. Usually a guy gets tanked and does not have money to pay for a dance or gets so wasted he passes out. Very few fights broke out and they never really got heated due to the fact there were allways cops in the parking lot. But most club owners are used to having big dudes and bodybuilders as security so they were allways cool with us taking little breaks to eat our meals as long as we had the floor covered. It was one of the best part time jobs I ever had that paid better than most full time ones. On a good night Id make about 275-325 in tips and my hourly was 10 and hour. Not a bad gig while you are not tied down.

STEVO 47 · Aug 27, 2005

BigMatt said:
Why would you take the risk?
One of my friend was boucing for many months...
It's dangerous bro... Some guy slam his beer bottle on his head and he needed surgery to remove all the glass pieces stuck in his head...

If you like "club" environnement why would you not aplly for Barman?(If your good looking and have a great personality)
Those guys make money AND get the girls easier..Trust me i was once one...

OOOOH the good ol days.

cal · Aug 28, 2005

If you like "club" environnement why would you not aplly for Barman?(If your good looking and have a great personality)
Those guys make money AND get the girls easier..Trust me i was once one...

Because I know how to make about 3 drinks...