So you wanna be a rock and roll star...

[yinepus_brat]

You know, people in glass houses, etc, etc. Take for instance, bouncers. Not always the best or brightest in the bunch, right? After all, these guys aren't paid for their brains, they're paid for their muscle mass. They are normally big, most times brooding and or intimidating, and they are ALWAYS FUCKING WATCHING EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING. Those bastards! And they are paid sometimes 50 bucks a night to go to a club, not get to drink the alcohol, and keep the asshole next to you from cold-cocking you, your boyfriend, girlfriend, or significant other. $50.00, let's see. That comes down to, oh what - 8 dollars an hour to stand there all night and do nothing but try to be friendly, and watch the area, and check ID's so the club doesn't get its ass closed down. Oh yes, and make sure you and all your drunken, wacked-out of your mind friends have a good time and don't end up dead on the road (because oh for shame, they cut you or one of your friends off when you've been drinking too much) or kill someone else on the road, or even kill someone else in the club (after all, they also calm situations, keep people from bringing bottles outside, and keep the entire bar safe and secure so that you can have a good time.) This includes keeping possible volitile situations from happening by stopping issues before they even start.

They are the ones that go outside to break up a fight and end up getting shanked with a broken beer bottle, end up in the emergency room getting stitches at 4 AM because some dick they don't even know looked at another guy's girl wrong (but oh, they get paid to do that, right? A big 8 dollars that won't even cover the cost of the sutures) and they are the ones that get pool sticks and golf clubs swung at them (and for the record? I ducked) and help pick you up off the ground and wipe off the tears and the blood when your boyfriend hit you and then hit you again. And are sober enough to be real witnesses for the cops to whoever it was that beat you up, smashed into your car, slashed your tires etc. All for maybe 8, maybe 10 bucks an hour, most times less. A lot less.

All so that you, in your alcoholic-fueled state can rant and rage at how piss-poor the bouncers are and how wrong they are and how your 5 year old can do better etc, etc. How about this. You wanna see what it's like? Stay sober for a night, just one. One freaking night and try to see all the shit, and all the drunken, slobbering people they have to (NICELY I MIGHT ADD) let down because they WON'T fuck them, and how nice they gotta play and how professional and polite they have to be to assholes like the one next to you. One night to break up a fight between three or more people, when you are outside and it's dark and you have to try to maintain control while all these drugged out fucktards around you are losing whatever shit they have.

One night, and then you have the right to bitch.

Until then, close your f'ing trap.

Comments

[iarwain.livejournal.com]

The best compliment I ever got about my bouncers was, "You have security? I never saw any!" - And yes, this was about YOU. That's what I like to hear. (This was from a regular no less!)

Honestly, I'd love to go back to bouncing again. The crap you put up with as a promoter is pretty bad and all the time you have to smile because it's now your job not just to protect othersm, but now you need to make EVERYONE happy. At once. Right now. Even people you think are tools. You gotta keep the peace between the bouncer wanting to kick someone out and the bar owner wanting him to stay. You gotta try and fill the bar with total strangers and hope they actually but something then argue with the bartender about how much the bar made versus how much it would have made if you hadn't done your show. You're the one who has to (nicely!) tell people (including those who run the bar) that you've seen their dumb idea tried a hundred times and it failed every one of them. But worst of all, you're the lynch pin that if it fails YOU are the fall guy. And yes, in NH the promoter has to stay sober, too.

Yeah, I'll bounce ANY day.

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

I bounced in New Orleans as a second job, for fun, and mannn, the things I saw, but I was good, and not one of those fools who do it to prove something. They never last in that field.

[darkenna.livejournal.com]

All too true. Which is why when someone, or a pair of someones, have been keeping the peace at a single location for over a year and a half (and, incidentally, do it so well that even the local PD has commented on the tremendous drop in calls meaning the guys seem to know what they're doing), and keep showing up in spite of all the harassment, annoyance, injuries, and low compensation... you should smile and say "thank you". It means they're good people, and good bouncers.

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

Your typical "something to prove" bouncers seldom keep the peace, in fast I've seen bouncers cause more trouble than not in my experience, but those as you describe above ... who do keep the peace, and quietly, are rare and valuable, for it's the ABSENCE of trouble that signifies a job well done, and it takes far more an understanding of human nature and people than brawn.

[darkenna.livejournal.com]

Indeed!

[mistressnaoko.livejournal.com]

*Hugs*