Bouncers in nightclubs: licensed, or just louts??
Discussion
I always thought there was some new code that doormen have to work to, tests to be done, licenses to be applied for, to make sure they are up to a certain standard of service.
Well, last night my wife and I were in a local club and in the space of about three hours we saw six different people physically ejected from the club. There was not of this Roadhouse style 'take it outside' stuff, they were literally bounced about all the way out, scattering people hither and yon, drinks going everywhere, no finesse in the slightest, no special holding techniques, just a crowd of bullies enjoying their work by the look of it.
Disgusting. I feel like making a complaint, but I'm sure I'd be wasting my time.
I also saw some absolutely stunning women in nurses uniforms, part of a hen party I think.
Well, last night my wife and I were in a local club and in the space of about three hours we saw six different people physically ejected from the club. There was not of this Roadhouse style 'take it outside' stuff, they were literally bounced about all the way out, scattering people hither and yon, drinks going everywhere, no finesse in the slightest, no special holding techniques, just a crowd of bullies enjoying their work by the look of it.
Disgusting. I feel like making a complaint, but I'm sure I'd be wasting my time.
I also saw some absolutely stunning women in nurses uniforms, part of a hen party I think.

yep, friend does it and they now have to be registered but so what ?? The bloke he use to work with was a total plank and sounds like one of the guys you saw last night.
My friend on the other hand manages to talk most people out of punching him or somebody else. (I also get to sneak in around the back when the front door is locked).
My friend on the other hand manages to talk most people out of punching him or somebody else. (I also get to sneak in around the back when the front door is locked).
to be fair i've got 2 good mates who are bouncers. 1 liscenced 1 not and you do get to see the other side of it. you're standing out in the cold and you've got a cocky little chav acting like a child on red bull. not justifying ( spelt wrong i know)it but you can appreciate it's a thankless job.
King Herald said:
scattering people hither and yon, drinks going everywhere
Slightly O/T, but many years ago I was at a "discotheque" on new years eve and just before the clock struck 12, the bouncers removed a couple of lads. In the process they thumped into me from behind and knocked the round of freshly purchased drinks that I was carrying down my g/f. I had the nerve to mention this to another bouncer and was promptly picked up by the neck and thrown out just as midnight arrived....... 
I know lots of doormen and have a few in the family. None of them are meatheads as descibed.
None seek violence, but some of the absoluute muppetry they have to put up with is amazing.
However there are a number of small minded imbeciles in the industry that Im sure enjoy dishing out a beting and the power.
None seek violence, but some of the absoluute muppetry they have to put up with is amazing.
However there are a number of small minded imbeciles in the industry that Im sure enjoy dishing out a beting and the power.
There are good bouncers and bad bouncers.
When I was a lot younger there was one particular bouncer in a nightclub I used to go to regularly who was always trying to find an excuse to get into a fight with me. I've no idea why as I never started any trouble...although I probably looked like trouble back then. Anyway, one night I was walking down the stairs (two storey staircase) in this club and he came up behind and gave me an almighty shove in an attempt to throw me down the stairs. Luckily I kept my balance but ended up being thrown accross the pavement and into oncoming traffic! Again, by sheer luck I didn't get run over.
So yeah, there are some absolutely psychotic bouncers, but most are ok.
When I was a lot younger there was one particular bouncer in a nightclub I used to go to regularly who was always trying to find an excuse to get into a fight with me. I've no idea why as I never started any trouble...although I probably looked like trouble back then. Anyway, one night I was walking down the stairs (two storey staircase) in this club and he came up behind and gave me an almighty shove in an attempt to throw me down the stairs. Luckily I kept my balance but ended up being thrown accross the pavement and into oncoming traffic! Again, by sheer luck I didn't get run over.
So yeah, there are some absolutely psychotic bouncers, but most are ok.
There are a complete cross section of people who "work the doors"
Until two years ago, I had spent the majority of my working life in nightclub/pub venues working as a DJ.
The quality of door staff has improved tenfold in more recent years - twenty years ago, it was a very different story to today.
Yes, there are some real egos working the doors despite SIA registration, but I think these days the good staff far outweigh the bad.
If you see a ruck kicking off involving door staff regularly at a venue, then perhaps that says more about the venue than anything else. (OK, it could be a venue with a poor door policy)
But I have worked in BIG venues, one for example that have a very relaxed entrance policy (basically anyone gets in except for obvious troublemakers and extreme chavs) but any trouble (and there was plenty) was dealt with quickly, quietly, and efficiently. The head doorman (who was a chap that on appearance is someone you would NOT want to upset!) was extremely polite to everyone, friendly to everyone on entry, and very, very good at his job - in fact in most cases when trouble brewed, and he became involved, he would talk it down and calm things before any hands were raised.
He was responsible for the hiring of all of his staff (rather than having them forced on him from above) - hence the venue having a good reputation for a good night out without any trouble - despite the fact that the trouble DID happen.
Until two years ago, I had spent the majority of my working life in nightclub/pub venues working as a DJ.
The quality of door staff has improved tenfold in more recent years - twenty years ago, it was a very different story to today.
Yes, there are some real egos working the doors despite SIA registration, but I think these days the good staff far outweigh the bad.
If you see a ruck kicking off involving door staff regularly at a venue, then perhaps that says more about the venue than anything else. (OK, it could be a venue with a poor door policy)
But I have worked in BIG venues, one for example that have a very relaxed entrance policy (basically anyone gets in except for obvious troublemakers and extreme chavs) but any trouble (and there was plenty) was dealt with quickly, quietly, and efficiently. The head doorman (who was a chap that on appearance is someone you would NOT want to upset!) was extremely polite to everyone, friendly to everyone on entry, and very, very good at his job - in fact in most cases when trouble brewed, and he became involved, he would talk it down and calm things before any hands were raised.
He was responsible for the hiring of all of his staff (rather than having them forced on him from above) - hence the venue having a good reputation for a good night out without any trouble - despite the fact that the trouble DID happen.
I worked in a bar when I was 18, all the bouncers would meet up at our pub after closing time because our boss and head of security were married.
The guys who ran the security firm were really nice, very professional and courteous. The rest were jumped up to**ers of the highest order, thick as pig s
t and enjoyed hurting people.
The guys who ran the security firm were really nice, very professional and courteous. The rest were jumped up to**ers of the highest order, thick as pig s
t and enjoyed hurting people.King Herald said:
I always thought there was some new code that doormen have to work to, tests to be done, licenses to be applied for, to make sure they are up to a certain standard of service.
Well, last night my wife and I were in a local club and in the space of about three hours we saw six different people physically ejected from the club. There was not of this Roadhouse style 'take it outside' stuff, they were literally bounced about all the way out, scattering people hither and yon, drinks going everywhere, no finesse in the slightest, no special holding techniques, just a crowd of bullies enjoying their work by the look of it.
Disgusting. I feel like making a complaint, but I'm sure I'd be wasting my time.
I also saw some absolutely stunning women in nurses uniforms, part of a hen party I think.
i was going to say it sounds like you were in the wrong club, but the last part of your post might have changed my mindWell, last night my wife and I were in a local club and in the space of about three hours we saw six different people physically ejected from the club. There was not of this Roadhouse style 'take it outside' stuff, they were literally bounced about all the way out, scattering people hither and yon, drinks going everywhere, no finesse in the slightest, no special holding techniques, just a crowd of bullies enjoying their work by the look of it.
Disgusting. I feel like making a complaint, but I'm sure I'd be wasting my time.
I also saw some absolutely stunning women in nurses uniforms, part of a hen party I think.

i think alot of bouncers dont really give a f
k tbh.
was out side a club not long ago. just watching the queue go in you could see how they worked. group of girls, head in, no id. couple of guys, stopped, asked for id then let in.
even mixed groups the girls wouldnt get stopped but the guys would.
and a mate of mine got kicked in by some bouncers at the same club. all because he told a guy who kept asking if he has ecstacy to f
k off and he got annoyed.
k tbh. was out side a club not long ago. just watching the queue go in you could see how they worked. group of girls, head in, no id. couple of guys, stopped, asked for id then let in.
even mixed groups the girls wouldnt get stopped but the guys would.
and a mate of mine got kicked in by some bouncers at the same club. all because he told a guy who kept asking if he has ecstacy to f
k off and he got annoyed. rhinochopig said:
Mmmm, reminds me of the girls in uniforms...... 
I'm not sure I'd actually want to be a doorman/bouncer in this club we were at, as there were a couple of scary looking punters in there. One was was Croatian, hanging about with several good looking girls and some other solid guys, but he was close resemblance to Ken Shamrock (the UFC fighter/trainer) in build, with a pretty scarred looking face, never caused any trouble though.
Another was a young guy, with an incredibly aggressive looking face, and a pretty solid build, he just looked incredibly angry all the time. It was one of them times where you don't want to stare, but you can't help looking back every do often.

Another big black guy grabbed my arm every time he passed by, squeezed it and smiled at me, like he knew me. I saw him get kicked out on his ear by four bouncers later on.

I don't go out more than once every couple of months, but this is usually such a nice quiet town.....

I used to be manage a club and worked with 5 doorman who were all registered but agency and one night drunk man weilding a knife comes attacking, 5 doorman go running never to be seen again, leaving me (5ft 1" lass) and the 60 yr old owner to handle it.
There are some good doorman, but there is just as many thugs but then working in a nightclub is not the easiest thing have never seen to much drama in one job. Oh the stories I could tell
the desk where I sat had 4 bullet holes in the wall behind it.
There are some good doorman, but there is just as many thugs but then working in a nightclub is not the easiest thing have never seen to much drama in one job. Oh the stories I could tell
the desk where I sat had 4 bullet holes in the wall behind it. Edited by kit80 on Sunday 5th October 15:21
A mate used to run a club.
All the blokes on the door and in the club were very friend;y and professional, just how the average punter would want them to be.
However reserved in a back office were four others, not often allowed out to play and then only when necessary.
Sometimes being nice just isn't enough.
All the blokes on the door and in the club were very friend;y and professional, just how the average punter would want them to be.
However reserved in a back office were four others, not often allowed out to play and then only when necessary.
Sometimes being nice just isn't enough.
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Quite hypnotic 