I was thinking about applying for a job as a bouncer in a bar on our main college ave. I am big enough to handle it (and its not fat) and have had some grappling training and general hand-to-hand training. Any thoughts? Any one with experience in this field?

Why not?

Quoted: Why not?

Just getting a consenus. Plus I would get to look forward to beating up drunk uber pretty girly men.

Quoted: I would get to look forward to beating up drunk uber pretty girly men.

Is this a S&M club?  



Seriously, it's easy money and easy pie.  I miss those days....

I put myself through School Bouncing.

Worked from bathroom to doors.

Not a pretty job some nights, But it was the best damned job i ever had. Never had more fun. the things you see and get away with. Just Fn Great!

Definitely a great way to hook up with chickie doos and the fights just make it better.

At 1 point after working for 4 years I was making $350 a night and working some great clubs in L.A. and hollywood!

Not bad for working from 9-3 am.

Quoted: Quoted: I would get to look forward to beating up drunk uber pretty girly men. Is this a S&M club?   Seriously, it's easy money and easy pie.  I miss those days....

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Quoted: I was thinking about applying for a job as a bouncer in a bar on our main college ave. I am big enough to handle it (and its not fat) and have had some grappling training and general hand-to-hand training. Any thoughts? Any one with experience in this field?

I did this for 12 years..

Are you married?  If you are, don't do it, seriously.  If you are single/unattached you will get laid like a madman!

First thing to know and know it good.  You might be big, strong, 8th degree blackbelt, killed 300 VC in the Nam with one hand in a sling.  None of it means shit.  Why?  Because some idiot behind you will whack you with a beer mug/bottle and you will end up inthe hospital for sure.  Remember the best fight to be in is the one that never happens!  Posture and demeanor will keep you out of trouble and you better have a thick skin.  Guy calls you a prick, asshole, curses your kid, whatever, you have to let it slide.  Last thing any bar owner wants is a bouncer going off halfcocked because he was offended by some drunk that just got flagged.  If you have delusions of going out to work and carrying a gun, forget it.  If you have visions of yourself beating people down and all that, you are not right for the job.  If you like to fight, you are not right for the job.  If you can't take people insulting you without getting pissed and wanting to pulverize them, your not right for the job.  I was a bouncer for 4 years before moving up to the manager position.  Nothing causes problems more than an asshole bouncer with an attitude.  Fights have a tendancy to kill atmosphere and patrons generally want to enjoy themselves not dodge idiots rolling on the floor over a game of pool.

All that being said..  I have been in more fights than I care to remember, more than most people on this board I would guess and I hated every one of those instances..  I did the whole martial arts thing, it helped me many times.  Maybe 3 times I used it and hurt someone.  The rest of the time you will be trying to seperate fighting patrons.  It takes some experience(a couple years) to get a feel of how to deal with people.  One thing is always be in charge, not a dick, but the guy in charge.  Never hit anyone first, will get you locked up quicker than you can say it.  If you do hit someone back, be ready for 5 of his friends to jump your ass or see above mentioned bottles flying.  

I can help you out if you want more specifics but there is one general truth..  The hot barmaids will be all yours!  After hours, drinking when all the patrons are gone, they tend to cry the blues, or lament how the guy customers are all dicks.  Play right into it.  They trust you since you are the one protecting them from said assholes.  This turns them on, then you just go from there.  Pussy Galore!  

 Just watch "Roadhouse" a couple dozen times.... (Just kidding)  Sounds like an interesting job.

Quoted: Quoted: Why not? Just getting a consenus. Plus I would get to look forward to beating up drunk uber pretty girly men.

I say no. You have the wrong attitude (unless that was a joke).

I did it for a few years and you do not beat up anybody unless you want to get sued. Sometimes you don't even do that and they try.

I got out of it after I put my hand on a guys chest and gave him a little shove back to stop him from re-entering the bar after he had been put out. He had on some nice new slick cowboy boots and it was snowing a little. His feet went back and he went face down into the pavement resulting in a broken nose. He tried to sue me and the bar, and almost won.

On the plus side, you do get to bang all the chicks that work there.

I definitely agree with the above!

I did it for 7 years been in quite a few fights turned brawls turned knock out drag down in minutes.

The hardest fights were the chicks. Always had a problem seperating then the men and other women get in it.

REMEMBER - most of the time they are drunk. Liquid courage!!

I usually approached hands behind my back and a stern voice when just asking someone to leave. fights well just look at the situation, evaluate and execute.

IT IS NOT PERSONAL?

I usually worked with a staff of 6-8 and handled crowds of 2-3,000 a night. Never would have been able to do it if my emotions were involved or my mind was not working.

I really do miss this job and remind the Ol' lady regularly but I do have a wife now. There were many a night I would come home with blood all over or bruises so she wouldnt put out I mean put up with it anymore!

As corny as it sound. Roadhouse is actually a good movie to describe the temperment you need.

My favorite phrase when they would square off was -----
--  " you can do it 1 of 2 ways! walk out and be a man OR I will carry you out and embarras you the whole way. Either way you ARE leaving!"

Usually worked but it did encite the ones i wanted to rouse.

Oh I miss the job!

Quoted: I did this for 12 years.. ...................If you have visions of yourself beating people down and all that, you are not right for the job.  If you like to fight, you are not right for the job.  ............. Never hit anyone first, will get you locked up quicker than you can say it........

That is a fact. I have only seen or took part in arresting a couple of bouncers. They had the reputation of being a bully and it finally cost them. The best bouncers are the ones we never hear from. They simply take care of their business and go home (or a pie hunt) but not to jail.

I worked security through college.  Your eyes are your best weapon they will tell you who is a problem and who is not. Make friends with regulars they wll be there to back you up when the real shit goes down, don't be afraid to get them a free drink now and then. Also, when you are confronting someone keep your hands up, not in a fist, but up, makes it a lot harder to get sucker punched. If you are a good wrestler/grappler, you will be great. Work your take downs, they will get used alot, submissions will also be helpful. Wear comfortable shoes, with a good grip, no slick bottoms.  Be prepared to go through alot of T-shirts, I did.  Never drink on the job, you will need to be on your toes and talk to the police. If you are not single do not take this job. Free drinks, hot ass, and action, the best part you get paid for this.

Thanks for all the info guys. Little background on me.
-Not overly aggressive. Yes that was a joke about beating people up.
-I am married. Wife is okay with it and she trusts me.
-5 years as a Marine
-Not a wrestler but have trained in take downs. I would require some refresser courses.
-6`2 225, very mean looking(atleast people I know say Im mean looking, my wife calls it my marine face) I can curl 135 and bench 225.
-Yes i know about the legal ramifications of hitting someone and I have very thick skin. I am not B.S'ing myself into thinking that this job would allow me to be a bully.

Quoted: Thanks for all the info guys. Little background on me. -Not overly aggressive. Yes that was a joke about beating people up. -I am married. Wife is okay with it and she trusts me. -5 years as a Marine -Not a wrestler but have trained in take downs. I would require some refresser courses. -6`2 225, very mean looking(atleast people I know say Im mean looking, my wife calls it my marine face) I can curl 135 and bench 225. -Yes i know about the legal ramifications of hitting someone and I have very thick skin. I am not B.S'ing myself into thinking that this job would allow me to be a bully.

Dont say I didnt warn you...  Trust is easily eroded in this stuff.  Ask me how I know.  Will she tolerate women throwing themselves at you?  Will she tolerate after hours drinking with hot women of low morals.  Really, we used to have barmaids that would strip naked and eat each other out on the bar while we all did shots off there tits..  And I have seen this stuff and worse over and over every place I worked(I worked several places for the same owner over the course of 12 years).  Will she tolerate women groping you, teasing you, tempting you?  And you think you are strong in the loyalty dept and I am sure you are, but whey put yourself in the realm of temptation?  You need extra$$ find a PT job at Home Depot.  This will have a negative impact on your marriage.  

Typical scenario, for real..  you get a job, fun place, hot bartenders.  So you get to know the staff well.  Hot barmaids start flirting with you(they always do), you pass it off.  Then maybe one night a bunch of them decide to get crazy, dance on the bar topless, something like that.  You look but dont touch.  Stuff goes on like this for a while.  Maybe you go to breakfast after work, not that you are untrustworthy or would ever cheat but none of this and I mean none of this is good for any marriage.  Put yourself in your wifes shoes.  Would you want her in the same atmosphere with the tables turned?


Get a job somewhere else.  If you want out of your marriage then by all means, go work in a nightclub..

-I am married. Wife is okay with it and she trusts me.

I was married. Wife was okay with it and she use to trust me.

Quoted: -I am married. Wife is okay with it and she trusts me. I was married. Wife was okay with it and she use to trust me.

Wife trusts me. I have tail thrown at me all the time. Even man tail (eww) sometimes. Rejecting girls and guys is something Im not a stranger too.

Will the club carry workers comp insurance on you or will you be considered an independant contractor and responsible for your own medical expenses from OTJ injuries?

What kind of opinion do the local street cops have of the bar and the current "security" staff? Thats a big issue.  if the bar is generally a nice place and the staff is professional then the cops are more likely to side with the bar in any disputes. If it's a public nuisance and the staff has a rep of being heavy handed then the  cops are much more likely to arrest the bouncers for assault & battery. If more than once bouncer gets physical with a customer then ADW charges are lkely which is a felony so dont let yourself get baited into something. Getting sued, hurt or arrested isnt worth it for $12.00 an hour.

Quoted: Quoted: -I am married. Wife is okay with it and she trusts me. I was married. Wife was okay with it and she use to trust me. Wife trusts me. I have tail thrown at me all the time. Even man tail (eww) sometimes. Rejecting girls and guys is something Im not a stranger too.

You have no idea..

The guy I worked for told me a long time ago..  I was just out of USN and green and dumb.  He said and I'll never forget it, "Val, you ever get married, even if it is one of our girls, get out of this business."

I married one of the girls.  I love her dearly, but she stopped trusting me.  It was the first point in every argument, how I worked with sluts and whores, it was the last thing before bed at night, I came home smelling like smoke.  It was worse for me because she knew the shit that goes on after hours, during hours, etc.  

Trust me buddy, you are not immune, the act of being faithful is overshadowed pretty easily.

Quoted: Quoted: -I am married. Wife is okay with it and she trusts me. I was married. Wife was okay with it and she use to trust me. Wife trusts me. I have tail thrown at me all the time. Even man tail (eww) sometimes. Rejecting girls and guys is something Im not a stranger too.

Having to resist the casual come-on is nothing compared to some 20 year old chic who is hotter than the face of the sun straight up asking you to fuck her six ways from Sunday on a daily basis.  Or the chick that every night tries to grab your johnson saying how she can do wonders.  This stuff constantly.  And the "I'm married" line will only make matters worse..

Quoted: I was thinking about applying for a job as a bouncer in a bar on our main college ave. I am big enough to handle it (and its not fat) and have had some grappling training and general hand-to-hand training. Any thoughts? Any one with experience in this field?

you ain't gonna get rich bouncing, but it's almost always interesting, and you'll meet a ton of people.

i bounced at a few bars for 4-5 years. good times...

And the "I'm married" line will only make matters worse..

These ho's will want your ass even more.
I knew a bouncer, he loved it. They all said the same thing.
Bouncin' is a single man's gig.
Any chick thats willing to be married to a bouncer
is like a guy willing to be married to a stripper.
Sounds like a great part time job.

Hell, yes. Your choice of drunk chicks at closing time.

Do it and start a blog or something telling all your interesting stories.

Quoted: What's your first job and will they mind? Keep in mind, no matter how tough you may be sucker punches, beer mugs from behind, gang assaults, stabbings, and gunshot wounds hurt. Be careful.

While pulling one guy off of another, I took a brass knuckle punch to the side of my head. It split my ear open pretty good. Instead of that guy just being thrown out, he had to go to jail.

One guy pulled a knife, but he was so drunk he fumbled it and it fell and stuck in the floor. I think I still have that here somewhere.

One guy (bartender's ex-boyfriend) came back with a rifle and decided to wait for me in the parking lot. He blamed me for her breaking up with him (I did bang her, but not until after they were apart ). I guess he needed liquid courage because he had a bunch of booze with him and he anded up falling asleep while leaning up against the building next door. One of the patrons saw him sleeping there with the rifle and called the police.

In one group that was ousted, a guy said he was going to his car to get his shotgun. They were put out because they were underage so they hadn't been drinking. When he came out of the car, he did not have a shotgun, but instead he emerged with a pair of nunchucks. Unfortunately, for him, while he was in the car, he also forgot to get a clue on how to use them. He started swinging them around and proceeded to beat the fuck out of himself! It was funny as hell and his buddies started begging him to come with them before they all got their asses beat.

I Still do it. Its my only job. Then again its one of the hottest clubs in vegas and we have about 40 guys total. Im one of the doormen.  I started off at the bathrooms (the guys there make lots of money) but I wanted to be out front.  
We dont see much trouble there.  If something happens in your area you always have atleast 6 guys within eyesight and once a call is made on the radio all you see are flashlights light the club up as 20 guys rush to the scene.   None of our guys have ever had to get medical attention (thank God).
The money is great if you are in the right spot.  At the door people throw money at me so they dont have to wait in the 2hr line to get in (on Saturday I had 800 bucks 10 minutes after we opened the doors). Guys in the VIP spots inside bring home prob an avg of 1k a week in tips (we are only open 3 nights a week).
We are VERy strict with dress code and wont let gang-banger types in. We also dont let groups of guys in because we dont want a cock-fest. This helps alot with the problems.
The women, atleast here, are AMAZING.  I get handed atelast 4 room keys a weekend, and Im one ugly fucker.  My partner up front gets atleast 60 propisitions a night. He has that pretty South Beach Miami look cause he is from there.   He is married and his wife smokes most women away so he never strays. Women will slip you their phone numbers, grab your cock, show you their tits, their ass, show that they arent wearing any panties...give graphic descriptions about what that piercing in their tongue is for, show you how hot her and her girlfriend can makeout...Then there are the marriend rich women who come in looking for fun becuase hubby has been down at the blackjack tables for the past 8 hrs. Then there are the guys who walk out with the he-shes (I call them shims...she-males...chicks with dicks). I try to warn them that they are about to pay a male dressed as a broad to get some sex but they usually are too preoccupied with the idea of getting some pie that they dont realize its anti-pie they are paying for...

the storis people come up with in order to get into the club are out there too.  They know so-and so. They know the owner. People walk up to me with their cell phones and want me to talk to mr.xxx that is the president of the casino, demanding I let their friend in.  The guy who just lost/won 40k and is a VIP and demaning to come in (if you win/loose that amount its fairly certain that a casino host will walk up with you to the club to see that you are taken care of)...

then there are the people who are escorted out of the club. The weekend I had a guy claiming he had to get back inside because he was a Secret Service agent. He flashed me a badge and ID but he was so damn drunk there was no way he was going in. I let him know that unless the president was in there he wasnt getting back in.   ALso had a guy who claimed he had to get back in because he was a federal marshal..he flashed his wallet like he had a badge but there was nothing in it....I had him escorted off property..had two detroit pd demand to be let into the club even though we had done last call and were not letting people back in because we were turning the lights on in ten minutes..it was almost 430 am (pd's from around the country think that they have  a free ticket to the club because they have a badge...we take care of our own pd, not other pd's)......
I can keep going on and on with stories but it would take too long.
If I couldnt work in a place like I do then I WOULD NOT take the job.  If its a small college club/bar then the money wont be there and the trouble is too much to be worth it.

Holy pussy-getter job Batman!!!!  Why didn't I know about this when I was single?  

Quoted: Holy pussy-getter job Batman!!!!  Why didn't I know about this when I was single?

All the "POSITIONS" were taken.

DO NOT BOUNCE IF YOU ARE MARRIED AND WANT TO STAY THAT WAY! I bounced at about 8 differant bars over a 4 and a half year period, yes even ugly mugs like mine got all kinds of pie. If you are single the downside is that when you actually want to find a nice girl, your schedule makes it difficult to meet and date someone with a normal life. Ok who am I kidding, it takes a long time before you want a nice girl. Even if she trusts you it just puts alot of strain on the relationship though. I agree with what others have said about having a thick skin, you have to let alot of lip service roll off your back. I met my wife through my job at the bar, she was a friend of a watiress. It was hard for her to put up with seeing all the girls flirt with me and hit on me right in front of her, it was hard for me to behave myself. I got out of that life soon after, although it was a fun life I have no regrets. We both know that had I stayed in that line of work, we probably would not be married now. Choose wisely.

So how do you go about getting a job as a bouncer?? I am kinda new to the town I am in and I am a BIG guy 6'5". I think I would like it.

i bounced in college --fun job!  a lot of what these guys are telling you is true --its a poon-fest.  a good point to remember is that you don't "need" to be hard assed all the time.  a little politeness and consideration goes a long way toward keeping blood off of your shirt.

i remember the first night i started at a popular club, the other doorman was essentially trying to tell me that he was a walking-talking killer ---he'd been in 'nam, killed x-number of "gooks", marhsall artist extrodinaire, doesn't take shit from anyone...etc etc.  i think he was posturing because of my size (6'295lbs--and at the time i was benching about 440---oh, the good old days).

one night, we had a large party of rowdy brothers and cousins who had evidently not seen each other in years.  i have never seen so many pitchers in my life.  six guys must have had 30-35 pitchers over the course of the early evening.  by the peak traffic time, they were ripped and were causing trouble with the pool tables.  my door partner got all bad-ass on them--jerking them around by their shirts and making all kinds of threats.  know what happened?  he got his nose broken from a roundhouse kick administered by a sawed-off little runt.  i wanted to laugh, but i had business to tend to.   i said "look guys, its just my job to make sure EVERYONE has fun while they are here, and some people are unable to have fun when this kind of stuff is going on.  I hope you'll understand, but the owner has instructed me to ask you to leave".   know what happened?  they apologized to me, and left.   i walked them out to the parking lot and told them they were more than welcome to come back when they were in better shape.  they shook my hand and went on their way.

that scenario could have ended in an entirely different manner.  as trite as it sounds, you really do need to be nice---until its time to not be nice (har). and when its time to not be nice, you'd better know what you're doing--because you will get ALL kinds in the bar.



seriously though, its a cool job for a younger guy.  i doubt i'd recommend it wholeheartedly to a family man.

Quoted: So how do you go about getting a job as a bouncer?? I am kinda new to the town I am in and I am a BIG guy 6'5". I think I would like it.

Most of the guys that I knew that did it got into the job the same way I did, knowing someone that does it.

My day job was construction, and one of the guys I worked with was also a doorman at a nightclub. One of the bouncers was going on vacation and the owner asked my co-worker if he knew anyone that wanted to fill in. Worked there for a week and on the last night a guy that was opening a new place was in there and ask if I wanted to come to work for him.

It is a very interesting job.

So my buddy’s Uncle runs a security company.  He needed some help for Sinco de mayo bar night.  He asked us of we wanted to work security for two nights.  Sure, what the hell.  So we have one former cop turned engineer, another engineer, and my self an IT guy.  We (except the former cop) don’t know shit about night club security.  We get a 15 min briefing and away we go.  

First off all the security company employees were (the real ones) were put on the out side.  He put us on the door and in the club.  Interesting.

As the night wears on things get more out of hand.  We were in at least 15 grab ass pushing matches.  The night ended with a huge brawl in the parking lot.  All the regular security employees fucking bailed and ran except one.  Nice.  Now its 4 on mob.  I am thinking WTF did I just sign up for.  Well, it go time and everyone starts fighting.  

We held our own until the Police shoed up and made a few key arrests.  The trouble makers were so drunk they could not put together any effective punches, kicks, or grabs.  In fact, I thought a few of them would hurt themselves.  

Never again will I do some stupid shit like that.  BTDT, got the tshirt.  

I am a happy married man, but during my short two night bouncing career there is no doubt it would be a single man’s dream come true.  

For those of you who do it for a living, my hats off to you.  And I hope you have health insurance because it only a matter of time before someone gets in a lucky shot.  

I agree that it is difficult to get into this line of work without knowing someone. Bar owners don't like to hire guys with no experience, you can't get experience without doin the job. I happened to have a little LE background and got a job with a security company. The company in addition to your normal type of security, did onsite security at several clubs. I was hired to work as security patrol and not bar detail. After I had been there a month or so, and proven that I had a good head on my shoulders I was asked to fill in at one the clubs. I was usually the runt at most bars that I worked, 5'9" 215lb but learned that most of the time a quick wit will get you farther than being Billy Badass. After working for that company, it was no problem finding work at other clubs. If your single I highly recomend this for an interesting PT job.  I to this day don't understand why bouncers have groupies but am glad they do, it's the closest I'll ever get to rockstardom.

Quoted: Quoted: Thanks for all the info guys. Little background on me. -Not overly aggressive. Yes that was a joke about beating people up. -I am married. Wife is okay with it and she trusts me. -5 years as a Marine -Not a wrestler but have trained in take downs. I would require some refresser courses. -6`2 225, very mean looking(atleast people I know say Im mean looking, my wife calls it my marine face) I can curl 135 and bench 225. -Yes i know about the legal ramifications of hitting someone and I have very thick skin. I am not B.S'ing myself into thinking that this job would allow me to be a bully. \  Really, we used to have barmaids that would strip naked and eat each other out on the bar while we all did shots off there tits..  \

Damn, why the hell aren't there bars like that where I live? I think I'd start drinking more!

There may be but you never get to see it, most of the fun stuff happens after bar close. While your slumped over your wafflehouse breakfast, the staff is unwinding with the doors locked. At least thats how it was where I've worked. I worked at a strip club for a while, after hours got pretty crazy. I was a little more careful about which ones I associated with at my house due to some of the recreational habits they enjoyed though.

Quoted: There may be but you never get to see it, most of the fun stuff happens after bar close. While your slumped over your wafflehouse breakfast, the staff is unwinding with the doors locked. At least thats how it was where I've worked. I worked at a strip club for a while, after hours got pretty crazy. I was a little more careful about which ones I associated with at my house due to some of the recreational habits they enjoyed though.

+1

I didn't work at a strip club, but sometimes you would have sworn it was after the doors were locked.

I didn't do the job when I was real young, I was married young and divorced by my late twenties. I bounced through my early and mid thirties. Sometimes it got rough with just a few hours sleep between the jobs, but with girls between the ages of eighteen and twenty six throwing themselves at you I figured a little sleep deprivation was worth it. On one of my birthdays the girls gave me padded wrist and ankle restraints, leather underwear with no backside, a list of their phone numbers with lip prints next to them and indications as to which ones were willing to be there with other ones, and a case of condoms. Damn those girls could party

Those days of debauchery will always be remembered.

Just remember that once you get them ourtside of the club, you are done with them.  I have had to arrest bouncers at some of our clubs because they follow the patron outside talking sh!t and end up fighting with them.  

Once they step outside their authority ends.