Following on from our last article regarding a hasty exit from the Honey Club we are looking into what it takes to gain a club security post, becoming an amply named, bouncer.
Everyone has their own terror stories of fights, blood and power abusing authority figures. No, this is not Berlin 1940’s style – this is club land. A bouncer’s job is to protect the interests and safety of both venue and clientele but where does the definition between both start? Imagine a venue, be it a bar / club, as a communist regime. At the top you have management, now these guys stay at home and their only interest is cash flow, fair does. A little further down the line we have bar managers and day-to-day operational staff – these guys are there to serve and are crucial in a venues operation. Then we have the security, the KGB if you like of the dance floor, these are the people with power to remove, confiscate and reprimand. When put into perspective that’s a lot of power.
Obviously on the other hand these people are needed and ciaos would break loose without them. But what is stopping them from aiding to the stated? They are in reality not Police officers, they are not legally obliged, and they are fundamentally on the level as punters but with a stark difference. They have power.
So how does one go about becoming a bouncer? I can picture an ex-builder sitting around reading “How to be the Alpha male” while beating his girlfriend with a crumpled can of cheap imported Stella. Is that the case? And what laws are in place to protect the public from people in such prominent positions.
The UK is thankfully a slightly moderated field. Just over 1 year ago the law changed (April 2005, I think?). It is now an offence for door staff not to have a licence and they MUST even have it on show:
Mum, I’m leaving school; I want to be a bouncer:
• All bouncers in England and Wales must now be licensed by the Security Industry Authority or risk prosecution. Door staff must have their identity and criminal background checked, undergo training and sit exams with an accredited firm
• They must also clearly display their licence badge when working. Any establishment employing any unlicensed door supervisor’s risk losing its premises’ licence.
• The door supervisors’ licence costs £190 and lasts for three years. It is the first nationally recognised qualification for door staff.
• As well as passing security checks, door staff now have to train in key areas like conflict management, drug awareness and coping in an emergency.
Great this is a step in the right direction! But still today problems happen. Not so long ago in a local venue as somebody collapsed the bouncer(s) was asking around franticly; “Who knows first aid”? Now is this correct? Should the people in charge of safety not be relatively trained in looking after the people? Why doesn’t the “safety staff” take less time concentrating on brutal policing and more on positive protection?
The attitudes between bouncer and punter, visa versa can be an initial trigger to any problem. All though a certain aspect of “bouncer” is dramatics, people don’t appreciate being hustled and would respond better to polite thought out gestures. Example; when security staff want to ask you something, why do they sometimes poke you with a walky-talky? If I was to ask a bouncer directions to the toilets while poking them with a straw from my half empty G&T id be out like a shot.
Overall the majority of Brighton’s security teams work hard and are there to help us all enjoy our evenings. Some have other ideas and these renegades should not be kept working on the streets.
People please be vigilant to how you are being treated. If a team of bouncers is trying to get you to leave a venue via the back door it is your rights to refuse. No one wants a beating and if you politely agree and ask to be escorted via the front exit you may save yourself a trip to A&E.
Lastly, don’t behave like pricks. We are all pissed and sometimes a little bewildered. This does not mean we can act like morons and take situations in to our own hands. Give the hard working guys a break and don’t start trouble.
If you want to fight with bouncers go to the bottom of West St. and hang about in the clubs. You deserve a beating and I personally hope it’s a harsh one.
Words: Marek the Czech
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Thank you for writing this piece. Two years ago I was attacked by a Honey Club bouncer (at this point i’ll mention that I’m a slight young women and at the time was totally sober). Furthermore, the police refused to take a statement from myself and my female companion, who was also assaulted. The assailants were provoked by my leaving the premises with a dink (my first and only drink of the night) and without provokation I was physically attacked in a spot out of CCTV view, where the bouncer had (deliberately) chased me. As he kicked me in the stomach he taunted me: “I could kill you now and no-one would know”. So, in answer to your question? shoot the lot of them. And I might add that this was probably my own fault for going to such a heinous and horrific venue.
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
The security at the PP have tightened their belts recently, as they seem to have a new “no twats, no chav” policy. They stopped my friend for wearing a football Adidas top, even if he is a b-boy. Unfortunately, they still let in all of the crusty scum who sell drugs. I had a terrible experience with the security at the Zap (formerly Union, formerly Zap). I’ve posted on BF before about it, but they essentially held a friend who’d been glassed, blood gushing everywhere, under a possible assault charge. They didn’t bother to clean him up and lied about calling the ambulance. When the charge was dropped, they released him back into the wild in a pretty drunken and dangerous state and forunately a taxi stopped so I could take him to A&E to get his ear stitched back on. My final charge is against the security at The Station pub, which is a dire towny “trying to be upscale” place. They made my friend take off his cap, then glared at us for the entire time we were there. I think a certain level of professionalism is needed for the role, even if they do have a pretty dirty job.
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
i hate brighton door staff! when i was 17 and attending an underage band night at the pressure point with a few of my mates, the doorstaff wouldnt let us all in becuse we didnt all look 16 apparently. anyway obviously i argued that we were and he said the only way we could all come in is if i went to the toilets with him! what the fuck! so i went staight to the bar and asked for the manager. got an opolgy from the doorman and told we could go in. we didnt! and i have never been back since.
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Hired thugs that prefer the heavy-handed approach in order to satisfy a power-trip.We are paying their wages and to be entertained for f**ks sake.Why should we tolerate this moronic behaviour?
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I must add that my experience of the Audio and Concorde bouncers has been very good. You are right about the clientele point in your Honeyclub article.
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Interesting article Mr. Richter….
My experience with the tribe called bouncer has been a pretty even handed one. I have been both outraged and satisfied with their services, As you may be aware I was banned from the prodigal for a year (no great loss you may say) for being overage. Chief (head bouncer of the time) who had never asked for ID from anyone, funnily enough asked me on my 18th birthday. I duly obliged and clearly after some deliberation followed me into the back of the bar and explained that I had been lying to him for 3 years (with a cheap homemade fake ID btw) and barred me. Does this not raise the question that perhaps the gentleman should have done his job properly in the first place in ensuring underage people were not allowed in the establishment? NO, of course it was entirely my fault and was not allowed to enter the premises for a year. I did nonethless attend on occasion and on one of these nights I was rumbled (I had amusingly enough done a pill in the downstairs bar Ali-Cats) and Chief said “it is enough, it is time” and let me back in forever. On the flipside, one of the bouncers at the Zap in the presence of Danny, Murdy and myself (for those who don’t know these are big guys… excluding myself) took my pilled up girlfriend to the beach to “look at the stars”. Surprisingly, this gentleman ran off quickly when we casually walked up to have a quiet word about what he was doing alone on the beach with my young and intoxicated girlfriend! At the end of the day what needs to be remembered is that these guys don’t need much training to do what they do but they offer a service which is required. I would much rather there were bouncers to stop some cunts from ruining everyones good night than none. But… it is obvious that some will abuse the power (and apparent immunity from the police) that they are given to their own ends. Peace and fucking… x
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Was thinking of posting a comment (with stories from both ends of the scale) anyways but I need to reply to Amy the filmmaker. I work at The Station Pub (Hey, somebody has to!), I’m not going to argue with you ‘dire towny “trying to be upscale”‘ comment, thats personal opinion, we can’t all have the same view of a place, if you don’t like somwhere, just don’t go.
The ‘No Caps’ rule firstly, is there for security reasons so customers can be identified, if needs be, by our cameras. This was originally recomended to us by the police as there is no police manned cameras outside the train station or on Goldstone villas, but we do have cameras inside & out. Secondly, if your mate made a stink about removing his cap (i’m not saying he did), then yeah, there is a chance the bouncers might have been glaring, but otherwise they may have simply not been glaring at you but simply just looking around the pub. I’ve worked in and been to some places where the security have been absolutely shocking and proffesional is a dirty word, but I’ve got to say, in at least the last 6 months, our doorstaff have been great, friendly,professional, and not in the slightest bit heavy handed.
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
There was once a really nasty american bouncer at envy… He wouldn’t let me in when the majority of my friends were gay. He said I looked too straight and it wasn’t what they wanted for their club! Can you imagine if it was the other way round???!!! I rest my case.
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Hi Tetters!
I think you made a very fair point about not having a “No Caps” policy, and I’m glad you explained the rationale. There are a lot of rough people in the area, surprisingly. My friends and I once got assaulted by a group of drunk 16 year olds with a broken wine bottle. You do need to keep people like that out. I know someone else who works at the Station & have no complaints about the staff – they’re great. It’s sort of my local, but perhaps it’s not to my taste, although I have enjoyed drinks out in the courtyard, esp the 2 for 1 cocktails on Thursday nights! My friend was shocked, but didn’t put up a fuss. I just didn’t like the cold passing glance on that occasion. Maybe he looked like an ASBO! Who knows? Maybe I was just in a bad mood. I’d agree, the door staff are professional and I’ve never had any problems, even when I once walked out the front door with a glass of wine in my hand. They didn’t assume I was trying to walk out (like some might) & had enough sense to realise I was probably going into the courtyard. It’s the seafront cunts we need to worry about.
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I reckon they’re same same as anything, some great some rubbish. The guys that used to do Phonic Hoop, The dudes at concorde and especially the the Audio guys, all legends. Tell you what though, me and my brother were refused entry at Heist for no ID (I’m 23 and look it!) and admittidly I said something stupid like, “sterling work mate, well done”. Turned to walk away and the bouncer pulled back and threw a punch at the back of my head. Luckily my little legend of a brother intercepted with a swift little manouvere but fuck me, you can’t punch people in the back of the fucking head!!! Dark. Also big up to Claude from the funky Bhudda, the man deserves his name on a bus!!!
on Jul 7th, 2010 at 12:39 am
When I was 17, I STUPIDLY drew graffiti on a club’s wall and the bouncers rugby-tackled me while I was stationary. I ended up with a massive gash on my head. The police escorted me home and nothing was mentioned about my injuries.
I KNOW that what I did was nihilistic, pathetic and reprehensible, but surely, beating up someone who is meek in stature and has not been threatening or overbearing must be a worse crime than graffiti?
I haven’t returned to the club or followed it up since due to pure embarrassment, but I just can’t help thinking that there’s little presence of professionalism in SOME bouncers and a bias from the police in some scenarios.