To all the Bouncers/Doormen

[B-STRONG]

Whats up fellas, I work the door at a pretty bad club in a tough area and people are always gettin into fights. The other night while I was workin the door a kid (he was younger than me and I'm 22) came up and began harassing me and my coworker because he had been kicked out. Anyway, he eventually got some courage when his three friends came up behind him and decided to throw a punch at the other bouncer. A brawl ensued and we wound up 2 on 4 in the street. We beat em up pretty bad, and an ambulance had to come and the cops showed up to take statements. The question is, my club is being threatened with a lawsuit because the fight went into the street which is technically not under the clubs juristiction. Soooo, the club and myself are being threatened with all kinds of aggravated assault charges and shit. Any of you guys have any experience with stuff like this or woulda handled it differently? I've been bouncing for about 2 years, but know some of you out there have pretty lengthy careers in it. Any advice or stories would be great. Thanks -B-STRONG

[lucabratzi]

did it start inside of the club and wind up outside or did he talk shit and u guys went outside and fought?

[D-Bo Dre]

No, offense to you personally but I really hate bouncers.. Well at least the ones that think they're tuff sh*ts.. I understand that it is their job to maintain order but some of these guys are like caged animals waiting for any lil incident to pounce on ppl.. My hositlity comes from an incident that occured a year ago.. My buddies and I got into a huge royal rumble at a popular club and I had to defend myself against 5 200+ bouncers! then when they finally managed to throw me out of the club I was kicked on the floor! .. I mean was all that really nessacery?? FYI- my buddy who was also in the fight got sued by one of the bouncers b/c he knocked him out.. It resulted in a long lawsuit and my friend won b/c he claimed self defense.

Good luck to you though, you will need a good lawyer..

[B-STRONG]

nah it started on the sidewalk right in front of the door (which is technically our property). The kid tried to sucker punch my coworker when his 3 friends showed up, then the brawl went into the street. im thinking self-defense because it was 2 on 4, but you never know these days with all the legal bs.

[B-STRONG]

d-bo- I know what you mean and i dislike many of the guys in the business as well. knowing that there are 15 guys willing to back you up would give many some false courage and a big head. I never use force or violence unless absolutely necessary, and I try and be as accomodating as possible with every patron at the club. on the other side though- sometimes bouncers dont want to take a chance that there will be weapons involved or othe such circumstances. this is what i suggest might have happened in your case. either that or they were a bunch of d*ckheads. -B-STRONG

[Superhuman]

In the club I'm working at right now, the area within 10ft of the club is our property so as long as we don't go past there it's alright. Even then, it was self-defense for you guys.

[RA]

They started it..there were 4 of them and 2 of you. Open and shut case for a good lawyer. If they do, counter right away.

btw, d-bo, bouncers have to deal with buckets of assholes every night, like cops. You expect them not to have somewhat of an attitude?

[Superhuman]

Hey D-Bo I am a very nice guy - if I have to kick someone out for putting their hat back on or being too drunk then I'll politely ask them to leave a tell them to come back on another night. HOWEVER, if someone gives me attitude for some reason I will not hesitate to reciprocate. I will not strike somebody though unless they hit me first. In almost every caseI will wrap them up and walk them out or take them to the ground until they submit.

[Kale]

Where there camera's anywhere ? Most clubs have cam's all over the place .

[B-STRONG]

yeah there are cameras, but theyre fake security cameras to scare off criminals. maybe after this incident theyll make the fvckin investment. i figure that the whole 2 on 4 thing should help my case, but ive been trained for 6 years as a boxer and for 1 in BJJ, so im hoping they dont claim excessive force or any of that .

[D-Bo Dre]

d-bo- I know what you mean and i dislike many of the guys in the business as well. knowing that there are 15 guys willing to back you up would give many some false courage and a big head. I never use force or violence unless absolutely necessary, and I try and be as accomodating as possible with every patron at the club. on the other side though- sometimes bouncers dont want to take a chance that there will be weapons involved or othe such circumstances. this is what i suggest might have happened in your case. either that or they were a bunch of d*ckheads. -B-STRONG

I agree 100%.. I respect ppl like you, you seem like a straight up guy just doing your job.. But its those bouncers who, for no reason, feel that just b/c they have a security shirt on can do whatever they feel like. I'm not the type of guy who goes out looking for trouble, but if some drunk dick-head at the club rubs me or one of my friends the wrong way I'm not backing down.. And in my case that's what happened.. I thought that a bouncers job was to maintain order and break up fights, not participate in them just to prove they're tuff?!?! Some bouncers obviously have this misconstrued..

[gixxerboy1]

Yes you can be in trouble. The reasons you said you beat the m up pretty bad to were an ambulance came. Its stops being self defence at a point. I worked a club that stuff like that happened alot. Bouncers were always hurting people and the got sewed enough were it closed them down

[D-Bo Dre]

Hey D-Bo I am a very nice guy - if I have to kick someone out for putting their hat back on or being too drunk then I'll politely ask them to leave a tell them to come back on another night. HOWEVER, if someone gives me attitude for some reason I will not hesitate to reciprocate. I will not strike somebody though unless they hit me first. In almost every caseI will wrap them up and walk them out or take them to the ground until they submit.

Yeah bro, that's how it should be.. But when a bouncer just runs up to you throwing punches just b/c he's on week 4 of his test cycle that is just not right.. I would respect a bouncer like you 100 times more than an aggressive one.

True story: One of my close friends had a cousin that was a bouncer at a NY night club. One night he got into an altercation with some random guy, ruffed him up, then kicked him and his crew out.. The following week he was shot dead by that same guy.. It's a tuff job man..

[BIG_T_MC06]

Go knock the fu** out of him and tell him to drop the charges lol

Seriously you and you bro were sober and they were under the influence so play on that a lot if any action is taken.

T

[Flagg]

I guess if they threw the first punch, and there's CCTV evidence you can claim self defence, but I'd omit saying you "beat them up" in your statement. Its to my understanding Bouncers are there to maintain order and contain threats, not hospitilize people. You sound a good guy though man so I hope you get this shit sorted out soon.

[Ufa]

Where there camera's anywhere ? Most clubs have cam's all over the place .

Yea, Where the F--k are the camera's. No one is going to start shit in
front of a camera. Next time don't get so heavy handed. I've been to
clubs in Hoolywood like the old Viper Room where there has never been
a call to the police. I've seen outraged bikers wearing colors being
taken out by the scrounge of there neck peacefuly. Just huge bouncer's wearing communication equiptment. No bouncer's under 250- 275 lbs.
Some over 300 lbs.

[Property of Steroid.com]

I was a bouncer for about a year....never threw a single punch; must have broken up about a hundred fights fights without a problem, and usually could talk people out of getting into them in the first place.

At the time I was probably a buck-eighty-five.

Where I worked, most of the bigger bouncers were almost as much of a problem as the clientele.

[Foskamink]

i plan to work as a bartender mid 07, for 6 months then a bouncer hopefully, i always wish to have a full year of boxing under my belt and be a solid 180 lbs.

[B-STRONG]

I guess if they threw the first punch, and there's CCTV evidence you can claim self defence, but I'd omit saying you "beat them up" in your statement. Its to my understanding Bouncers are there to maintain order and contain threats, not hospitilize people. You sound a good guy though man so I hope you get this shit sorted out soon.

yes, i agree with you, the guy that was hospitalized was unconscious, as his head hit the pavement very hard when I threw him down. Like Superhuman said, most of the time I just wrap them up or restrain them on the ground. The only punches I threw were at the kids that came after me when I was defending my coworker. I went to the hospital to check on the guy that was taken away, and hes doing aright, he just had a concussion and had to get some staples in his head. I feel pretty bad about it, but again, remorse is something that you have to feel after the fact, because otherwise, it's too risky. -B-STRONG

[RoNNy THe BuLL]

There's a few issues here...

Being a 'Doorman' at a club, your job should NEVER be to fight....ever. You're not at fault for not knowing, but anyone who's been in the club industry for awhile knows the role of the Doorman and how crucial it is.

When I worked the clubs, the Doorman was also known as the diffuser....his job was to say whatever the agitated people wanted to hear to keep the situation as calm as possible. If the Doorman has to tell a guy who just got kicked out that he'll fire the bouncers who 'escorted' him out, then do it. If the Doorman has to say that the guy who just got kicked out can come back in a week and drinks are on the house (lies) then he has to do it.

The reasoning behind the Doorman being a 'good' guy is so that HE/SHE doesn't get shot. Pop pop.

Think about it, the guy who just got kicked out isn't mad at the Doorman, he's mad at the fella's who booted him out. The Doorman being a 'good' guy protects him.

If the bandit who's just been booted out has a gun in his car or an edged weapon and the Doorman is an asshole, guess what, the Doorman is about to get either shot or stabbed.

It's a safety issue.

In regards to you being 'threatened' with assault charges, regardless of where the incident occurred, assault is assault.

The whole 'self defense' idea gets thrown out the window when things go above and beyond what is necessary. In this case, the guy ended up unconcious. If you can articulate as to the reasoning behind your actions that a normal and prudent person would understand, I don't see it being a huge issue.

To be honest, I'm surprised you haven't been charged yet. Regardless of what happened, some people are in the hospital and the Police have probably taken a statement in which you state that you were ultimately the cause of them going.

You're in between a rock and a hard place.

But just to make things clear, the property lines have NOTHING to do with the charge of assault, or in your case, aggravated assault.

Before the Police took a statement from you, did they caution you as to the use of the statement down the road and how it can be used as evidence against you?

[spywizard]

as an employee, the clubs insurance is the one on the hook... unless you have any real worth, you are basically in the clear..

[biglouie250]

are you salaried?? most bouncers that i know get straight cash. if thats the case and a lawsuit is brought against the club that will be interesting. all sort of unemployment and disability issues. not your fault, the club has to deal with that. they'll say that was your first night lol.

[B-STRONG]

There's a few issues here...

Being a 'Doorman' at a club, your job should NEVER be to fight....ever. You're not at fault for not knowing, but anyone who's been in the club industry for awhile knows the role of the Doorman and how crucial it is.

Before the Police took a statement from you, did they caution you as to the use of the statement down the road and how it can be used as evidence against you?

Agreed. In this case it was self defense. When I work the floor inside I work it with a totally different mentality, but outside, when violence occurrs, I have to react on instinct. In this case, it was for my own and my coworkers protection.

Yeah they told me that when I wrote my statement. I don't think anything will come of this, the owner of the club told me today that they are handling it and I should not be worried. Thanks for the advice and the help

biglouie- yeah I'm salaried. I get paid biweekly. The whole mess should be blowing over soon though, the owner of the club has connections in some interesting places. -B-STRONG

[biglouie250]

GOOD LUCK!! i see your an NY bouncer....hook a brotha up in the VIP!!!!

[gixxerboy1]

i plan to work as a bartender mid 07, for 6 months then a bouncer hopefully, i always wish to have a full year of boxing under my belt and be a solid 180 lbs.

Bartenders make a hell of a lot more $$ then bouncers. Why would you want to go from tending bar to bouncing?

The doorman can make a lot of $$ if its a good place.

[daytrader]

Bartenders make a hell of a lot more $$ then bouncers. Why would you want to go from tending bar to bouncing?

The doorman can make a lot of $$ if its a good place.

Ya, i made 10 bucks an hour as a bouncer lol, man i miss that job, too bad i was young and immature at the time.. it was a funny story, maybe ill tell you guys sometime

[B-STRONG]

Bartenders make a hell of a lot more $$ then bouncers. Why would you want to go from tending bar to bouncing?

The doorman can make a lot of $$ if its a good place.

yeah on a decent night i make anywhere from 3-400 in tips, and on a really good night i have walked away with a grand cash. plus the $10 an hour isnt too bad. great job, the risk is worth the reward in my mind, and you get to meet some interesting people

[Foskamink]

Bartenders make a hell of a lot more $$ then bouncers. Why would you want to go from tending bar to bouncing?

The doorman can make a lot of $$ if its a good place.

its just somthing i would like to do, work arround the club. and see where i like best, do it as long as i can if i can live off it alone, and who knows one day i might own a club. bouncher arround europe, has hardly any work comparison to a big city in usa + less work load compared.