Going to a night-club for the first time - tips

jc2008

Hi guys! Mods, I sincerely apologise if this is the incorrect forum - I posted it here because I am an 18 year old and I wasn't sure which other forum this thread is appropriate to.

I'm going to a night-club with some of my friends on Graduation Night (end of 6th year). I am excited, but nervous at the same time, because unlike a lot of my friends, I was never there before.

Firstly, will everybody be dancing? OK, a stupid question, but I've never even been to a disco and think I would feel self-concious dancing. I'd prefer going to a pub and just having craic with my friends but everybody is going to the night-club.

Secondly, is it hard to get in? Obviously it depends on the night-club in question, but this particular one has strict enough bouncers. I turned 18 about 2 weeks ago, but look considerably younger than 18. I'll have my passport with me (no Garda Age card yet) so hopefully the age thing won't be an issue. Does it matter what clothes you wear? I'll probably be wearing a blue shirt, jeans and plain black shoes. (I know - I'm way overthinking this, sorry!).

I've never really been pressured into anything before as my friends are not like that, but a lot of people are saying that they will be doing 'shots' - I might be tempted to join in, especially as some people might even buy me some. I just prefer normal drinks (e.g. beer/cider/rum and coke) as that way I can control my alcohol intake. Having said that, I've never taken any shots before so I don't know what it's like - but I've never seen the attraction of paying a lot of money for something that probably tastes like crap, just to get 'hammered'.

Sorry for the long thread. Does anybody have any tips they would give me for going to a night-club for the first time? Thanks in advance.

XxMCRxBabyxX

jc2008 wrote: »

Hi guys! Mods, I sincerely apologise if this is the incorrect forum - I posted it here because I am an 18 year old and I wasn't sure which other forum this thread is appropriate to.

I'm going to a night-club with some of my friends on Graduation Night (end of 6th year). I am excited, but nervous at the same time, because unlike a lot of my friends, I was never there before.

Hey!

To be honest I think you are worrying a bit too much! Nightclubs are not that scary! It's just somewhere else to go to have a good night out!

I'll try answer this per paragraph so bear with me!

jc2008 wrote: »

Firstly, will everybody be dancing? OK, a stupid question, but I've never even been to a disco and think I would feel self-concious dancing. I'd prefer going to a pub and just having craic with my friends but everybody is going to the night-club.

No, everyone will not be dancing! Half my friends end up sitting for most of the night!
Also no one will care how you dance! they will either be too drunk or too paranoid or just having too much fun to care about how you dance! Unless you're trying to get stuck into them! Then I'd just not try any moves that are too out there! :P
The nightclub will be good craic too!

jc2008 wrote: »

Secondly, is it hard to get in? Obviously it depends on the night-club in question, but this particular one has strict enough bouncers. I turned 18 about 2 weeks ago, but look considerably younger than 18. I'll have my passport with me (no Garda Age card yet) so hopefully the age thing won't be an issue. Does it matter what clothes you wear? I'll probably be wearing a blue shirt, jeans and plain black shoes. (I know - I'm way overthinking this, sorry!).

You're 18 therefore there will be no problem at all! They can hardly refuse you!

As long as you don't look like you pulled your clothes out of a bin and aren't wearing runners you will be fine!

jc2008 wrote: »

I've never really been pressured into anything before as my friends are not like that, but a lot of people are saying that they will be doing 'shots' - I might be tempted to join in, especially as some people might even buy me some. I just prefer normal drinks (e.g. beer/cider/rum and coke) as that way I can control my alcohol intake. Having said that, I've never taken any shots before so I don't know what it's like - but I've never seen the attraction of paying a lot of money for something that probably tastes like crap, just to get 'hammered'.

I'm not sure what the question is here but I'm assuming it's about the shots! Basically don't take one if you don't want one but it won't kill you if you do!

I personally do not ever get drunk (it's a skill! ) but I love a shot every now and then! Some can taste good!

Any other Qs?!

There is no need to worry about nightclubs! they're not particularly scary to be honest!

Mushy

Not everybody will be dancing. Dancing is a light term to use, its mroe drunken flailing...its how I roll:pac:

Shouldn't be hard to get in unless you're very drunk when approaching the door. So just don't do that and you'll be fine.

Don't be forced into drinking anything. Shots are normally done when very drunk and it seems the right idea, not really used to get hammered as you already would be when having them. So just relax, have a few drinks, score a drunk chick, have fun.

Enjoy!

jc2008

Thanks guys! Your posts were really informative and helped to put my mind at ease!

I'm sorry for over-worrying and over-thinking it - I do this a lot, with nearly everything unfamiliar (my friends are well used to it by now ). It rarely ever is as bad as I think it will be. I'm actually very excited about Graduation Night, as it will be my last chance to have fun before I have to do some serious cramming for the LC!

Thanks again for the answers. I will let you know how I get on (it's on Thursday night!).

Now for my next over-worrying event... my driving test on Monday

XxMCRxBabyxX

Mushy wrote: »

Shouldn't be hard to get in unless you're very drunk when approaching the door. So just don't do that and you'll be fine.

Yea sorry, forgot to mention that drunkeness will get you stopped!

billybigunz

Op I find your naivety endearing. It's just a place to get drunk, have a bit of craic with your friends and maybe make some new ones.

Go easy on the drink but I suppose you have to make your own mistakes and spinning/puking in a club is a rite of passage IMO.

XxMCRxBabyxX

jc2008 wrote: »

Thanks guys! Your posts were really informative and helped to put my mind at ease!

I'm sorry for over-worrying and over-thinking it - I do this a lot, with nearly everything unfamiliar (my friends are well used to it by now ). It rarely ever is as bad as I think it will be. I'm actually very excited about Graduation Night, as it will be my last chance to have fun before I have to do some serious cramming for the LC!

Thanks again for the answers. I will let you know how I get on (it's on Thursday night!).

Now for my next over-worrying event... my driving test on Monday

No problem! I can be the same sometimes!

Have a good night and Good luck in the Driving test and LC!

Ginja Ninja

Clothes=Perfect
Age= legal,which is always helpful

As for what to do, most people are wallflowers unless they have a fair bit of dutch courage.Tell yourself that no one will take much notice of how you dance[unless you can do back flips and crazy stuff,then it's all good]. I personally love to dance in clubs more than stand around talking and drinking[that's what pubs are for].Give it a try, nothing bad can come from it.

Loosen up and just roll with it,have fun first and foremost and whatever happens after that is it.If it's for your grad night you probably will end up doing shots[not in a forceful way,but a group shot tends to happen] they're pretty harmless,just keep an eye on how many,if it passes 4 be careful you're getting expensive and will end up drunker than you expect.

Also,if you've never done shots be careful,they get you drunker in a shorter space of time [about 20-40 minutes after you drink it,try to space them out] or just not do any if it isn't comfortable.

If you want to get a decent look,don't drink at all, odds are you could have the best night in the place if you just roll with it.

And Fair play on asking about it, almost everyone is nervous before they try something new, very few ever have the guts to ask about it.

Mute

No.1 Make sure you drink lots before hand, you will enjoy night-club much better.

No.2 Bouncers like being playfully slapped, thats why they work as boucers. They have a grest sense of humour and love it if you refer to their size, dress sense, intellect and their nationality in a ribbing way

No.3 Normally night-clubs are not too fussy about your attire, however, I would advise you to wear.....white Pennys trainers, white track-suit bottoms topped of with matching white top and baseball cap. Add some flamboyant gold jewelery to guarantee entry.

No.4 As for dancing, the best way to overcome this is to drink more and become the centre of attraction. Dont worry about your moves because the more alcohol you take the more rhythmic you become, and you will acknowledge, how your mates, and your new bouncer friends will look on in disbelief.

Hope this advice will help you on your first excursion in to adulthood!

Let us know how you get on!

Extrasupervery

You'll get in fine with your passport. Alcohol intake - one shot is one unit, one pint is two units. People seem to think mixing drinks is dangerous but that's bull**** (thank you drinkaware.ie), alcohol is alcohol, it just depends on how much you drink.

Just go with the flow! There's no need to worry. People in clubs act like complete ****ing tools in every way so you can do whatever the **** you want and you'll fit in. Happy days.

i.need.a.job

its jus like an over sized pub with a dance floor and louder music ... enjoy

sock puppet

XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »

Yea sorry, forgot to mention that drunkeness will get you stopped!

That's not to say that if you do end up drinking beforehand you'll get stopped. I've only ever been refused from a nightclub once for being too drunk and I'm always hammered going in.

I've only been refused once from a nightclub so don't worry about it - it was just bouncers being sexist and not letting in a group of lads.

Have fun and enjoy yourself. I didn't think it would be my scene at all before I started going. You'll have a good time.

Fad

I got told to come back in twenty minutes by the bouncer on my grad night.......walked in a cunning circle to the bouncer next to him, got straight in.....

Almost surprised I didnt get black listed from Buck Whaleys as a result >_>

That was probably the drunkest I have ever been

highlydebased

Generally a fun experience anyway. The places are boring as heck while sober though, watching people fall about drunkenly....

I never thought I'd ever dance...ever, but surprisingly I do =O its a laugh with your friends. enjoy it. You'll be surprised how quick closing time comes....

BTW dont try to act sleazy/easy with chics, it just comes across as desperate (That said some are into that)

D4RK ONION

Neon-Circles wrote: »

BTW dont try to act sleazy/easy with chics, it just comes across as desperate (That said some are into that)

Yeah, thank goodness for that

Arcade Panda

I got escorted out of the local nightclub on my 18th birthday. I was then informed I was barred until I was 21.:rolleyes:

Night club owners seem to have short memories....you'll be grand!:)

XxMCRxBabyxX

Neon-Circles wrote: »

Generally a fun experience anyway. The places are boring as heck while sober though, watching people fall about drunkenly....

Tbh I wouldn't agree. Am never drunk when I go out myself and I nearly always manage to have a good night!

KnifeWRENCH

op, as long as you have id and youre not totally hammered and you dont look like a scumbag, you will get in no bother. also, 99% of people in clubs cant dance for **** but it doesnt matter. just let go and enjoy yourself! i neverthought id like the club scene but i love it! have a great night!

Skerries

all good advice from everyone
as long as you look like you can stand straight and can talk relatively sensibly when trying to get into the the club you will be fine
as said dancing is a personal choice, i tend to dance when i get hammered but wouldn't do it when i'm reasonably sober and friends of mine don't do it at all
shots are nice but as you say way overpriced, try a few but also don't try and get too hammered as you can then take in the whole night club thing and remember it for your next trip

lou91

Having a few pints of water throughout the night is never a bad idea.
Generally reduces risk of getting sick.

phlegms

Don't get sick in the palm tree pot inside Crawdaddy's. That will most likely get you escorted out.

Not that I'd know from personal experience...

How Soon Is Now

Dont stress over nightclubs the only thing you should be scared of in these places are the prices

On the subject of drink from personal experience no matter what remember to eat something before you start drinking.
This still gets me and i have a bit to much experience in drinking ha

Also shots ehh really depends on what humour your in i mean end day if your offered one try staying away from stuff you know is gonna be heavy!! Common sense and all were all the same when certain age theres no harm in not being able to drink as much just know your limits and end day feck what anyone else says they will be the ones throwing up in a corner while your still enjoying your night !!

karlog

You'll be bored of nightclubs in no time.

jc2008

Hi guys, it's the OP here. Thanks for all the replies!

One quick question. How do I make sure to keep safe after the night-club ends (at 2.30am). It will just be me and my friend afterwards, and I don't want to be mugged or anything at that time of night on the streets of Dundalk! It's graduation night for all the schools, and in the past there was sometimes trouble. I think I might be getting a lift home, which helps as I'm not getting a taxi, but that won't be for around a half an hour after the night club ends (at 2.30am).

Thanks in advance. Sorry for my over-worried posts - I think about these things way too much. All my friends are like 'Ahh sure we'll be fine'

Jay P

jc2008 wrote: »

Hi guys, it's the OP here. Thanks for all the replies!

One quick question. How do I make sure to keep safe after the night-club ends (at 2.30am). It will just be me and my friend afterwards, and I don't want to be mugged or anything at that time of night on the streets of Dundalk! It's graduation night for all the schools, and in the past there was sometimes trouble. I think I might be getting a lift home, which helps as I'm not getting a taxi, but that won't be for around a half an hour after the night club ends (at 2.30am).

Thanks in advance. Sorry for my over-worried posts - I think about these things way too much. All my friends are like 'Ahh sure we'll be fine'

To be honest, I wouldn't be too worried. There is trouble after nightclubs usually, but it's easy enough to avoid any of that hassle. Try to stay in a group if you can, just around people you know, and it might seem really obvious, but don't be a dick. If you're being hassled, just ignore it, don't retaliate or anything.

Hope that helps... I'm kinda tired so it was a bit hastily thrown together.
Have fun!

highlydebased

Either just stay with your friends or leave a few minutes early before the crowd comes out.

Insect Overlord

Leaving at 2:25 instead of 2:30 can make a huge difference.
It usually gets you to the top of the queue in most fast-food places, plus you'll have first call on taxis home.

MavisDavis

jc2008 wrote: »

Hi guys, it's the OP here. Thanks for all the replies!

One quick question. How do I make sure to keep safe after the night-club ends (at 2.30am). It will just be me and my friend afterwards, and I don't want to be mugged or anything at that time of night on the streets of Dundalk! It's graduation night for all the schools, and in the past there was sometimes trouble. I think I might be getting a lift home, which helps as I'm not getting a taxi, but that won't be for around a half an hour after the night club ends (at 2.30am).

Thanks in advance. Sorry for my over-worried posts - I think about these things way too much. All my friends are like 'Ahh sure we'll be fine'

Hope you had a good night wherever you went and avoided the wee brawl I saw break out in Earl St!

jc2008

Hi guys! Thanks for all the replies - I really appreciate the time you all put into helping me out.

My friends were, as usual, right - there really was nothing to worry about. I had an amazing night! I got into the night-club alright. A lot of people got turned away, which made me anxious, but I am actually 18 and after a few seconds of deliberation the bouncer decided my passport was fine and let me in. In all fairness though, a lot of people who turned up were under 18s, just chancing their arms.

I did two rounds of shots, simply because people bought them for me, but they were fine - I didn't get pissed or anything, just merry, which is what I wanted to 'loosen up', if you know what I mean.

MavisDavis, I did see that fight near Earl Street but I was in my friend's mother's car by then, so that was ok. I left the club 10 minutes early, which helped avoid the crowds anyway!

Again, thanks for all the help everybody. I had a really great night! My first time at a night-club, or any disco for that matter, but I found it great. My drunken dance moves weren't great but nobody cares, everybody was just having fun!

Thanks again.

Edit: A further question. My Garda Age Card should be arriving soon - I assume that when I go to night-clubs again, I can just take this instead of my passport, as the passport is a very valuable document and I would hate to lose it (it costs €80 to replace and takes weeks to replace it!). Will the Garda Age Card be acceptable for places like this, in lieu of a passport? I could always bring my driver's licence along with it as well, as it isn't that valuable (I think it only costs €15 to replace, so it's not the end of the world if it's lost)

sock puppet

MavisDavis wrote: »

Hope you had a good night wherever you went and avoided the wee brawl I saw break out in Earl St!

lol I love Dundalk people.

MavisDavis

jc2008 wrote: »

Hi guys! Thanks for all the replies - I really appreciate the time you all put into helping me out.

My friends were, as usual, right - there really was nothing to worry about. I had an amazing night! I got into the night-club alright. A lot of people got turned away, which made me anxious, but I am actually 18 and after a few seconds of deliberation the bouncer decided my passport was fine and let me in. In all fairness though, a lot of people who turned up were under 18s, just chancing their arms.

I did two rounds of shots, simply because people bought them for me, but they were fine - I didn't get pissed or anything, just merry, which is what I wanted to 'loosen up', if you know what I mean.

MavisDavis, I did see that fight near Earl Street but I was in my friend's mother's car by then, so that was ok. I left the club 10 minutes early, which helped avoid the crowds anyway!

Again, thanks for all the help everybody. I had a really great night! My first time at a night-club, or any disco for that matter, but I found it great. My drunken dance moves weren't great but nobody cares, everybody was just having fun!

Thanks again.

Edit: A further question. My Garda Age Card should be arriving soon - I assume that when I go to night-clubs again, I can just take this instead of my passport, as the passport is a very valuable document and I would hate to lose it (it costs €80 to replace and takes weeks to replace it!). Will the Garda Age Card be acceptable for places like this, in lieu of a passport? I could always bring my driver's licence along with it as well, as it isn't that valuable (I think it only costs €15 to replace, so it's not the end of the world if it's lost)

Yeah, Government ID means passport, age card or driving licence. I always go for the age card - cheapest to replace and easy to live without while you're waiting to replace it!

JamieK

jc2008 wrote: »

A further question. My Garda Age Card should be arriving soon - I assume that when I go to night-clubs again, I can just take this instead of my passport, as the passport is a very valuable document and I would hate to lose it (it costs €80 to replace and takes weeks to replace it!). Will the Garda Age Card be acceptable for places like this, in lieu of a passport? I could always bring my driver's licence along with it as well, as it isn't that valuable (I think it only costs €15 to replace, so it's not the end of the world if it's lost)

Good to know you had a great time!

The age card is waaaay handier as there's less questions asked as you can't fake an age card...sometimes to eliminate the possibility of someone borrowing a friends card however a strict bouncer may ask you for a second form of id...but most places would accept anything with your name on it to back up your age card...even a bank card would sometimes do like

D4RK ONION

sock puppet wrote: »

lol I love Dundalk people.

Over in fighting games, the north crowd say ye instead of yes or yeah, so it reads like they say it. :P

Closed ac

If you're going to feel a little self-concious before you go in, just get a little tipsy first. That should sort you out.

Konata

DKZ wrote: »

If you're going to feel a little self-concious before you go in, just get a little tipsy first. That should sort you out.

This kinda attitude really irritates me. Pre-drinks are great - nice and cheap etc. but I hate when people feel they HAVE to drink before going out. As in, they feel they can't go into a pub or club unless they're fairly tipsy/completely hammered. I've a few friends who are actually terrified at the prospect of going out without alcohol on them.


Anyway.

/rant

highlydebased

Hotaru wrote: »

This kinda attitude really irritates me. Pre-drinks are great - nice and cheap etc. but I hate when people feel they HAVE to drink before going out. As in, they feel they can't go into a pub or club unless they're fairly tipsy/completely hammered. I've a few friends who are actually terrified at the prospect of going out without alcohol on them.


Anyway.

/rant

As the facebook group says
"Pre drinking may save you money but it costs your dignity.."

Its somewhat scummy or something if you ask me What ever about going to pub first for a few...but knockin' a naggin back at home first is just no.