Bouncers

Foxhound38

Decided to head out last night - arranged to meet up with a couple of my friends in a well known Dublin establishment. Spent over 20 euro on a taxi in, spent about an hour getting ready, spent about 10 minutes queing...

"Sorry mate, you've had too much to drink tonight"

I don't drink full stop. And this was after the pisshead in front of me was nodded through after some begging.

I politely explained that I don't drink, had friends waiting on me in there, am 26, had spent a lot of money getting out there and a pretty safe bet not to be causing trouble. Nope - "not tonight friend". So I said "fair enough" and left, what else could I have done?

I'm still annoyed about it this morning - whole night wrecked, huge amount of money (in terms of what I earn) down the river, all because some idiot at the door was on a power trip...

I realize not all security personell are like this, but why in the world do some bouncers make calls like that?

EuskalHerria

They have no room for sober cheapskates.

Foxhound38

EuskalHerria wrote: »

They have no room for sober cheapskates.

In fairness, a pint of coke costs more than a pint of guiness these days!

garv123

You must be female since you took an hour getting ready?

hidinginthebush

Foxhound38 wrote: »

In fairness, a pint of coke costs more than a pint of guiness these days!

The old naggin in the sock eh?

minidazzler

Foxhound38 wrote: »

Decided to head out last night - arranged to meet up with a couple of my friends in a well known Dublin establishment. Spent over 20 euro on a taxi in, spent about an hour getting ready, spent about 10 minutes queing...

"Sorry mate, you've had too much to drink tonight"

I don't drink full stop. And this was after the pisshead in front of me was nodded through after some begging.

While I hate people who sue bars, what he did is very illegal. You can't accuse someone of being drunk unless you are 100% SURE they are drunk and even then you think of another reason not to serve them. It's defamation or some sh1t.

BNMC

ROAR.

/thread

bumper234

Hate to see this, i worked as a doorman for many years and it really used to piss me off when people i worked with acted like this. Ok i understand you had a bad day in work or your Mrs is in your ear but don't bring it to work with you and yes no matter what anyone says there is a (thankfully) small % of doormen who go on power trips. I find it's mostly the younger lads that are like this (inexperience) and the older ones are more lenient.

bumper234

BNMC wrote: »

ROAR.

/thread

ROAR is not a be all and end all excuse.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Haha, I remember going to the harriers back in the day (underage disco) with my friends and one of their younger sisters. The younger sister had big protruding but sleepy looking eyes. She was 14. The hassle we had trying to get her in. The bouncer accused her of being drunk, and sent her off over to the side of the building to sober up a bit. Her mother ended up coming in to bring her home, and had a go at the bouncer "my daughters not drunk this is how she looks all the time", and he was saying oh go on in, go in and enjoy your night.

Have to say the only bouncers that were assholes to me were the bouncers in the harriers, never in a nightclub.

Ave Sodalis

Yup, experienced power tripping bouncers before. Luckily, as a nondrinker, I haven't got stopped yet for being too drunk. I have been sent on a wild goose chase for as many forms of ID as possible before getting refused anyway on the grounds that I don't look like me in any form ID I had managed to get my housemate to drive in with. :rolleyes:

bumper234

I once got stopped going into a bar where i worked, Took the night off and had to drop in to collect wages. The guy who was covering me was a snotty little **** and stopped me saying i had had "enough" already.

AK333

I would contact the company, tell them to look at their CCTV, see that you were sober - I'm assuming dressed appropriately, etc, and maybe get a free night another time - might be worth a shot. I wouldn't recommend suing, all public premises reserve the right of admittance, they could have a raft of reasons to exclude anyone.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

Foxhound38

AK333 wrote: »

I would contact the company, tell them to look at their CCTV, see that you were sober - I'm assuming dressed appropriately, etc, and maybe get a free night another time - might be worth a shot. I wouldn't recommend suing, all public premises reserve the right of admittance, they could have a raft of reasons to exclude anyone.

Ah jaysus, I'm not going down the legal or any other route with it. I'm annoyed at a night wasted and down quite a bit of money but it happens and it's their call at the end of the day - ROAR and all that.

I wouldn't be in a hurry to go back or recommend the place is all. Was stone cold sober, able to engage in polite conversation, dressed appropriately etc - just fail to see what the problem was in the doormans head tbh.

You would think in these tight economic times, establishments would be hesitant to waste potential patrons money and goodwill for literally no reason...

castletownman

You should have gone for a burger.

Cus apparently that's the magic cure, based on my experience of hearing bouncers telling lads to go for one when they were clearly too drunk.

homeless student

Foxhound38 wrote: »

Decided to head out last night - arranged to meet up with a couple of my friends in a well known Dublin establishment. Spent over 20 euro on a taxi in, spent about an hour getting ready, spent about 10 minutes queing...

"Sorry mate, you've had too much to drink tonight"

I don't drink full stop. And this was after the pisshead in front of me was nodded through after some begging.

I politely explained that I don't drink, had friends waiting on me in there, am 26, had spent a lot of money getting out there and a pretty safe bet not to be causing trouble. Nope - "not tonight friend". So I said "fair enough" and left, what else could I have done?

I'm still annoyed about it this morning - whole night wrecked, huge amount of money (in terms of what I earn) down the river, all because some idiot at the door was on a power trip...

I realize not all security personell are like this, but why in the world do some bouncers make calls like that?

you should of just went to a nearby club and enjoyed the night, even without your mates.

knotknowbody

In our group if a situation like that arose, the person refused entry would ring the guys inside and explain the situation, the guys inside come out to the door chat to their friend for a minute or two and then decide to leave and go somewhere else, when the doorman has had a few minutes to observe the person refused and then sees a group leaving he often changes his mind, unless you really are drunk, in which case we would send you home and get on with our night.

Son Of A Vidic

Foxhound38 wrote: »

all because some idiot at the door was on a power trip...

Or maybe even a steroid trip.

irritablebaz

stories like this are why i dont frequent places that employ bouncers. back in the day it took me quite a while to realise you cant reason with them.

DEFTLEFTHAND

castletownman wrote: »

You should have gone for a burger.

Cus apparently that's the magic cure, based on my experience of hearing bouncers telling lads to go for one when they were clearly too drunk.

I was told once to go and ask for a cup of coffee in the pub and come back in half an hour.

castletownman

knotknowbody wrote: »

In our group if a situation like that arose, the person refused entry would ring the guys inside and explain the situation, the guys inside come out to the door chat to their friend for a minute or two and then decide to leave and go somewhere else, when the doorman has had a few minutes to observe the person refused and then sees a group leaving he often changes his mind, unless you really are drunk, in which case we would send you home and get on with our night.

That reminds me of an incident at the tail end of last year. A bunch of us were on a stag in Cork City. On the Saturday evening, we were in a popular, modern "gastro-bar" having a bite to eat and a couple of drinks. Two of the lads went outside to have a smoke. One of them starting coughing and heaving up the tiniest, most miniscule bit of vomit your ever likely to see. Now, he had arrived that morning, and hadn't even started drinking yet, but had a bit of a head-cold. An off-duty bouncer happened to be having a fag at the same time, and went in and told the manager. The lad was swiftly told to leave the premises by the manager. Rest of the lads left their drink and whatever else behind and followed him in solidarity. The bar lost a considerable evening trade as a result.

Could never figure out why I never liked drinking in pretentious bars up to that point.

Dyr

By not letting you in they actually saved you quite a bit of money.



Also: an hour getting ready? GTFO

becost

Get one of your friends to let you in the emergency exit. Did that for years. Used always say goodnight to them when leaving and the thick cnuts never even realized.

garv123

The norm these days is to post a complaint about it on their facebook page and hope to get as many likes as possible..

If you're ginger or in a wheelchair it may help you get a few more pity likes.

Arpa

I find them much more accommodating in recent times. If you frequent the same club you get to know the bouncers and usually a nod and a "Howiyah lads" will be grand for them to sweep you in.

Depends on where you are but match their accent, their tone, find something to ingratiate yourself to them. Don't be a di*k just look like you've come from a few pints in an audl Dublin pub. They seem to find that grand. If you rock up with a big accent on ye and looking all cocky there's no chance. Blend in, be part of the background. If you think about it...you don't want to stand out. You want to be just another bloke going into the club.

I also find that walking up on my own helps. Even if you are a bit piS*ed, just walk up on your own and in particular when they are dealing with a group of drunk lads. Don't say anything, just nod and give the raised eyebrows as if to say.."Pfft, I know what you're dealing with" and voila.

There have been times of course when it doesn't work...and you'll always get the odd a*swipe but for the most part it works for me.

Bipolar Joe

A while back I was going to a class concert (It was for an event planning and management module). I have a big beard, and I'm clearly not under eighteen. Got to the venue, and the bouncer put his hand on my chest and just said "I.D." I just said "Are you serious? Look at me, man." He put his hand down and I walked past. First and last time there, but it was a bit absurd.

FatherLen

how to be a bouncer:

be a dick.
stand near a door.

mad turnip

Should have tried again 5 minutes later, was refused only once and they didn't mind letting me in 5 minutes later!

Timmyctc

Bouncers in a popular venue in Galway do this thing I've noticed (its happened to me on two or three occasions anyway) where the club is free before 12 and 2,3 or 4 euro after usually. But coming on 11.50-11.55 they've sent me back to the end of the queue after I've reached the front saying "Queue up again and you'll have sobered up a bit there". Sent about 5 lads in front of me and a couple behind me back at the same time the first time. I can only assume its to make the place a few extra on covers.

Jester252

Was going out with a group of friends in Limerick and we had some drinks at the house but not enough to be drunk. We're about to go in and the bouncer caught me and pulled me out of the group saying I was drunk. My friends go in and I'm left outside. They only find out that I was stopped after they had paied and I told them to stay and I'll see them at home.
I was walking away angry with the bouncer for stopping me and grabing me while I was still on the footpath. Then I find the supply door for the club wide open so in I go. Trying to find the way to the club another bouncer caught me and I just told him I got lost trying to find the bathrooms so he helped me into the club.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Phoenix wrote: »

ever go to coppers in Portlaoise?

Yes but I live with one of the bouncers that works there so they're nice to me

SicklySweet

I can go out sober, but my high heels usually let me down. In Cork, i recently had a "domino effect" where the street was cobbly, so i hung onto my friend. Got turned away from one place, went across the road and got turned away from two more. Got into another place down the street Have yet to meet a bouncer who can differenciate the difference between drunk and can't walk in heels :pac:

My friend's boyfriend is a bouncer.He said he used to work at this club where the manager used to be watching the CCTVs and telling the bouncers to let them in or tell them to go away. Only pretty people allowed. Not sure how true it is though.

bumper234

SicklySweet wrote: »

I can go out sober, but my high heels usually let me down. In Cork, i recently had a "domino effect" where the street was cobbly, so i hung onto my friend. Got turned away from one place, went across the road and got turned away from two more. Got into another place down the street Have yet to meet a bouncer who can differenciate the difference between drunk and can't walk in heels :pac:

My friend's boyfriend is a bouncer.He said he used to work at this club where the manager used to be watching the CCTVs and telling the bouncers to let them in or tell them to go away. Only pretty people allowed. Not sure how true it is though.

Had a manager try that once in a pretty well known club in Dublin. I took my ear piece out and when he came up to the door from his office i told him if he wants to decide who gets in or not then he needs to stand at the door and stop them himself and also to take the abuse. He never tried it again and i ended up working there for nearly 3 years.

minidazzler

Arpa wrote: »

I find them much more accommodating in recent times. If you frequent the same club you get to know the bouncers and usually a nod and a "Howiyah lads" will be grand for them to sweep you in.

Depends on where you are but match their accent, their tone, find something to ingratiate yourself to them. Don't be a di*k just look like you've come from a few pints in an audl Dublin pub. They seem to find that grand. If you rock up with a big accent on ye and looking all cocky there's no chance. Blend in, be part of the background. If you think about it...you don't want to stand out. You want to be just another bloke going into the club.

The problem with this is it's all bullsh1t. First and foremost a Bouncers job, and the job of anyone in a bar is Customer Service. They should be making an effort to feel like you are special, but not that you're lucky to be in the bar. More that the bar is lucky to have you. The bouncer shouldn't be making you feel awkward as you come to the door. They should be welcoming you.

Rod Serling

I've never been stopped going in anywhere in Dublin and I've been in most places.. I'm usually a little inebriated before entering any bar or club and nod to the bouncer on my way in and it's never steered me wrong.

fatto

minidazzler wrote: »

First and foremost a Bouncers job, and the job of anyone in a bar is Customer Service. They should be making an effort to feel like you are special, but not that you're lucky to be in the bar.

I agree. A bouncer I met in Galway once did indeed think I was special. He actually said 'you're a bit special, aren't you?'. He was very kind and courteous and was concerned that I was tired from standing in the queue so long. He was so worried about me that he kept offering to send me home in a wheelchair. I thought this was a lovely gesture from him. If only all bouncers could be as decent.

Boofle

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Haha, I remember going to the harriers back in the day (underage disco) with my friends and one of their younger sisters. The younger sister had big protruding but sleepy looking eyes. She was 14. The hassle we had trying to get her in. The bouncer accused her of being drunk, and sent her off over to the side of the building to sober up a bit. Her mother ended up coming in to bring her home, and had a go at the bouncer "my daughters not drunk this is how she looks all the time", and he was saying oh go on in, go in and enjoy your night.

Have to say the only bouncers that were assholes to me were the bouncers in the harriers, never in a nightclub.

Ha ha you have brought back many memories of my youth with the mention of Harriers! Memories I would rather remain buried

Back on topic though OP, that's a real shame that you were turned away. I have often been standing in the queue for a nightclub and saw perfectly decent/sober guys being turned away - when it was blatantly obvious that they weren't drunk. It's so unfair and it's basically some clown of a bouncer having a power trip. Pathetic really.

Galwayguy35

Never had any problems being stopped at the door and asked was I drunk but but one of them got heavy handed with me years ago after I was nutted in an unprovoked attack and when he saw the blood assumed I was at fault and nearly broke my arm throwing me out.

Never went to a nightclub since and have a general dislike of bouncers since that night.

Arpa

minidazzler wrote: »

The problem with this is it's all bullsh1t. First and foremost a Bouncers job, and the job of anyone in a bar is Customer Service. They should be making an effort to feel like you are special, but not that you're lucky to be in the bar. More that the bar is lucky to have you. The bouncer shouldn't be making you feel awkward as you come to the door. They should be welcoming you.

A bouncers job is not customer service, it's more..'Make sure most people in the venue are not absolute scumbags or smashed drunk' After that it's up to the bar staff to offer the customer service.

I actually think it's a good thing that you feel a bit awkward when approaching a club door. It makes your realise, if you're a bit pis*ed that you have to get your head together and be human because you're entering a place full of people whom you have to get along with.

Imagine the bouncers let in all those watsed scumbages that you see. We'd all have a stab wound or two.

What's worse is the Gardai, and this is probably another thread topic, but it seems to me that if you are from the same county...even town, as a Guard they will go leniently. If you have an accent that indicates southside or affluent Dublin, or are essentially more eductaed than the guard in their opinion...then you're going to be treated more severely. Small town Ireland sh*t again.

Maybe there's that prejudice with bouncers depending on their locale. A couple of times in my life I've been stopped by Seamus the bouncer who didn't let me in claiming I was too drunk but let in Paddy behind me because he knew he was from the same town as his mother's cousin's sister's friend.
Depend's who you are and where you are...like most things in society. Not saying it's ok, just saying it like I see it.

anncoates

I have arranged the solution to your woes in this clever sentence anagram:

Pubs Other Thousands Moany Hole City

gw80

Boofle wrote: »

Ha ha you have brought back many memories of my youth with the mention of Harriers! Memories I would rather remain buried

Back on topic though OP, that's a real shame that you were turned away. I have often been standing in the queue for a nightclub and saw perfectly decent/sober guys being turned away - when it was blatantly obvious that they weren't drunk. It's so unfair and it's basically some clown of a bouncer having a power trip. Pathetic really.

of coarse it is:rolleyes:

ever think that maybe the bouncers knew the guys they turned away from previously acting the dicks after they got drunk,

ever think that by turning these guys away that you ended up having a good night out by not having any hassle from these guys.

Im pretty sure that if most people on here giving out about bouncers were to do it for even just a couple of weeks they,ed have a different opinion about it.

Boofle

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Never had any problems being stopped at the door and asked was I drunk but but one of them got heavy handed with me years ago after I was nutted in an unprovoked attack and when he saw the blood assumed I was at fault and nearly broke my arm throwing me out.

Never went to a nightclub since and have a general dislike of bouncers since that night.

That's awful - they really should not get away with behaviour like that but unfortunately they do. You probably shouldn't let that experience stop you going to a nightclub though - if you want to, that is.

Boofle

gw80 wrote: »

of coarse it is:rolleyes:

ever think that maybe the bouncers knew the guys they turned away from previously acting the dicks after they got drunk,

ever think that by turning these guys away that you ended up having a good night out by not having any hassle from these guys.

Im pretty sure that if most people on here giving out about bouncers were to do it for even just a couple of weeks they,ed have a different opinion about it.

No, sorry I don't agree with you. At all. Some of them are on major power trips. Nah, I wouldn't fancy being a bouncer for a few weeks thanks :P No one is forcing them to do that job - so no sympathy from me I'm afraid!!

Galwayguy35

Boofle wrote: »

That's awful - they really should not get away with behaviour like that but unfortunately they do. You probably shouldn't let that experience stop you going to a nightclub though - if you want to, that is.

Unfortunately this was way before the days of CCTV in a small town nightclub but if it was now I'd have both of them up on assault charges.

I'm 38 now so my clubbing days are long behind me either way.

Tom_Cruise

What you do is go away then return with a huge bunch of mates and beat the bouncers up, enter the club and then you are the king of that club.

Arpa

anncoates wrote: »

I have arranged the solution to your woes in this clever sentence anagram:

Pubs Other Thousands Moany Hole City

You have drank a few pints and spent half an hour composing an anagram of what is more than likely a disastrous attempt at levity.

Do you know the amount of combinations? Do we use all letters?

Nothing has been solved in your "anagram". Nothing clever and it's not a sentence. Just more woe and no solution.

gw80

Boofle wrote: »

No, sorry I don't agree with you. At all. Some of them are on major power trips. Nah, I wouldn't fancy being a bouncer for a few weeks thanks :P No one is forcing them to do that job - so no sympathy from me I'm afraid!!

I agree with you there, some lads are on power trips but its not really as widespread as you would think,

i dont agree with your statement "no one is forcing them to do that job" is a bit of a silly statement, people who wash dishes all day in some hotel or cleaners, no one is forcing them to do them jobs either,but ya have to do what ya have to do.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Phoenix wrote: »

Arent you lucky!

sorry?

Boofle

gw80 wrote: »

I agree with you there, some lads are on power trips but its not really as widespread as you would think,

i dont agree with your statement "no one is forcing them to do that job" is a bit of a silly statement, people who wash dishes all day in some hotel or cleaners, no one is forcing them to do them jobs either,but ya have to do what ya have to do.

What I meant was that any time I have seen a thread on here that is bouncer related there is always a 'woe is me' sentiment from people who perhaps are bouncers or used to be.

I agree with your earlier post that they are definitely needed to weed out the possible knacks getting in etc (and indeed I was very grateful to one who got rid of a horrid guy who would not leave me alone in a club one night!) but sometimes they really do take the biscuit with their entry 'policies'!