First timer for the george, help?!

TheFitz13

I'm sure there have been multiple threads and questions about what I'm going to ask.

I've recently turned 18, and will be going to the George for the first time soon. Can anyone give me an insight to what it's like? What to do and what not to do? Also (not to sound desperate), is it common that advances may be made towards you? (If you get what I mean).

Kinda want my first time in The George to be a positive one so it won't affect my outlook on the place for the rest of my life as I feel like I may go here from time to time if I enjoy it

As a young, gay man I don't really know what to expect lol

ongarboy

Oh dear, best register a separate boards account for yourself OP!

But to answer your original question, I wouldn't try to over-arm yourself with information on what exactly to expect as all of our experiences are different and someone who has being going there for years will have different experiences than a first timer/newbie. Half the fun of going there will be to encounter the unexpected (maybe a hot guy making eye contact with you etc)

What I would say is go there with the intention of enjoying yourself. Are you going with a mate? That will certainly make it easier but nothing stopping you from having fun if you are there by yourself either.

If you are good looking, then yes you most likely will get attention but that shouldn't be a bad or awkward experience depending on the circumstances. I'd suggest you not accept drinks from strangers, don't leave your drinks unattended and if someone chats you up that you are not interested in continuing a conversation with them, just politely and firmly say thank you but you're not interested or if you feel you've spent enough time making polite conversation with them, you can just say, "I'm going to go upstairs (or downstairs) ,nice talking to you". They may get offended or be rude but that is their problem and no reflection on you.

The George is not sleazy and there is a good even mix of men and women and plenty of security staff so it is a very safe space. There is usually a drag show most nights from around 11pm til 1am and then the floor is cleared for dancing (usually commercial dance and pop hits with the odd classic/retro/camp hits thrown in). Cloak room upstairs charges 2 euro and venue itself is free before 10pm on weekends. Enjoy!

eaglach

ongarboy wrote: »

I'd suggest you not accept drinks from strangers, don't leave your drinks unattended...

That sounds pretty worrying! Is it common for drinks to get spiked in the George?

newacc2015

eaglach wrote: »

That sounds pretty worrying! Is it common for drinks to get spiked in the George?

No, but it is common sense. I wouldnt leave my drink down in any bar or club in Dublin.

Hibernia93

Is it hard to get into the George ? never been are the bouncers picky I assume they have to be as they need the clientele to be Gay friendly?, friend is recently out but is very how do I say this in a non controversial way straight acting (apologies) and is worried enough as it is to go to go to a gay bar and the dreaded refusal hes 23 btw.

Annasopra

Your friend will be fine

eaglach

newacc2015 wrote: »

No, but it is common sense. I wouldnt leave my drink down in any bar or club in Dublin.

Okay, but it seems odd to specifically say it about the George. It suggests that it's a known occurrence!

baby and crumble

eaglach wrote: »

Okay, but it seems odd to specifically say it about the George. It suggests that it's a known occurrence!

The thread is about the George, though. So it makes sense in that context.

ongarboy

eaglach wrote: »

Okay, but it seems odd to specifically say it about the George. It suggests that it's a known occurrence!

No. I was saying it in the context of OP being a first timer and may find being in a gay nightclub a little bit more inpressionable, overwhelming and maybe daunting in a way someone who has been many times wouldn't. I'd probably give that advice to any young person going out for the first time to any nightclub. I'd regard the G as being extremely safe but if he/she was going to encounter admirers, they should just be streetwise and exercise common sense as they should anywhere.

wakka12

Hibernia93 wrote: »

Is it hard to get into the George ? never been are the bouncers picky I assume they have to be as they need the clientele to be Gay friendly?, friend is recently out but is very how do I say this in a non controversial way straight acting (apologies) and is worried enough as it is to go to go to a gay bar and the dreaded refusal hes 23 btw.

The bouncers are decent there and do you honestly think they screen guests based on how gay acting they are? Straight people are more than welcome there. As are gay men who are as camp or manly as anything. The only reason you wont get it in is if you're loud or drunk

unfortunately

wakka12 wrote: »

The bouncers are decent there and do you honestly think they screen guests based on how gay acting they are? Straight people are more than welcome there. As are gay men who are as camp or manly as anything. The only reason you wont get it in is if you're loud or drunk

A few years ago, the first time I built up the courage to go to a gay bar I walked up to the door and the bouncer said "Have you been here before?" I replied "No", and he said "Sorry, not tonight"

I still don't know why, I'd drunk one can before going out. I can only suspect that he didn't think I was gay and wouldn't allow me in.

wakka12

unfortunately wrote: »

A few years ago, the first time I built up the courage to go to a gay bar I walked up to the door and the bouncer said "Have you been here before?" I replied "No", and he said "Sorry, not tonight"

I still don't know why, I'd drunk one can before going out. I can only suspect that he didn't think I was gay and wouldn't allow me in.

Maybe it was busy, sometimes bouncers are just arseholes, maybe you said something that made them think you were drunk, I've been rejected for seeming drunk even when i wasnt at all. One thing I could nearly guarantee though is that you weren't rejected for seeming straight
And they ask 'have you been here before' or do you know what kind of club this is? to everyone , every time they go to the door btw. Well happens me and my boyfriend every time anyway

wakka12

And I have to ask, why are some people under the impression that the george would even have an anti straight policy operating? They have no reason to reject straight people, clearly straight women arent stopped from going in , in fact they probably make up a good amount of the clubs profit. Unless its some kind of rowdy group of straight lads who are going in to take the piss or something, I cant think of any other reason. Even more ridiculous would be enforcing this by judging patrons sexuality in such a superficial way? when do they decide if you're gay or not? When they see your clothes? When they hear your voice? how effeminately your withdraw your id from your wallet? Whats their policy on bisexual guys?Its just ridiculous like.

unfortunately

wakka12 wrote: »

Maybe it was busy, sometimes bouncers are just arseholes, maybe you said something that made them think you were drunk, I've been rejected for seeming drunk even when i wasnt at all. One thing I could nearly guarantee though is that you weren't rejected for seeming straight
And they ask 'have you been here before' or do you know what kind of club this is? to everyone , every time they go to the door btw. Well happens me and my boyfriend every time anyway

It wasn't busy I walked up to the door there wasn't any line, and I outlined everything I said. I walked up, he asked had I been here before, I said no and he said "Sorry, not tonight". He could has said "we're full" but he didn't, and if it was full why ask if I had been there before if he knew he wasn't going to let me in.

I know they ask "have you been here before" all the time, I have been a few times since and they've asked me. I think that's actually evidence that they are signalling that it's a gay bar and by asking trying to determine if you're gay.

I think the fact I said I hadn't been there before and I'm not obviously camp, he decided not to let me in.

wakka12

unfortunately wrote: »

It wasn't busy I walked up to the door there wasn't any line, and I outlined everything I said. I walked up, he asked had I been here before, I said no and he said "Sorry, not tonight". He could has said "we're full" but he didn't, and if it was full why ask if I had been there before if he knew he wasn't going to let me in.

I know they ask "have you been here before" all the time, I have been a few times since and they've asked me. I think that's actually evidence that they are signalling that it's a gay bar and by asking trying to determine if you're gay.

I think the fact I said I hadn't been there before and I'm not obviously camp, he decided not to let me in.

Well fair enough, you could be right then. But another thing I know is that the security staff there arent directly hired by the george, as in the bouncers work as part of a larger event staff agency who position their staff at bars around the city. So the bouncers have no loyalty or anything to the george and arent gay themselves, and the bouncers there change regularly, which makes me think the anti straight policy is even less likely to exist. Like I seriously cant imagine the bouncers being told oh you're working the george tonight, and then when they arrive to their gig then the manager/supervisors of the george tell them to make sure people coming in are gay

JupiterKid

There definitely has been a policy by some bouncers at the George of not letting seemingly straight men in to the place. I've seen at first hand before. Maybe they think
that they'll cause trouble, but it has definitely occurred in the past.

And then there was the brutal, horrific physical attack by a bouncer on a guy who tried to get into the (then) gay nightclub Shaft in the mid 1990s that saw the man being left paralysed in a wheelchair and the bouncer jailed.

wakka12

Also to comment on the club itself, I think its a nice comfortable and very safe club. Its reasonably small and not all that different to your regular club. One way it stood out to me as being very different is the big variety of ages there, for instance go to other nightclubs in dublin and nobody is over about 26-28. But theres lots of men in their thirties and forties and some oldies too. Which is kind of quirky and cool. Obviously the other big way it differs is that its a bit camper with drag shows and stuff but thats fun.
Its pretty easy to pick up guys there too I suppose, on the dancefloors, just start dancing up near a guy you like and take it from there.

Its really not that big a deal. I too was terrified before going to the george when i was 18, didnt know what to expect at all! But you really shouldn't build it up too much , because youll be surprised by how normal a place it is really!

L1011

wakka12 wrote: »

And I have to ask, why are some people under the impression that the george would even have an anti straight policy operating?

Because they very clearly do. May be bouncers operating on their own and not under orders.

baby and crumble

I don't know if it's an "anti-straight" policy per se, but I can understand them letting folks know it's a gay bar, particularly if they look like folks who might cause trouble inside.

I also know my female partner (who is very femme) has been "warned" on multiple occasions that it's a gay bar.

Funnily enough it doesn't happen when I'm with her. :rolleyes:

Koptain Liverpool

JupiterKid wrote: »

There definitely has been a policy by some bouncers at the George of not letting seemingly straight men in to the place. I've seen at first hand before. .

Me too. It's fairly common there. Pretty awful that the management hire such assholes to be honest