Bouncers seem to have a bad reputation. Most of us have an anecdote that depicts bouncers in a less than flattering light. But when you think about it, they’ve got a pretty difficult job and have to put up with a lot of shit. Whereas there are cases of bouncers being completely in the wrong, if we were to take on their role, it wouldn’t be long before we began to empathise with their position.
Bouncers are the umpires of the club world. They’re derided, ridiculed and argued with but deep down we know we need them and are grateful that they’re responsible for the safety of the patrons. If bouncers are the umpires of the clubbing world, patrons are the suck-ups. Ultra respectful and benevolent to the bouncer’s face, but quick to voice our annoyance from the safety of the bar. It is correct to say that the bouncer in their natural habitat have to deal with drunk, horny, obnoxious people who are adamant that they are in fact reasonable, charming and intelligent.
When people complain about bouncers, it’s quite enjoyable to actually weigh their claims of injustice. For instance, the staggering, bleeding, black eyed, puffy fisted bloke decrying, “the bouncers kicked me out for no reason bro”, doesn’t inspire feelings of sympathy or trust. Or the blubbering, obnoxious, surprisingly profane chick explaining to everyone that will listen, “the bouncers kicked me out and I’m not even drunk”. These explanations don’t seem particularly veracious and highlight how we like to put the bouncer down. And when people complain about the bouncers not letting them in, it’s fashionable to skip over the part about how when you were at entry, you frantically declared your soberness to another patron you mistook for the bouncer - in front of the bouncer.
Bouncers not only have to put up with annoying incapacitated beasts of the night world, they also have to be at work where people have their most fun. People are laughing, dancing, picking up and drinking, that’s enough to get up anyone’s nose.
So think of it from the bouncer’s point of view. They’re like the perpetual designated driver – that’s enough to make anyone a bit of a grouch.
Leave a Comment