bouncing

[Unmatchable]

how do you get a job as a bouncer? What do you have to do just go to a bar and ask them if they are hiring bouncers or do you need some security class/experience? Also do you have to look big and intimidating? or can you be small with good skills? And also how do you throw people out without punching them and without getting punched?

[David Jamieson]

look in the jobs section of the paper?

They are genereally referred to as "door people" or door men.

The game is restrain and contain.

stuff happens, been der done dat. lol no you don't need to be big and burly, but a lot of places prefer it because that in itself is a deterrent.

[norther practitioner]

KL pretty much got that one right...

Yeah, just go in and ask..

Don't go when they are slammed though, I hate when I'm working the door or behind the bar and someone askes if we are hiring.

[Unmatchable]

any of you guys know some good restraining techniques? I can think of only few and bad ones that don't leave me open for a punch.

[Meat Shake]

Id say to check out Dr. Yang's Anylsis of chin na 2nd edition, pick out a few techniques and train them reptitiously against a resisting opponent.

[David Jamieson]

Fairbairn and Sykes Defendu program has tons of them. The system was designed more or less for law enforcement peeps and contains loads on restrain and contain techs.

Chin Na is good and so is aikido. Standard GR wrestling has tons of stuff and so does JJ in any of it's manifestations. There si a lot out there.

wrist locks and arm bars are always effective. ;-)

[Unmatchable]

for the last few years I have only been training in Muay Thai and Muay thai is almost all striking except clinch work (with alot of restrictions like no grabbing legs or back) which is not very effective for restraining (aikido would be even more effective or Judo or tai chi).

Problem is sometimes the people I try moves on move their hands out of the way or jerk hard and out of the move. Or for instance one time I tried grabbing a guys neck Muay Thai clinch style with one hand first like your sopposed to and the guy ducked his head and moved it back almost simutanously as I grabbed it with one hand and before I could grab it with the other and was out of my reach. The only thing I can really do well is striking everything else I suck at.

[Meat Shake]

So practice other things. :)

[ShaolinTiger00]

3 things.

1. size. My buddy Idi (from the African country of Mali) is 6'4 and weighs about 340 lbs. He usually doesn't even have to say anything to most people. He points a giant finger and you and then the door and you just go. No one, not even the "napoleon" syndrome drunk guy wants to get in a physical conflict with a guy like this. and that's without knowing that he's a national and international judo champ. Intimidation can be a huge factor in keeping the peace.

2. verbal judo. I've got another friend who works back in the sticks of Ohio in a rowdy country bar. This guy is about 180lbs of blue collar muscle and lifts weights. Because everyone thinks they can try to mess with a smaller bouncer, he uses attitude and voice to navigate a guy out of the bar. He's really a master at it.. He's got all kinds of ways, "the good guy", "the badass", "the I know you're right and the bartender is wrong" etc.. and he rarely has to handle someone. he gets respect for treating customers well.

3. a cool head. There is nothing worse than a bouncer with martial arts experience who thinks he's gonna "Roadhouse" every problem. Sorry Swayze, but that's not only a good way to find a pool stick in your lung, but it's a good way to get a lawsuit and police troubles. A good bouncer will know that if there is a fight etc. that they need to work as a group to stop the problem.

[Oso]

a good bar will have a variety of bouncer types. the big guy, the cooler, the talker.

[Meat Shake]

What song is that in your sig oso?

[ShaolinTiger00]

It's a baseline.

[Meat Shake]

No no, its a bassline.
:p

;)

[ShaolinTiger00]

you are correct. sorry I'm typing foe net ic lee 2 day.

[Oso]

one other word of warning about bouncing/bar work:

you need to not give a **** about your lungs.

did 7 years straight and it was only about a year after I quit that I realized how ****ed up my lungs had become from the 'harmless' 2nd hand smoke.


and, yes, it'a a bassline.

one of the phatest basslines around, imo.

been listening to it for 2 days now, non stop...

[DragonzRage]

You don't necessarily have to be a giant hulk, but if you are a smaller guy your chances of getting hired as a "bouncer" are much lower. And don't be the guy who walks in talking about his martial arts skills. Most of the time they could give a $hit less. They're not looking for some wannabe Patrick Swayze. Typically they want big strong looking guys because they can intimidate troublemakers just by their look, they won't get easily jostled or thrown around in a crowd, and its easy for them to use their size to simply smother a guy and drag him outside without starting a big brawl. But they want guys who are smooth talkers and can talk a situation down without getting physical. If you're a hothead you'll get fired. Even if you are a skilled fighter, no manager wants to be sending drunk dudes out on stretchers. Its bad business. If you're looking for a way to test out your MA skills, get in the ring instead.

"one time I tried grabbing a guys neck Muay Thai clinch style with one hand first like your sopposed to and the guy ducked his head and moved it back almost simutanously as I grabbed it with one hand and before I could grab it with the other and was out of my reach. The only thing I can really do well is striking everything else I suck at."
-You don't just reach in for the clinch. You gotta set it up and/or time it better. And if the guy ducked his head down as you were clinching, thats when your knee should've went up. By instinct, most people w/ no MT knowledge will try to escape the thai clinch by ducking out of it, and thats exactly what you want them to do because thats where you can start kneeing the crap out of their heads. If the only thing you do well is striking, then your MA skills will not be all that useful in a bouncer job.

[Michael Dasargo]

Unmatchable,

I work as a Nightclub Security Supervisor/Medic at E St. Alley in San Diego, CA. The process of attaining a job as a "bouncer" is generally determined by the venue you desire to work for. My company, Excell Security, has established contracts with nightclubs throughout the Gaslamp District such as On Broadway (as seen on Real World), Red Circle, E St. Alley, Deco's, etc.

The first issue is to ask yourself why you want to bounce. If it's to knock heads, then you need to consider the possible consequences. There are plenty of venue's who hire in-house, however it's generally a better idea to work for a company who can provide life insurance, and a good attorney (especially if you live in California). This profession risks both your health and your finances.

Secondly, you have to know your rights, the law, physical tactics (and your cities use of force paradigm) and verbal strategy.

It is recommended that you receive as much certifiable training from a bonifide association to cya in court. At Excell, it is mandatory to have a Guard Card, ABC LEAD (Alcohol Beverage Control License Education on Alcohol and Drugs) to check ID's, and Handcuffing Cert. to carry and apply handcuffs. Most control methods are confined to pain compliance techniques (chin na), which is differs significantly from the structure and training methods in most Wu Guan. But knowing your protocol and the law will help you survive physically as well as financially.

Lastly, you have to have a solid crew. E St. Alley is notorious in San Diego for being the premiere Hip Hop club in SD attracting both thugs, celeberties, poor, and rich. We have a steady crew of between 15-18 people (including both men and women). Unfortunately, when pretty boys from On Broadway think that nightclub security is about chasing women and getting your groove on, they get sent to "Exile Alley" for discipline. My boss is a retired Marine Gunny, and his two assistant supervisors are Martial Artist (myself: Mantis Boxing, my partner: Cage Fighting).

I can't stress the importance of discipline and reliabilitity in this profession. We manage a crowd of up to 1600 people with a crew of 18. There are times when we have rumbles on street level, and bystanders who aren't involved want to get licks in on bouncers for the audience and bragging rights. There is no room for kids who get shook at the sign of being powerless.

The reality is that you are going to get hurt on the job. Once you get passed that reality, then you train to reduce that probability. You also have to have response teams trained with the proper tactics protocol to maximize efficiency with your limited resources. (ie, setting up perimeters, using flashlights to disorient, etc).

There are several other variables you must take into account. But ultimately, if you learn to cope with the stress, you'll have a good time. If your training Gong Fu, it will help develop your Ting, Shuai Jiao, Chin Na, and sticky hands (striking and choking is forbidden unless absolutely necessary). Once you start to use your skills habitually, try not to practice them on people with low pain tolerance. You'll find that the assailants you encounter have various threshholds of pain and injury. Personally, I hate it when Im polite by habit (from teaching) while a 300 pound intoxicated man is trying to kill me.

The way you train is the way you fight. No jokes. No ego. No bragging. No Pretense.

Good luck,
M.Dasargo
www.MantisSkills.com

[kungfuyou]

E. St. Alley is a GREAT PLACE! Awww...how I miss SD!!


I had a friend that was a bouncer in La Mesa (can't remember the club). He was working the door one night, escorted a drunk individual outside. About 5 minutes later, the individual returned with a gun and killed my friend, shot him 5 times in the back! Sad thing was, he was just excepted into the Border Patrol!!! Something he was waiting a LONG TIME for!! It's not an easy job, can be VERY dangerous, and doesn't pay that well, from what I hear. But you definately put yourself out there in harms way ALOT!

Good luck to you if you do get into it!!

[red5angel]

I have several freinds who bounce and to get into the business of bouncing usually depends on what sort of place it is.
Most places want you to have some sort of physical presence, but not always. Most guys start out at smaller clubs and bars first then move up to fancier or more popular locations after getting in some time.
Things like having some sort of medically related certification, or security related certifications help. Martial arts is always a plus but usually not required.

It's actually pretty easy to get in to bouncing.