KSPOT says: 2005-08-19 13:54:56
Fever, I thought your article was very interesting and well written. It definately gives people some insight on how to get "in" with the door guy. I do have a couple comments though. You mention a couple times the fact that the bar is over capacity, and part of that tip is really covering the fact that the door guy could get in some trouble if they let people in. How bout those huge lines, around the building and there's like 5 people in the bar. I understand that's probably to make the bar look busy, but it doesn't make sense. I've happend to just have VIP on nights where there's a huge line and I get in, and there's no one in the bar (10:30). I get that the door guys still has to follow direction, but I just thought I'd mention that the line isn't always related to capacity issues. One more thing....do you let your friends in for free? ;)

BigB says: 2005-08-20 18:17:39
I appreciate your article fever. Being a balla, I always tip my doorman. I need some clarification though. Example being TYC. Would the roller go to VIP, Executive or Main line. And in doing this would you still wait in line or cut right through to the front, Give the doorman his grease, shake his hand and be in? Because it seems that sometimes the Exec and VIP lines move just as slow as the main line. Has anyone actually tried to hand off toonies and loonies? Thats stright up low budget.

fever says: 2005-08-23 21:46:58
BigB. I don't want to comment on any specific clubs nut any club I would go for the VIP lineup, try and get to the front to talk to the doorman. Try and make sure the manager is not around and follow the other guidelines. The corporate chain places tend to have the strictest policies but they also pay security the least. Yes, sometimes some dumb s#*t will try and pay in loonies and toonies. Anonymous, you're welcome.

Anonymous says: 2006-01-13 12:19:33
I have an even BETTER idea... how bout I DON'T tip a bouncer with $50, DON'T pay for overpriced drinks and DON'T pay $40 for a cab ride home and stay home and watch a movie? The bar is such a waste of time and money...

Anonymous says: 2006-01-13 12:47:18
Thats a good idea, you don't sound like very much fun anyhow. I think this article was writen for those who don't want to stay home and watch movies every night.

jack49 says: 2006-01-13 18:19:16
^^Ok mr hermit, u buy your beer from the vendor, rent your movies, and sit at home. I'm going out with my friends to the bar to dance, socialize, and make friends. I don't even have to worry about picking up girls knowing that i could be way worse off, such as sitting at home, renting a movie, and living your life.

Anonymous says: 2006-01-13 23:02:54
... and seriously, how many people go to the bar to "make friends"? Saying "Hi, how are you?" to the coat-check girl doesn't count, sorry.

Anonymous says: 2006-05-31 13:00:20
I once had a doorman say "give me some cash and I will let you in". I think thats rude.

Itsfunnycuzitstrue says: 2006-05-31 15:38:30
Wow! you actually put a price on cheeziness, thank-you. I was wondering what the going rate to be a total cheese dick was now adays. Fever, i think I totally know who you are now, youre that retard thats always hanging around the side of the door waiting for a chance to talk to the bouncer while he\'s letting me and my friends in free of charge and without a wait. instead of greasing the door man try just being a little less gay!

BigB says: 2006-05-31 17:05:25
Its understandable when you are 18. But when you are 30 it's pretty freakin pathetic.

Anonymous says: 2006-06-01 09:22:14
WOW a doorman what a bonehead of a job to have. You must work at the door standing there and having a boner checking out the GUYS coming through. Get a real job. Don't be a loser for the rest of your life. You probably will not make it to 30 years old anyways because of the steroids that is infesting your body. It is going to kill you. Die you slimy bastard.

BalthazaarRamrod says: 2006-06-01 18:19:25
^^^ - I don\'t think they have the job to make extra cash. They have the job because they have a complex and want to be in control of something or someone. Some of them do it because they want to fight.

Anonymous says: 2006-06-06 12:01:47
okay, there are some bouncers that may get a power trip out of the deal. But I don't think any take the job so they can fight. You see if you're gunna scrap you don't do it at work because you will lose your job and most likely get charged with assult. The money end of things is a different situation all together. I know this much, any bouncer who is on the take is bringing in an extra 100 bucks over his wage every night there's a line up. Thats not to bad. And if you add that 100 to the 60 he is allready making, take into the fact that he is getting it in cash, and he only worked 5 houres that job doesn't look so bad. In fact, I bet he's making more than you.

BigB says: 2006-06-08 16:01:28
The problem with that ole boy is you don't see too many good looking hussies in scuz bars. I used to bounce when i was younger. Get to flex the muscles, beat the piss outta punk kids and pick-up lots of sexy young woman. Not to mention the extra cash was always nice and you get to chill out w/ buddies while you are "working". If you like to fight it's the best way to do it. You are getting paid for it and you always in the right bcs you arent the drunk idiot looking for a scrap in a private club...you are "protecting the clientelle".

Mitch says: 2006-06-13 08:22:30
Fever, give me a break. I've been running bars and clubs for over 10 years and what most of these people are saying is true. Bouncers are generally unintelligent and overagressive. The very fact you think it's reasonable to take money from your employer is insane. You probably don't realize this but the people that are giving you money would most likely spend it inside as opposed to on your "service", thus you are screwing your boss. I don't know how many morons like you I've fired over the last decade. And yes, most corporate clubs manufacture a line to give the illusion that their venue is the one you want to be in. Please, a tip, to stand there. You are already collecting a salary to do your job. If you feel the pay isn't adequate then get another job. Monkey.

Anonymous says: 2006-06-21 11:20:55
I got a tip for the doormen - get an education, or stop failing the police tests.

Anonymous says: 2006-06-22 13:16:51
who said drop outs? I said fail outs.

fever says: 2006-08-06 09:00:27
Wow. I haven\'t looked at this in months. A buddy just told me to check it out again cuz there was some new action on it. I agree with alot thats being said; even the neg stuff about doormen/bouncers but here are a few responses anyways: To the guy that has run bars for 10 or so years, As a marketing major I\'d like to inform you that to the 25-35 yr old demographic, that enjoys drinking socially, the prevailing attitude when going out is that they will consume X number of drinks regardless of the cost of the evening. So as long as they pay the cover charge as well as the tip there is no thiefery going on. Secondly, how much less money are they going to spend if they decide to go somewhere else or spend a half hour less inside your bar. To all the other bouncer haters, you\'re right on several accounts. I too dislike about 50% of other bouncers I meet. But I\'m sure I\'ve inadvertently offended people and once or twice been more aggresive then I should have. However, I actually feel stupid telling other adults what they can and cannot do. Some guys like that s*** but I find that to be the most demeaning part of my job. Further to that last sentence, I do also sometimes feel like a loser being a doorman/bouncer. Some of the negative comments made are true for many guys so the assumption is that it applies to all of us and I sometimes worry that I\'m being judged that way. To the guy that thinks I\'m the guy that hangs out with the bouncer at the sidedoor- you\'re hilarious cuz I know exactly the type you\'re talking about. OK. So back to the point of this rant. My intention wasn\'t to encourage other doorguys to fish for extra cash. It was meant as a guideline for those that are willing to offer extra for the advantage of not having to wait. When you think about it, this is a micro-version of a larger societal debate. In a social based country such as ours, I assume that most people believe in fair and equitable treatment and services (such is the basis of our healthcare system). Last year I paid a paltry $4000 in income taxes. I had a friend that paid $30,000 and another that paid $80,000. If we all tore our acl\'s playing rec hockey at the same time we would all have to wait the same amount of time on a waiting list to get our mri\'s and eventually surgery. My friends might argue that they\'ve paid significantly more into the system and should wait less or an even better argument might be that the gov\'t should fund a portion of the cost for them to go to the states and they would pay the rest, which would in fact be cheaper for the gov\'t. OR they could allow private clinics here in Winnipeg where rich people pay through the nose to not have to be put on a public waiting list. So the club lineup scenario is a metaphor for this larger social argument. What I don\'t get is who\'s getting pissed off at this practice of tipping and accepting tips at the door? Is it the capitalists: exploitive, greedy owners and management that don\'t provide cabfare after 1am for employees or 15 minute breaks for every 3hrs worked etc? Is it the masses: the people that actually patiently wait in line (the only people in my opinion that have any right to bitch)? And if this is the case at least be happy that the assholes that aren\'t waiting are paying something and its not just because they are cooler and better looking than you. Or is it the wannabe elite: people that don\'t want to wait in line and don\'t want to pay simply cuz they are more important then everyone else? C\'MON people. I\'m lucky to work at a place that actually treats the staff pretty good and pays me very well. Last Friday I let in a total of 15 people over 3 hours who did not wait in line. 5 were staff friends and 10 people paid in 2 groups of 4 and one of 2 for a grand total of $190.00 which I split with my crew. If that seems so bad feel free to chastise me some more. Bottom line is its a bar lineup. Its not something to get worked up over. This rant was a sarcastic guideline for people who like to go to busy clubs/bars that have lineups but don\'t want to wait in line. And yes, I, like many other doormen, am an insignificant guy at a job where for 4.5 hours 2nights every weekend people want to be my best friend or kick my ass (a veritable superstar in my own mind). It is all really quite laffable when you think about it. So as long as i\'m not hurting anyone or breaking the law, who really gives a flying f@#k what I do at the door.

Mitch says: 2006-08-06 09:59:26
Dearest fever, You obviouly don't get it. Even if the tipping policy you encourage costs the bar you work at 1 single dollar then it is a single dollar too many. Businesses aren't set up for you to make extra money of for you to find a way to make money at the businesses expense. As an employee who seems to think his employer treats him pretty well, your only concern should be trying to make the extablishment you work at the most money possible. And to think that people will only spend a set amount of money that they've decided upon is laughable (by the way, that's the proper spelling). If someone runs out of money and slipped you 30$ to get in the door, there's a good chance that the 30$ would have been spent in the bar and not on it's doorsteps for your perceived "service". Good luck with your "side business". Mitch

Mitch says: 2006-08-08 22:37:58
Dearest fever, I'm guessing you will just never get it. Feel free to continue to propagate your viewpoint and I'm sure it will get you far in life. I'm not sure if you realized it or not, but the vast majority of the comments posted after your tipping "suggestions" we're negative, but feel free to continue to offer your service at the establishment you work at. I'm sure the lateral-movement job offers will continue to pour in. I have over 100 great part-time employees at the 2 venues I own, and rest assured that they take home about 12-13$ an hour, which they are very happy with. Tips are all pooled and shared equally so the guy that cleans the toilets, gets the same as the girl slinging drinks. Fair is fair after all. I'm sure your entrepreneurial nature will take you far in life. We try to foster an environment where we all work as a team and that everyone benefits, without it being at the expense of anyone. I also don't know what I was thinking? Laffable, I get it now, that is super funny!

lotonmymind says: 2006-12-21 12:20:33
Clearly Mitch has a chip on his sholder. Greasing a door guy is not that big a deal. A bouncer would be crazy to turn down a twenty to slip a couple people through. There bouncers not RCMP.

lotonmymind says: 2007-01-08 15:37:03
Mitch, thankyou so much for your insight on this matter. It really has changed my outlook on greasing a bouncer. In fact, I think has changed my outlook on life in general. I will no longer grease bouncers. I will also stop greasing nurses at the emergency room to cut in frount of little sick children. Thankyou for making me a better person. You compleate me.

Mitch says: 2007-06-10 14:12:41
Is this Andrew Shallcross? Hhhhm.