Bouncer Etiquette & the Art of Zen
Bouncer etiquette comes in handy when maintaining peace and calm at the doors of a busy night club venue. And it would seem that a thing such as bouncer etiquette could be the saving grace for night clubs.
Teaching anyone how to diffuse situations using manners and common sense instead of brawn and violence is always a good idea. This is particularly important for bouncers who, often drunk with power do not think before they act. While they are hired for their muscle and typical tough guy routine, if their position goes unchecked it could potentially mean unwanted lawsuits for night club owners.
Earlier this month we reported on a bouncer that was killed at a Pretoria nightclub.
The bouncer etiquette concept could mean a safer night out for all, even those who get stupidly drunk and say and do dumb things.
Bouncing and the Art of Zen
According to the Wall Street Journal, an establishment in Monterey, California is training bouncers on how to remain Zen when things kick up at the door and in the club.
The idea was formulated by Robert Smith, a former police officer; who after responding to a bouncer’s call had to arrest him for knocking out a wayward patron.
A character that the training is loosely based on is Patrick Swayze’s “tough-but-tender” bouncer character in the 1989 classic, Road House.
Smith’s training includes; “persuade” a patron out of the club, “strive never to go hands on”, “be nice,” picking battles, respecting gender choices when it comes to bathrooms, watching out for dangerous items and learning to subdue dangerous situations.
“Don’t be afraid to wrap someone up,” Smith said, referring to holding people down.
“Sometimes I come to work and feel like, ‘damn, I’m an adult baby sitter’.” said 28-year-old bouncer, Eddie Zammarchi
“You’re trying to be kind, but it’s so hard. You try to be a Zen monk. Before, it was ‘try not to get stabbed and whoop his ass.” said a 6’1″, 270-pound guy named Corey Primus
According to the same article, a Washington strip club known as the The Cloakroom had put its bouncers through the bouncer etiquette school four years ago. In that time they have seen a 70% drop in their security staff using force.
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