Britain's Hardest Doorman

[polarserv international]

It appears that some are trying to go down the road of morals and ethics. A very rocky road indeed.

Two consenting participants: If they want to beat each other to death that is their decision as they are both aware of the risks.

Playing devils advocate again, but the medical profession has a glowing history, as well as Doormen, CPO's etc.

I believe the whole issue is one of publicity and not ethics and morality.

[rupert]

I don't have a problem at all with two people jumping in a ring or cage if thats what they want to do; but there is NO reason why anyone assiciated with any aspect of the security industry would want to promote or market is specifically at a given sector namely DS; a public event is one thig. Branding it in this way is something else.....stupid.

As for not caring what the public think? Naive, very naive. In an industry where our wages are haevuily dependant on our image, be that or background, training, qualifications, active service etc; all this combines to create an image of who and what we are to our customers. In one way shapew or form, members of the public. How the outside world view us as employees within a given industry (regardless of specialisation be it DS, MG, CPO, HE etc) does have a huge efect. If the world thinks and sees us all as untrained, poorly disciplined muscle heads, then bring on the lack of respect and cr*p money; if the see us as switched on, well trained, profesional individuals; then the respect will grow the industry will grow and the ££££$$$$ will grow.

[TacMedic1]

Bust-up over 'hardest doorman' contest

Exclusive Paul R Taylor and Mike Keegan
21/ 6/2008

A FIGHT night to find Britain's 'hardest doorman' has been slammed.

Sixteen bouncers will box against each other for the title and a prize of £10,000 at The Ritz nightclub, Manchester, in an event staged by Glossop-based KO Promotions.

A website promoting the event, to be held in September, says there will be 15 fights with ringside seats advertised at £45 and standard seats £35.

But the Security Industry Authority , the regulatory body that licenses door staff, condemned the event.

It has spent years working to improve the public image of doormen and all those fighting on the night are sia licensed.

The manager of The Ritz said they would not hold the event unless it got approval from the authorities.

But Michael Wilson, chief executive of the SIA, said: "I am disappointed.

"It puts the industry in a bad light and undermines the real progress made in Door Supervision.

"Intelligence and conflict management skills are the tools of the profession to protect the public in the 21st Century - not by physical means."

Pat Karney, Manchester council's city centre spokesman, also hit out at the event.

"We need this like a hole in the head," he said.

"There's enough macho violence in the world without encouraging it.

"I hope that none of the bouncers involved are from Manchester."

Phil Burke, from the Manchester Pub and Club Network, said the event could set Manchester's reputation back 'by years'.

He added: "We've worked hard on ridding Manchester of its thuggish image and this will not help. I'd urge The Ritz to have a rethink about hosting it."

Police have also hit out at the planned brawl.

Registered

Manchester City Safe Inspector Ron Orr said: "We do not condone events that are seeking to display violent behaviour. "Registered sia door staff are a vital ingredient in ensuring that Manchester is a safe place for people to come and enjoy the city's nightlife.

"It appears from this planned event that door staff are being encouraged to behave in an aggressive manner which contradicts their roles and responsibilities.

"By taking part in this event it goes against the aim that doorman are there to stop violent behaviour from happening."

KO Promotions, which has a boxing gym based in Stalybridge boasting trainers who have worked with Ricky Hatton and Michael Gomez, also runs `white collar' boxing events and corporate hospitality events.

No one from the firm was available to comment.

David Dickinson, chief executive of the British Security Industry Association, which provides equipment for the industry, said: "Licensing and regulation has produced a far more professional Door Supervision sector with many people striving to leave the image of `hardness' behind and replace it with that of professionals that do their job and pride without recourse to violence."

Since 2005, all door staff working in England and Wales must be licensed by the SIA or risk prosecution. The licence costs about £200 and lasts for three years. The door staff must pass criminal history checks and complete training courses on conflict management, emergency procedures and drug awareness.

The law is designed to stop unsuitable people from working doors.

When approached by the M.E.N. Sean Cullen, general manager of The Ritz, denied that the event had been given the green light.

He said: "We've been approached for quotes and prices but until we speak to the authorities nothing is confirmed.

[TacMedic1]

bouncer 'fight night' condemned

A row has broken out over plans to stage a "fight night" in Manchester to find what organisers have described as Britain's "hardest bouncer".
Sixteen nightclub doormen will fight each other for the title and for a £10,000 prize fund in the event, which is being staged by KO Promotions.
Manchester City Council and the bouncers' regulatory authority have condemned the idea.
But KO spokesman Chris Bacon said it was being shown in the wrong light.
'Normal guys'
"It's a reality TV show culminating in a competition. And this is going to show these people in home life, and their work on the door and going out in their day jobs," he said.
"You've got guys from right across the country, that are normal hard-working guys, that actually do doors at night and do like to do boxing."
Pat Karney, spokesman for Manchester City Council, said that the contest could put the winner at risk.
He said: "That guy's going to become some sort of tourist attraction - it's going to be provocative.
"And you're going to get some of the idiots with too much alcohol down them saying, 'I hear you're the hardest doorman in Britain - show me'... I'm hoping that they'll think again about this."

[TacMedic1]

As you would expect the comments on the news sites are the usual low brow drivel that is posted by journos to get a response.

Hopefully with media interest they will put our side across and portray us as professionals who find this use of an out dated stereotype offensive.

Don't hold your breath for that though.

If we don't stand up and be heard this image will never go away.

****************

BTW - Where did the "Reality TV Show" come from? There has not been any mention of this before as far as i have seen.

[annie]

oh that swimply takes the biscuit that does... or should that be bisquit and tell them vinnie sent you?

Reality tv show aswell..... culminating in a few blokes who's knuckles i can only say must be severley grazed from all the time they have spent dragging on the floor, battering one another sensless in the name of our industry!! God somedays's i am so proud i could almost weep

I just wonder what fatbobs cut is out of this little gem? Will fatbob be on the reality tv show? Because i really am quite curious now as to the identity of this masked man....the legend that is......FATBOB

[Marian]

Ha ha I didn't check this topic for a while, so now it is going to be a reality tv show ha ha,
it is going to be as crap as Ultimate Fighter 3, with apparently though guys given chance to shine, and instead crying that "they need to go home to see family", and "the training's too hard", and "he is mean to me" ha ha ha

[steevorct]

Isnt Fat Bob one of the much loved cartoon characters from the Oor Wullie cartoons in the Scottish paper The Sunday Post

[annie]

is it PC to say fat? I mean i just wondered... or should he maybe have been rotund bob,

[bootneck80]

i think its very clever. obviously no-one with an once of intellect is going to attend an event as classy as this. however, unless you dont go out in a british town/city on any night of the week, you'll be aware of the powdered nostriled, shaven headed and xtra small t-shirt wearing under belly of this 'proud' nation. the guys that you end up scrapping with over nothing, on a quiet night out with the mrs are exactly the same twats that'll pay a weeks wage to watch these lumps knock each other about in a 'controlled event'. no doubt the organisers will be rolling in it and it will sell out with the whole population of essex and the medway towns turning up in droves. so yes a clever money making ploy simply cashing in on never under estimating the stupidity of britains geared up youth. so next time you get turned away from a club for wearing shoes that the hardest doorman in britain doesnt like,or somebody is left clutching onto the hanging flesh of their cheek after being glassed,rest assured the doormans probably busy somewhere spinning shit dits bout how hes the toughest around. and politicians sit there scratching their heads bout whats wrong with the country. no offense to all the proffessional door man around who do look after the public