Never work alone on the doors! Ever! Not even a one off!

[endurojay]

Hey Guys,

There was a post relating to this i read a few months ago but now i cant seem to find it ah well....

Anyways what i wanted to say is (as you've guessed) don't work on the door on your own, not even for a one off. I'm new to this, got my badge on Thursday. Been working on a quiet bar since Friday and tonight (the quietest night of the week) i turn up to work, and find out I'm on my own tonight... I though nothing of it as it was a Sunday and only for a few hours.

No trouble all night, got everyone out except this one guy who refused to drink up so i gave him a couple more mins but then he had to go. He didn't like that i tell you (you more experienced guys probs know what i mean?) this guy, similar build to me bout 6ft 2" 100kgs but older (im only 19) tried to get me in a head lock, i got out of it and got him on the deck, semi restrained. But who was there to help? No one!! The bar staff certainly didn't help (but i wouldn't expect them too).

I eventually got him out, but to be honest looking back on it the biggest mistake was working alone. I feel i dealt with the situation as to the best of my abilities. Still feel shaken though. I think its mainly the things like 'im gonna kill you next week, just wait' etc he was saying outside and when he was on the floor that has stuck in my head the most . And after you've got non of your guys to talk to about it.

Luckily i only came out with this with a bit of a pulled neck which im going to know about in the morning...

Anyways hope no one does work on their own, i know i will never do it again. Cheers,

Jason.

[Marian]

If I can advice you something as it happened to me on several occasions that I had to work on my own, before starting evening on your own make sure that you have any back up, check if anyone will give you a hand in case shit hit the fan, for example: next door vanue doorstaf, or anyone from management or barstaff, or the DJ.
[In one of the venues I worked I found out that assistand manager and DJ used to be doormen and one of them still have badge, I used to live with them very good and they offered help before I even asked]
If nobody is available or they don't want to help [don't be pissed off, it's understandable] then inform management about the situation and get one of managers on the radio with earpiece, with clear instruction to call police support in bad case scenario.
Tighten up the rules on the door, eliminating any people you are not sure about, it's better to get abuse on the door than had to drag them out from inside later.
Remember be assertive not aggressive
Generally minimize posible threats to you and venue, even in unusual situation preparation is the word.

Now regarding the particular situation you had, if you are on your own and one guy or more of them refuse to leave, [and especialy when you are new to this job] try to rely on words, not on action, if they are unpersuadable, call police and wait smiling nicely, if you "see the light in the tunnel" try to go that way, friendly approach, big smile [even if in fact all you want is to rip off their faces] and empaty "you hate to spoil their night but...", "in the end of the day, you just have to do your job..." etc etc so they don't channel their hate on you.
Now show them other options, what else is opened where can they go and continue evening instead of kicking off here, late bars arround, lap-dance clubs [don't send them to mine ha ha] etc etc
Nobody is a superhero, and your primary objective is your own safety, it's not a dishonour to call support, your job is to make them leave not to challenge them and gain glory of unbeatable warrior. it's a job don't take it personal, let them talk bullshit as long as they go the way you want them to.
And the last part, personally I'm much better grappler submission figher than boxer/kick-boxer, so if I have no other options left, in one on one situation, I go for take downs, throws, locks and chokes, punches exchange it's always a lottery, also in case police gives you griev there are no bruises, blood etc.

[darren08]

very interesting to read that lad's as the saying go's u learn something new every day ........thanks

[mts]

Good thread and good points.

Sometimes you land up working on your own, it happens, not ideal, but part of the job.

I'm glad you weren't hurt.

m

[mally]

Alot of this comes down to the venue.

As part of my weekend nightdhift duties we have to visit nightclubs in the town.

When you look at the stats though, they are never alike.

I.e sometimes theres 700 people in a club and only 2 doorstaff. Other clubs there are 300 and 7 doorstaff..

One licencee owns 3 pubs/clubs within 50 metres of each other, he has a couple on each within radio contact should they need help.

1 person on the door should never happen, not your fault but the managements. You done good though, one on one same size is never easy, especially when your trying to eject not fight.

[lildev666]

I have worked on my own at a venue. I know how dangerous it can be, I have had to remove a man on my own, as where the incident happend, it happend to be a blind spot. The staff were oblivious as to what went on, until the police turned up. It is the venues management who are at fault, they are trying to save money, by not having two Door Staff working .

Then again surely a decent employer who respects and values his/her staff should not put any employee in that poisition in the first place. The employer is also thinking about money and are not wanting to loose the contract to the venue. Sometimes you feel obligated to work for an employer at a venue, I'm sure we have all been in that position before.

I now refuse to work at the particular venue on my own, and I know that the venue is still staffed by one door supervisor. It is not that I am not capable of working on my own, but the risks are far too great. I would rather just do my job, work with a good team and go home at the end of the night instead of taking silly risks. It only takes one silly sod to cause trouble and for it to esculate into something much more dangerous.


Lildev666

[ProjeKt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lildev666 It is not that I am not capable of working on my own, but the risks are far too great. I would rather just do my job, work with a good team and go home at the end of the night instead of taking silly risks. It only takes one silly sod to cause trouble and for it to esculate into something much more dangerous. Lildev666

Totally agree. Been stuck by myself in a packed Wetherspoons in Caernarfon (North Wales) on a saturday nightmore than once cos the dozy twat didn't feel like coming to work. A real shithole with a rough reputation (rightly deserved). Only regular police patrols made me feel less uneasy; once they knew I was alone they went out of their way to keep an eye on me. It's a shit situation, but as somebody said above, it's part of the job sometimes. Now I'm acting head doorman of another venue so I hope that kind of bollocks is behind me!!!

[simar]

I'm not a doorman and don't intend to be, I just did the DS course as it covered more options, anyway our course intructor said that most venues fround upon you involving the police as this would show up in the stats and could possibly affect the Landlords Licence renewal.

[ProjeKt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by simar I'm not a doorman and don't intend to be, I just did the DS course as it covered more options, anyway our course intructor said that most venues fround upon you involving the police as this would show up in the stats and could possibly affect the Landlords licence renewal.

That's nice in an ideal world....unfortunately this is a shit world and i think most of us are realists. If you end up on your own - away from other venues (eg in my anecdote above - 3 streets away to nearest pub/bar with doorstaff and they were another firm!), then having the police know that you're alone may be reassuring to you and it doesn't have to be official if you have a decent relationship with them. Not your fault if you're on your own is it? All it takes is one idiot.....

[endurojay]

Thanks for all your comments and advice. Iv told the guy im not working alone again. I'm also more of a grappler which is why i managed to get him out with no/ very little injury....

Jason.