Anyone worked at a bar before?

[NOVoodoo]

My back story is that I went through undergrad, went into the 9-5 business world for a while, and decided to go to law school. Now that I've been looking for a job in the NO area that could put some money in my pocket before law school starts, I was offered a bouncer gig at a college bar that used to employ my fraternity.

I'm starting law school in August, and I could really use some decent money for living expenses, and it's a pretty well paying gig.

The concerns are... it's a bar that has no closing time (in NO, bars close when the people leave, usually 5/6'ish), and I also don't want to fall back into an undergrad scene in my mid-20's.

I can deal with all the peripheral shit, but I was just wondering if any of ya'll have been bartenders, barbacks, bouncers, or doormen before? And if so, any story's or advice to share? It's pretty much this job or working in a restaurant until law school starts, and there's just something demeaning about being a waiter after holding a real job.

 

[PapaG]

I was a bartender for a summer of college. Pulled tons of wool, but the hours were just ridiculous.

 

[NOVoodoo]

I was a bartender for a summer of college. Pulled tons of wool, but the hours were just ridiculous.

That's what I'm worried about... the hours and getting back into the whole undergrad scene.

I'll be transitioning from this job into basically waking up at 6 AM every day for law school starting in August, so the hours will be impractical, and I'm not really looking to pick up chicks at a college bar anymore. I turned down the gig while I was in college, because I had other things going on, and it's kind of sad that I'm looking at it now that I've had a degree and a salaried position. It's just the best alternative that I've been left with. The money's good enough for me to look at it... and scholarships/loans aside, I could use the dough for my living expenses.

It's really a shitty position to be in. Every job I'll have thereon out will presumably be with a law firm, and every job I'd be interested in prior had to be with a Fortune 500, but right now I'm relegated to deciding whether a restaurant or a bar would be the best alternative for summer cash... there's some irony in the situation... I'm just trying to find it.

 

[Further]

I worked in the Bar/restaurant world for a few years, had a great time and made good loot. I would warn against bouncing. I bounced at a Jazz club every Friday/Saturday for about a year. It was a high class joint, so violence was rare, but you need to remember you can end up in some sticky situations.

Noting real bad happened to me, but a bouncer at another club after kicking some guys out, one guy came back and stabbed the bouncer with his dirty heroine syringe. Poor guy thought he had AIDS as a result, but turned out to be fine. Another bouncer kicked out some punks, got in a couple extra licks on the guys. They turned out to be a couple district attorneys and the Bouncer got arrested and ended up having to plead out.

But me, I sat on a stool, watched great jazz for four hours a night, made $50 legit and another $150 in a scam with the Bartender. So it can work out well.

 

[tlongII]

I was a bartender, a doorman, and a barback in the early 80's at The Rusty Pelican in Portland. It was a happening place and I met a lot of chicks. Eventually I quit though since there was so much after-hours partying going on. It wasn't good for me.

 

[Denny Crane]

I was a bartender, a doorman, and a barback in the early 80's at The Rusty Pelican in Portland. It was a happening place and I met a lot of chicks. Eventually I quit though since there was so much after-hours partying going on. It wasn't good for me.

So you turned down the job as bouncer at Ruth's Chris...

 

[donkiez]

I worked as a bartender at Gas Panic in Tokyo in the late 90's when I was 20, then at a Tokyo strip/hostess club. Absolutely insane environment for someone of that age and man was it fun. There was no closing time in the city also, I worked from 6pm to 6am 6 days a week, then me and the coworkers would all hit up an "after hours" club, lol. It was such a crazy busy club that the walls and floor were lined with diamond plate and at the end of the shift we cleaned up by hosing off the whole bar. My biggest piece of advice is to not do drugs or drink every night, it is easy to fall into that scene when they are cheap and available everywhere. Not sure how the scene in NO is either but in the Roppongi Dori district everything was pretty much run by the Yakuza or some affiliate, which can seem glamorous but is really just trouble. I don't know if your club is run by organized crime members but Im sure there is at least a large number of shaddy people in the club so beware of everyone and limit how many friends you make there, and don't be talked into any business opportunities from some bar dirtbag. So in order my advice would be,

1) dont do drugs, dont drink, do your job and go home.
2) drink bottled water or trust who gets you your drinks so you dont get slipped something
3) Be careful who you associate with there.
4) Go to costco and get a bag of condoms cause girls will be thowing their snatch at you.

 

[MickZagger]

I did security for a company that was contracted out by bars/clubs. It can be a nasty job at times. People can be ugly when they get drunk

 

[SlyPokerDog]

So you turned down the job as bouncer at Ruth's Chris...

No, he said he used to bounce up and down on a rusty trombone for money.

 

[magnifier661]

I used to work bars to get some of the hundreds of trophies (bras and undies) that used to be stored in my closet.

 

[maxiep]

I worked as the ugly one at Club Macambo.

 

[Further]

I would not want to do bar work again, but I had some kick ass times when I was younger. My one real regret is that I was in a serious relationship with a chick at the time, and I don't sleep around. I wish I either dumped my girl, or cheated on her. I have never again had such an abundance of sexy babes to choose from.

My other regret was doing some harder drugs. I came to my senses quick enough to have that never become a real issue, but damn I feel stupid for having ever tried some of that shit.

 

[MickZagger]

My other regret was doing some harder drugs. I came to my senses quick enough to have that never become a real issue, but damn I feel stupid for having ever tried some of that shit.

Bacon?

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Don't listen to these crap weasels, enjoy all the sex and drugs your heart can handle. Dont drink enough to get sloppy at work though, bad form

Bouncing sucks depending on the bar, especially where peeps be packin gats, try to get an inside job, I've done a bunch of bar work back in the day, you can make serious coin tending bar if you hustle

Sly, what was your scam?

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

I got a degree from NYU in Philosophy before deciding to become a cooler. Funny thing is that I am not that big, but cleaned up more than one bar with crews of bouncers. Had to kill a guy that stuck a gun in my face. Finally got out of the whole business when a town bully killed my best friend and I had to take his entire crew down.

If you decide to do it, just live by three principles:

One, never underestimate your opponent. Expect the unexpected. Two, take it outside. Never start anything inside the bar unless it's absolutely necessary. And three, be nice.

 

[maxiep]

I got a degree from NYU in Philosophy before deciding to become a cooler. Funny thing is that I am not that big, but cleaned up more than one bar with crews of bouncers. Had to kill a guy that stuck a gun in my face. Finally got out of the whole business when a town bully killed my best friend and I had to take his entire crew down.

If you decide to do it, just live by three principles:

One, never underestimate your opponent. Expect the unexpected. Two, take it outside. Never start anything inside the bar unless it's absolutely necessary. And three, be nice.

Hmm. I thought you'd be bigger.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Hmm. I thought you'd be bigger.

I sit thru part two just to hear that joke more. Part one is by far my favorite bad movie.