Bouncer chronicles- How to hire a bouncer

When I was running my nightclub in the 70s and 80s we often started our after work play around 3am.  My shift started at 6pm where we prepped the night and began to get busy at 9pm. If you came after 10 you probably waited in line at the door for at least a half an hour.

There were always two bouncers at the door.  I was the manager and third bouncer most nights and backed the guys up and took charge if things started to get heated there. We had last call about 1:30 am and had all drinks off the tables at 2.  The music was done and people started heading home or sometimes congregated at a local all night diner for some late/early breakfast.

The nightclub crew’s night then began.  We mixed drinks for ourselves and often times played cards or pool for a few hours before we headed home.  By this time it was 4 or 5 am and the only place open was the gas station across the street where we would fill up the car for the 30 minute drive back to Norwich.

Having stopped at the gas station many times we often would chat up the attendant who did not see many people stopping in at this late hour.  It was a local eighteen year old named Gary who was always asking questions about the bar and wanted to know all the details.  He was interested in the bar fights and were were happy to tell him all about them.

One night as we were gassing up there were a couple of bikers hassling him at one of the pumps.  These were big biker guys with the hard look you would expect.  I heard that they had gotten gas and ridden off a few nights before and never paid.  They were back for more and thought they might intimidate this teenager and take advantage with their local toughguy big rep.

My brother and I started to walk towards them to offer Gary some backup, but, before we knew what happened he waded into them.  Gary who was an all state wrestler pounded them, tossed them and sent the home with a verbal spanking to never come back.  This all happened in a minute and there was never a need for any help.

After the bikers left Gary came over to us.  I only had two questions.  One, are you ok, and two do you want a job as a bouncer where you can get paid to fight and meet girls too?

I have been friends with Gary for over fourty years.  After high school he joined the marines and while stationed in Okinawa went in to become an accomplished back belt and judo competitor.  I even taught him some karate for a few years.

I think I will have to get more bouncer stories from him as we reminisce over the old days.

Bouncer Chronicles -1

Attending college as a Black Belt and needing a part time job, it was only a matter of time before applying to the local college bar as a bouncer.

The bar was a local restaurant and prominent college student hangout.  The drinking age was 18 so every weekend students flocked to Elmers Place for lots of fun.  The first night I was there the owners had friends show up to visit.  They invited me to sit down with them and plyed me with drinks.  At the end of the night I told them I would quit the job if that was to be the standard. Drinking and bouncing is not a good idea.

I was the solo bouncer in a crowd of one hundred and fifty patrons!  No backup, no one to cover my back, another lack of planning because I had not thought much of it.  About two weeks in, it was alumni weekend and the school was populated by an extra thousand people visiting and that Saturday night they all wanted to be partying at Elmers.

There was an unruly group of alumni in the dining room.  One of the guys was sitting in his chair and driving it around the room like it was a car.  I tapped him on the shoulder and asked that he refrained from the activity so as not to possibly injure anyone.  He stood up, reached out and grapped me by the shirt and raised his fist.  I hit him so hard he flew back with my shirt still in his hand.  He had ripped it completely off of me.

After throwing him out, I asked the bartender (a biker guy) why he didn't help me.  He responded " I wanted to see what you could do"!