 |
| Photo: Erik Hess |
The Door Guy. He's seen and heard it all. Pukes puking. Bros fighting. Liars lying about the guest list to get by him. Drunks falling. Your “Turn up!” is his “Calm down!” Frankly, he hates you. Here are 10 reasons why you can't blame him.
See also: 15 Things That Annoy the Shit Out of Your Local Sound Guy
]
Your Public Sex
Seriously. It happens. And ew. It's worse in big clubs with lots of nooks and crannies. Nobody wants to glance over to a private, discreet, darkened corner during their favorite band playing to see people banging. But people's definition of “private” and “discreet” get pretty loose by the end of an evening, and suddenly, that naughty turn-on you might experience finding a hidden spot to get dirty just turns into people averting their eyes and pretending they aren't seeing what they're actually seeing. For real. Ew.
But more important than the total ew factor is that when people go to bars and night clubs, they drink. And sometimes they drink until they make bad decisions, and sometimes they drink until they aren't capable of making decisions. Which means that when you and your special friend for the next five minutes get caught awkwardly trying to maintain an erection while not knocking over a bar stool, any door guy or bouncer in town isn't going to know if what's happening is two people having consensual (but totally gross) sex or something else. Yuck. Don't do it. If you see it, tattle.
Your Impossible Expectations
On the topic of tattling, the Door Guy is not omnipotent and cannot be everywhere at once. There's no such thing as instant response time, and sometimes things that shouldn't happen still happen. When it does, it is absolutely not a negative reflection on the venue or its staff. Random acts of oral or violence are exactly that — random.
 |
| Photo by Erik Hess |
| What's right with this picture? No one is using their face as a wallet. Thank you |
Your Icky Mouth
It doesn't matter if it's the hottest day of summer or the deadest day of winter, if your hands are full of your fixie's saddle bags or you're just trying to peel off seven layers of gloves, please, for the love of God, don't put your ID, your ticket or your money in your mouth. Your mouth is not a convenient caddy when your hands are otherwise occupied. It is a disgusting germ factory full of filth. When you put something in it that is going to be in the Door Guy's hand five seconds later, yeah, THIS IS WHY THE HE HATES YOU.
[
Your Stinginess
You're thirsty. You're ready to drink. It's a crowded show, you're really excited about the band, and you get a round for you and your two friends. You hand the bartender your credit card. She smiles and says, “You want to start a tab?” Quick hint: The answer is always yes. Do not ask a busy bartender in a nightclub or rock venue to run your card every time you order a round. You know you're having more than one drink. The bartender knows you're having more than one drink. This weird game of “Oh, maybe just ONE MORE” is just a passive-aggressive attempt to make it someone else's problem that you ultimately cannot be trusted to drink a reasonable amount. Don't make your friendly bartender run your card six times. It kills fun. Why do you want to kill fun?
 |
| Photo by Erik Hess |
| We know you're going to order more drinks, okay? |
Your Need for Attention
You're at the show to have a good time. Great. Cut loose, bro. But you constantly shouting “TURN UP!” is a red flag to the Door Guy that you need to calm down. You're basically broadcasting to the room that you've come out of the apartment tonight to be a nuisance. Which brings us to another reason the Door Guy hates you . . .
Your Puke
Did you and your bros have dinner before you hit the rock show? No? Why didn't you eat something before you went to a hot, crowded room to drink for five hours? That's just common sense.
 |
| Photo by Anna Gulbrandsen |
| Did you really just ask if we still have tickets? |
Your Dumb Music Questions
Door Guy is much easier to talk to than a bartender. It's quieter at the door, and his job entails talking to people as they come in. And if you wander back over, he'll talk to you some more to be polite and give you a good customer experience — as much as the busy line will allow. He'll even give you advice on your love life or plumbing, so feel free to check in with him. But please understand: He doesn't know anything about the music playing. A few bands play at Door Guy's venue every night. He doesn't know them all. He didn't read the band's Wikipedia page as research to get ready for the show. He will cringe if you ask him if the people onstage have more of a “classic psych” or “Americana” influence, and he certainly doesn't know when they're playing again.
[
Your Weak Game
With some, flattery will get you everywhere, but your flirting will not get you in the door. The Door Guy knows what game you're running. Explore your issues. You can be a whole person.
Your Blind Rage
A) If you cannot go out in public without getting in a fight, be it physical or just screaming at someone, either you are choosing to be an asshole or you are one by nature. B) If you cannot go out in public without sexually harassing someone, either you are choosing to be an asshole or you are one by nature. Explore your issues. You can be a whole person.
 |
| Photo by Erik Hess |
| If we let you in the door looking like this, be nice to us |
Your General Uncouthness
Last, but certainly not least, remember the Door Guy's Inverse Property of Fun: Those very few nights a year on which you like to get wild and crazy — whether it be New Year's, Halloween or St. Patrick's Day — are the most miserable to work at a bar. Tip well, act like a decent human being, and follow the rules.
See also:
The 50 Worst Things About the OC Music Scene
The 50 Best Things About the OC Music Scene
Top Five Codes of Conduct for Opening DJs at EDM Shows
