[QUOTE=Uncivil;2011823]Several years back I worked many of the clubs in town. Some had a tip pool, some didn't. I can tell you that the tip pool system worked out MUCH better all the way around.
What you have to understand is that there are several "posts" I guess you could call it (for lack of a better term) that doormen work. Some of these posts were more lucrative than others. VIP was VERY lucrative. Being the guy who watched the girls and made sure they didn't leave until they paid their house fee or watched the cars in the parking lot didn't pay shit. You have to remember that a doorman is NEVER paid minimum wage. Some clubs pay minimum, some pay the "tipped employees" sub-minimum wage. And benefits, yeah right. So, the only money they'll ever make is in tips. This in an industry where most of the dancers, you know, the ones that the doormen are there to protect, see doormen as nothing but financial leeches that they don't need there.
Not having a tip pool resulted in far too much lying, politicking, and backbiting of other doormen. Some might say that dues might need to be paid before you get the good posts. That's all well and good to a point, but I can't tell Tucson Electric Power "Yeah, I know I didn't pay my bill, but another doorman has been working at my job longer so that's why I don't have the money. Can you leave my lights on anyway? That's not going to work in the real world.
The clubs with the tip pool weren't as bad to work in. There was more of a teamwork atmosphere, and doormen weren't afraid to do what was asked or what needed to be done (like barbacking, etc). Because they knew they were going to get their fair share. There were still assholes, but at least I was reasonably certain that I got my fair share of what was coming to me. Just because I wasn't standing in front of VIP didn't mean I wasn't working as hard. If anything, I was working harder (carrying full beer kegs, etc)., so I deserved just as much as the other guys.
Based on my combined experience for all the clubs I worked, I can tell you the following with certainty: If you're a hard worker with honesty and integrity who takes pride in his work and is a team player and somewhat sociable to his coworkers, you will NEVER make it working as a doorman at any strip club. Every time I think about strip clubs or bouncing I breathe a sigh of relief that I don't have to do that for a living any more. I don't even go to the clubs anymore. Way too many bad memories of when I was working those clubs. I hated it so much. I am so glad it is over.[/QUOTE]Well the purpose of my post was not to incite some sort of synopsis on how a doorman makes money or should act while on his job. Trust me, I am not on here to debate the finer points of club employment. I simply retold what some of bouncers told me at Raiders Reef, and my observations of what happened to the club after they left. These same observations are corroborated by a few posts on here (remember I did not say all posts just a few) where individuals (including myself) have stopped going to RR because of drop in quality of the doormen's customer service, club costs, and overall experience within the club. Again these posts, and events happened after the bouncers I spoke about left. That is why I posted. I am sorry to hear you no longer work for any clubs, because I am sure with your vast knowledge could help the new doormen treat the customers better.
