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A bouncer or '''doorman''' is an informal term for Security Guard s employed at Venue s such as Bars , Nightclub s or Concert s to provide security, check Legal Age , and refuse entry to a venue based on criteria such as Intoxication , aggressive behaviour, or other standards. Bouncers are often required where crowd size, clientèle or alcohol consumption may make arguments or fights commonplace. Bouncers & Doormen (from the crimedoctor.com website) Other terms used may be 'door staff', 'floor staff', and 'door supervisor' (in the UK). Get Licensed - SIA licensing criteria ( PDF ) (from the Security Industry Authority , Great Britain ) Such terms are more precise than generic terms like 'security guard' or 'security officer' insofar as they describe the main location of duty. In the Australia n security industry, the official term for such an individual is 'crowd controller'. FUNCTIONS Bouncer A bouncer's primary task is to keeping underage, intoxicated, aggressive, and otherwise disqualified individuals from entering the establishment. In clubs in some major cities, bouncers use metal detectors and pat downs to prevent patrons from bringing weapons into the club. The second main role is to monitor the behaviour of patrons to ensure that they follow club rules and alcohol regulations. Bouncers also ensure that patrons do not damage the bar or venue's property and furnishings. Bouncer (from the , Princeton University ) Bouncers can also be responsible for collecting an '', a 1970s Discotheque . Bouncers may also escort employees (especially female staff) to and from the venue, and in rare cases, may act as Bodyguard s for VIP s, celebrities, or management inside the venue. The job of being a bouncer has changed in the last decades, as bouncers have made increasing use of "...technology such as '', Tuesday 28 February 2006 Supervisor A security supervisor (also called a "head bouncer" or "cooler") is an employee who oversees the security for a venue and supervises bouncers and other security staff. Security supervisors are usually security staff members with many years of experience and good '' via ''Slam! Sports'', Friday 11 May 2007 Security supervisors will often patrol all sections of a venue, resolving potential problems and closely monitoring customer behaviour such as speech, level of alcohol consumption and Body Language in an attempt to pinpoint potentially dangerous individuals or groups. He/she may also handle customer complaints, improper conduct of staff (especially those in security, but potentially also those with access to money) as well as supervise training of new bouncers and security staff. Both bouncers and supervisors will often act as Intermediaries between venue management and Law-enforcement or Emergency Service s personnel. SKILLS AND TRAINING Personality and skills Although movies such as '' Roadhouse '' have created a Stereotype of thuggish brutes, a good bouncer requires more than just physical qualities such as strength and size: "The best bouncers don’t "bounce" anyone... they talk to people" An ability to judge and communicate well with people will reduce the need for physical intervention, while a steady personality will prevent the bouncer from being easily provoked by customers. Bouncers also profit from good written communication skills, because they are often required to document assaults in an incident log or using an incident form. Well-kept incident logs can "cover the employee's back" if Criminal Charges or a Lawsuit later arise from an incident. Certification, Licensing and Training (from the 'Hospitality and Security Alliance' website) Use of force Movies often depict bouncers physically throwing patrons out of clubs and restraining drunk customers with headlocks, which has led to a popular misconception that bouncers have (or reserve) the right to use physical force freely. However, in many countries bouncers have no legal authority to use physical force, apart from the use of reasonable physical force used in Self Defense , to eject drunk or aggressive patrons refusing to leave a venue, or when restraining a patron who has committed an offense until police arrive. Lawsuits are possible if injuries occur, even if the patron was drunk or using aggressive language. With Civil Liability and Court Costs related to the use of force as ''"the highest preventable loss found within the industry..."'' (US) and bars being "sued more often for using unnecessary or excessive force than for any other reason" (Canada), substantial costs may be incurred by indiscriminate violence against patrons - though this depends heavily on the laws and customs of the country. Use of force training programs teach bouncers ways to avoid using force and explain what types of force are considered allowable by the courts. Some bars have gone so far as to institute barring physical contact, where bouncers are instructed to ask a drunk or disorderly patron to leave - if the patron refuses, the bouncers call police. Another strategy used in some bars is to hire smaller or women bouncers, because they may be better able to defuse conflicts than large, intimidating bouncers. In Australia, for example, women comprise almost 20% of the security industry and increasingly work the door as well, using "a smile, chat and a friendly but firm demeanor" to resolve tense situations. ''Mate, Don't Call These Bouncers Babe'' (Abstract) - '' New York Times '', Wednesday, 18 April 2001 Nearly one in nine of Britain's nightclub bouncers are also women, with the UK's 2003 Licensing Act giving the authorities "discretionary power to withhold a venue's licence if it does not employ female door staff." This is credited with having "opened the door for women to enter the profession." Female security staff, apart from having fewer problems searching female patrons for drugs or weapons, and being able to enter washrooms to check for illegal activities, are also considered to be able to deal better deal with drunk or aggressive women.'' Why women want to join the club '' - '' The Independent '', Tuesday 03 October 2006, via Findarticles.com Large and intimidating bouncers, whilst providing the appearance of strong security and a safe environment, may very well drive customers away in cases where family-friendly or passive and less obvious security staff are desired. Despite popular misconceptions, bouncers in Western countries are normally unarmed.'' Gunfight at bar leaves one wounded, another in custody '' - '' New Hampshire Union Leader '' Sunday 15 April 2007 Some bouncers may carry weapons such as Expandable Batons for personal protection, but they may not have a legal right to carry a Gun or other weapon even if they would prefer to do so. REGULATION In many countries, a bouncer must be licenced and Lacking A Criminal Record to gain employment within the security/crowd control sector. In some countries or regions, bouncers may be required to have extra skills or special licenses and certification for First Aid , alcohol distribution, crowd control, or fire safety. Canada In Canada, bouncers have the right to use reasonable force to expel intoxicated or aggressive patrons. First, the patron must be asked to leave the premises. If the patron refuses to leave, the bouncer can uses reasonable force to expel the patron. This has been upheld in a number of court cases.'' Civil liability of commercial providers of alcohol '' ( PDF ) - Folick, Lorne P.S.; Dolden Wallace Folick, Vancouver, April 2005 Under the definition of 'reasonable force', "it is perfectly acceptable the bouncer to grab a patron’s arm to remove the patron from the premises." However, "Only in situations where employees reasonably believe that the conduct of the patron puts them in danger can they inflict harm on a patron and then only to the extent that such force is necessary for self defence." In , Canada ) In Ontario, bartenders and servers have to have completed the Smart Serve Training Program, which teaches them to recognize the signs of intoxication. The Smart Serve program is also recommended for other staff in bars who have contact with potentially intoxicated patrons, such as bouncers, coat check staff, and valets. The Smart Serve certification program encourages bars to keep Incident Reporting Logs, to use as evidence if an incident gets to court. New Zealand In New Zealand, there is no national-level regulation of bar bouncers. The New Zealand Security Association supports the Hospitality Association of New Zealand's efforts to introduce certification for bouncers, doormen and other people responsible for security at bars and sporting events. The association argues that security officers should be "...properly trained professionals, not just a 'big thug' to stand at the door.", decrying the practice of using "unlicensed, untrained security staff". The organization has been lobbying the New Zealand government to introduce legislation on training requirements for bar security staff. Security Industry Backs Calls for Trained Bouncers (press release, New Zealand Security Association, Friday 12 May 2006) United Kingdom In the UK, bouncers (called 'door supervisors') must hold a license from the Security Industry Authority . The training for a door supervisor licence takes 30 hours, and includes issues such as behaviour, conflict management, civil and criminal law, searching and arrest procedures, drug awareness, recording of incidents and crime scene preservation, licensing law, equal opportunities and discrimination, health and safety at work, and emergency procedures. United States California's Senate Bill 194 requires any bouncer or bar security guard to be registered with the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. These guards must also complete a criminal background check, including submitting their fingerprints to the Department Of Justice and the Federal Bureau Of Investigation . Although the California law does not require bouncers to have training, it recommended that bouncers or bar security workers get job specific training. Proprietary Private Security Officer (from the 'Hospitality and Security Alliance' website) In New York State, it is illegal for a bar owner to knowingly hire a felon for a bouncer position; however, the law has a limited value, because bar owners are not required to do background checks on their bouncers. ''Last Call for the Falls?'' (blog entry on Village Voice , with further references) RESEARCH In the early 1990s, an Australian government study on violence stated that violent incidents in public drinking locations are caused by the interaction of five factors: aggressive and unreasonable bouncers, groups of male strangers, low comfort (e.g., unventilated, hot clubs), high boredom, and high drunkenness. The research indicated that bouncers did not play as large a role "... as expected in the creation of an aggressive or violence prone atmosphere bars ." However, the study did show that "...edgy and aggressive bouncers, especially when they are arbitrary or petty in their manner, do have an adverse effect. The study stated that bouncers: ''"...have been observed to initiate fights or further encourage them on several occasions. Many seem poorly trained, obsessed with their own machismo, and relate badly to groups of male strangers. Some of them appear to regard their employment as giving them a licence to assault people. This may be encouraged by management adherence to a repressive model of supervision of patrons ("if they play up, thump 'em"), which in fact does not reduce trouble, and exacerbates an already hostile and aggressive situation. In practice many bouncers are not well managed in their work, and appear to be given a job autonomy and discretion that they cannot handle well."'''' Australian Violence: Contemporary Perspectives '' ( PDF ) - Chappell, Duncan; Grabosky, Peter & Strang, Heather; Australian Institute Of Criminology , 1991 A 1998 article "Responses by Security Staff to Aggressive Incidents in Public Settings" in the ''Journal of Drug Issues'' examined 182 violent incidents involving crowd controllers (bouncers) that occurred in bars in , Hansard & Papers, Legislative Council, Thursday 11 May 2006) HISTORY In the 1990s and 2000s, increased awareness of the risks of lawsuits and criminal charges (especially in the United States) have led many bars and venues to train their bouncers to use communications skills rather than brute force against troublemakers. However, the history of the profession shows that the stereotype of bouncers as rough, tough, physical enforcers was a reality in the late 1800s and early 1900s. During this period US saloon-keepers and brothel madams hired bouncers to remove troublesome, violent, or dead-drunk patrons, and protect the saloon girls and prostitutes. The word "bouncer" was first used in the saloon sense in an 1883 newspaper article: "'The Bouncer' is merely the English 'chucker out'. When liberty verges on license and gaiety on wanton delirium, the Bouncer selects the gayest of the gay, and - bounces him!" 1800s In US Western towns in the 1870s, high-class brothels known as "good houses" or “parlour houses” hired bouncers for security and to prevent patrons from evading payment. “Good house”-style brothels “…considered themselves the cream of the crop, and prostitutes working there scorned those who worked in (or out of) saloons, dance halls, and theaters.” The best bordellos looked like respectable mansions, with attractively-decorated parlors, a game room and a dance hall. For security, “somewhere in every parlor house there was always a bouncer, a giant of a man who stayed sober to handle any customer who got too rough with one of the girls or didn't want to pay his bill.” The “ protective presence” of bouncers in high-class brothels was “…one of the reasons the girls considered themselves superior to free-lancers, who lacked any such shepherds.” ''[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~poindexterfamily/ChristinesPages/Ladies.html The Ladies; God Bless 'Em! - Shady Ladies of the Old West '' - Jeffords, Christine; private homepage at rootsweb.com In Wisconsin's lumberjack days, bouncers would physically remove drinkers who were too drunk to keep buying drinks, and thus free up space in the bar for new patrons. The slang term 'snake-room' was used to describe a "...room off a saloon, usually two or three steps down, into which a bar-keeper or the bouncer could slide drunk lumber-jacks head first through swinging doors from the bar-room." Snake-room (logging) (from ''Logger's Words of Yesteryears'' - Sorden, L.G.; Isabel J. Ebert; Madison, 1956, via wisconsinhistory.net) In the late 1800s, until Prohibition, bouncers also had the unusual role of protecting the saloon's buffet. To attract business, "...many saloons lured customers with offers of a "free lunch"—usually well salted to inspire drinking, and the saloon "bouncer" was generally on hand to discourage with too hearty appetites".'' Drinking in America: A History - Search for Consensus: Drinking and the War Against Pluralism, 1860-1920 '' - Lender, Mark Edward & Martin, James Kirby, The Free Press, New York, 1982 In the late 1800s, bouncers at small town dances and bars physically resolved disputes and removed troublemakers, without worrying about lawsuits. In the main bar in one Iowa town, "...there were many quarrels, many fights, but all were settled on the spot. There were no court costs the bouncers or the bar ; only some aches and pains the troublemakers ." '' Schleswig, Iowa: The First 75 Years: Hohenzollern, Morgan Township: 1883-1899 '' - edited and compiled by Lillian M. (Kuehl) Jackso and Emma L. (Brasse) Struck, private homepage at rootsweb.com In the 1880s and 1890s, bouncers were used to maintain order in the "The Gut", the roughest part of New York's Coney Island , which was filled with "ramshackle groups of wooden shanties", bars, cabarets, fleabag hotels and brothels. Huge bouncers patrolled these venues of vice and "roughly ejected anyone who violated the loose rules of decorum" by engaging in pickpocketing, jewelry thieving, or bloody fights. Coney Island - Early History (1881 - 1903) (from private website westland.net) During the 1890s, San Diego had a similarly rough waterfront area and Redlight District called the 'Stingaree', where bouncers worked the door at brothels. Until the city pushed them out of the area in the 1910s, the Stingaree was filled with saloons, brothels, and gambling halls, and gamblers, prostitutes, dope peddlers, and sailors wandering the streets. Prostitutes worked at the area's 120 bawdy houses in small rooms, paying a fee to the procurer who usually was the bouncer or 'protector' of the brothel. The more expensive, higher-class brothels were called 'parlor houses', and they were "run most decorously", and the "best of food and drink was served." To maintain the high-class atmosphere at these establishments, male patrons were expected to act like gentlemen; "...if any customer did or said anything out of line, he was asked to leave. A bouncer made sure he did". '' When The Red Lights Went Out In San Diego '' - Macphail, Elizabeth, The Journal of San Diego History, Spring 1974, Volume 20, Number 2 1900s In the 1930s, the bawdiest parts of Baltimore, Maryland, near the docks were filled with "burlesque shows, penny arcades, tattoo parlors, saloons, cheap hotels fifth-rate movies, night clubs and shooting galleries." Bars in this rough neighborhood filled with sailors and dockworkers hired bouncers as physical enforcers, to maintain order and eject aggressive patrons. The Oasis club, operated by Max Cohen, hired "...a lady bouncer by the name of Mickey Steele, a six-foot acrobat from the Pennsylvania coal fields. Mickey was always considerate of the people she bounced; first asking them where they lived and then throwing them in that general direction. She was succeeded by a character known as 'Machine-Gun Butch'" who was a long-time bouncer at the club".'' Baltimore's Bawdy "Block" '' - Hull, Stephen; ''Stag'', 1952 (at the moment only via Google cache) 2000s NOTABLE NAMES
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