I was due to go out yesterday searching for somewhere to live with Whisky. I called him in the morning first thing asking to call me back. On my way to his place I called again, hoping aloud that he was not still asleep in bed. When I got to his place I rang the bell again and again. The newspaper was rolled up in its plastic wrap on the path. The outdoor light still shone brightly. I called again and then rang the bell another dozen times as he didn't answer.
At that moment I heard my name being called. I turned around to find a woman I knew, on skates. She explained to me that Whisky was locked out of the house. That his phone was inside. That he was back at her place. And that he had been knocked out by a bouncer the night before.
As she drove me back to her place she told me the story. They had been to seen the Hoodoo Gurus play at the Prince the night before. I had nearly joined them myself, but decided last minute to give my cold some rest. Whisky had been dancing near the front she told me, when the bouncers approached him. They had a discussion, and tried to remove him, he resisted, and no doubt said a thing or two. Then one of hit him and knocked him out cold. He was out for about 2 minutes.
By now I was back at her place. Whisky was there with a sheepish smile on his face. There was a red welt across his nose that he couldn't explain. He took up the story. He told me how when he had come to they had wrestled him out of the bar. He told me some of the things he said. I understood. I asked if anyone had actually seen him hit. No-one had. He had wanted to report it to the police, but told to come back tomorrow. It was only when he got home that he realised that as he lay unconscious the bouncers had rifled through his pockets, taking his housekey and a wad of cash.
All through his story I'm nodding my head. I know it all without him telling me. I can see how stupid it is to take on these bouncers, but know too how hard it is in that moment not to. And I was thinking to myself, probably just as well I wasn't there. You gotta back up your mates, but odds on I would have got involved to and no knowing then where it may have led.
I had my own experience of this a few weeks ago. I fell into an argument with a bouncer and his mate. They stood there and wouldn't let me back in - I had been gone 5 minutes escorting someone to the station. Out of sheer perversity they decided I wasn't allowed back, no matter what I said. They wore the badges, they were God, and they knew it. It is hard to accept that. Hard to accept being dictated to by a couple of lowlifes who think they have the authority to do what they want. You know you should say or do nothing. You know there is an easier way. It sticks in your craw though. What gives them the right... And so even while you're telling yourself don't say anything, don't say anything, you open your mouth and say something, and it's on for young and old.
There's something wrong you know. Sure, the likes of me and Whisky should know better. But late sometimes, a couple of drinks in you and some little snot telling you what to do it's hard to remember what is better. And we're men, hardly an excuse, but a definite reality. We're virile men, we're not used to being told what to do by some lowlife who does it just for the thrill. And we're not necessarily going to cop it. It shouldn't be that way.
No doubt there are some very decent people out there who are bouncers, but too many are low-life's looking for the opportunity to lord it over people and beat up drunks. They should be there to keep the peace, not to provoke. The best are polite and conciliatory, they don't need to prove anything, they don't see their position as something to abuse. They are professional, but there are too few of them. There must be a better way to licence and to regulate this industry.
Funny, I had brunch this morning with a mate who was at the gig and saw it all. Later, he tells me, he went to the casino and found a whole area roped off because of a giant brawl. Twenty bouncers took on 5 burly patrons, heroes all.
Recent Comments