James' Nightclub tips
 
"James' Nightclub Tips"

and   words of nitelife wisdom from James

jamesla2

 
 I am a real attention-grabber, I love attention, and I get noticed.
Which in turn helps me get into places, even if I'm already on the guestlist.
Almost everybody knows who I am. Which brings me to a good point;
"Hey James, How do you get in quickly, even when I'm on the list or well-known"?
I've often seen well-known people who've had to wait outside a capacity-filled nightclub.
So, how do you get in quicker?
Well, I'm not going to say kiss ass, but it DOES pay to be nice to the doormen and the guys holding that clipboard with the list at these places.
Also, whether you're going to Barfly, Skybar, The Standard, Las Palmas, Sunset Room, AD, The Highlands, Dublin's, The Century Club, The Key Club, The Stock Exchange, or even Club Makeup at the El Rey or After Hours Power at The Palace,
you've got to stand out from the crowd to get noticed—and get in that much sooner. Some of you are probably saying,
"Hey James, I'm not you, and my style is not to stand out and be noticed;
I just want to blend in." Hey, it's all good—just expect to wait. I'm not saying you have to have a flashing shirt like me, or wear some wild outfit, but whether they know you or not, it helps to get you noticed in that sea of endless faces all pressed up against the velvet rope.
Listen, life's short—it's not worth making such a big deal about getting in "right now"!
I've worked the door at several nightclubs over the years, and found that a good attitude, mixed with a person who stands out in the crowd
WILL get you in that much sooner.
Also it doesn't hurt if you come up with a few good-looking ladies on your arm. Now, say you're two guys, or two girls alone and you wanna get in. Hey, strike up a conversation with some of the other attractive people waiting to get in.
I mean, its what you came here for, right? To meet people?
And if you say, "Oh no, James, I came here just to dance!", sorry I don’t buy it.
This is L.A., and everybody who's out is almost always looking to meet someone, or make a new contact.
Just remember, these places are open to the public, it's just that they make you feel they're open just to a select few.
You have the right to go to any of these nightclubs as long as you're abiding by their dress code, and not trying to make a drunken fool of yourself. If its your first time, get there early to make sure you get in, even if you're not on the list.
Don't worry, you will get in one day.
Now, once you get in, I hope you're not disappointed by what you find inside;
(remember what happened to Dudley Moore in "10" with Bo Derrick?!)
Hey, it's all what you make of it, so go out there and have fun.
 


jamesivar  
 
 
When you enter a nightclub or live music venue, they have the right to search anyone entering their premises.
Especially nowadays when there'sbeen quite a bit of problems in the nightclubs, guns, fighting, etc.
Please don't let this keep you from going out tho', the nightclubs are
safe, it is just unfortunate that there are a few losers out there whoruin a good time for everybody. But these people are not getting in to
nightclubs anymore. Now if you're really pairanoid about the violence innightclubs,
the best thing to do is check out the nightclub first, look at the clientele going in there.
Ask about the music they play, if they just play hip hop, and rap, you might not want to go in there that
night, if that's not the kind of crowd you're used to, and music you listen to.
 
Remember, a nightclub, live music venue, and mightspot can and has the
right to refuse entry to anyone who refuses a search and can only insist
on searching outside clothes, pockets or bags
 .
They also have the rightto refuse entry if a patron seems too intoxicated already.
They must conduct the search in a decent manner and with respect to the
individual. They cannot insist on a more intimate search without your
permission. Legally, they can only conduct strip searches and searches
inside clothes with your permission in private with an independent witness.
The doormen/security people will generally just ask you to raise your
hands, then turn around, this is just to check for weapons, or alcohol
or drugs being brought in to the nightclub. look, we all just want everybody to be safe, cool?!
Only the police are empowered to search you without agreement.  If a
doorman/security person performs an illegal with an unnessarily long
search inside your clothes, or performs a strip search without your
permission they could possibly be charged with assault.
 
Now once you're inside the Nightclub;
Some clubs are known for turning a 'blind-eye' approach to soft drug
taking.
Don't abuse this privilege,  it'll only get the club closed, and you busted.
 
PLEASE NOTE FOR THE RECORD:
L.A. Nitelife and James Bartholet do not condone or suggest recreational
drug use of any kind in nightclubs or live music venues.
 
Other nightclubs will throw you out if you have drugs on you, so check it out first.
Remember, even if you're only smoking a joint, it is illegal, even with
tis medical marijuana law in California, and you might face being
arrested as well as being thrown out of the club. That's a major bummer,
besides being very embarrassing.
 
Inside the major "A" List Nightclubs and Venues:
What you'll find inside varies considerably, depending on the clubs and
the ruthlessness of the owners. Some clubs will do everything they can
to extract as much money from the patrons as possible, while others treat all patrons with respect.
If you don't find all of the points I'm listing below provided we'd
suggest you take your nightclubbing business elsewhere or complain to
the club management, or even send in an e-mail here, and maybe we'll
post it to let everybody know about a nightclub that was really bad.
* There should be inexpensive bottled water available at the bar,
 
or just free regular cold tap water accessable for drinking. Some
nightclubs charge for water, and there's alot of dehydrated people in
there, which is a health hazard.
 
* There should be adequate ventilation and a chill-out space,
 
or outdoor patio/smoking area, and an outdoor area for nonsmokers as well. Some
clubs have been known to turn off the air conditioning to boost drinks
sales, or to overcrowd the dancefloors.
 
* There should be inexpensive, and secure coatrooms.
 
It's important tobe able to have somewhere safe to keep clothes and purses while you're
dancing. Watch out for clubs that charge exorbitant amounts for keep your
clothers or purse all night.
 
* Trained, registered door and security staff.
 
Expect to be treated with
civility and friendliness, and see if there's a notice displaying the
club's searching and complaints policy, it's not really mandatory, but
nightclubs and live music venuues should have them to avoid any furtherhassles.
 
Now if you want to complain:
If you feel you have been ill-treated at a club, try to take down all
the details as soon as possible, noting down the
If the club is failing to provide free water,
is the nightclub or live music venue way too overcrowded, that it's just
unsafe, or has insufficient safety facilities and fire exits, complain
to the management or get in touch with your local Health Department.
 
NOW PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND:
I don't want to start some "Salem Witch Hunt" here, so please don't get
carried away and overexaggerate your problem, or worse yet, make up some
problem to complain about just because you're not happy that night.
Remember Karma comes around, goes around.
If there is a real bad  problem tho', let us know, write in to club/DJ
magazines, e-mail me here,  post up on the internet and tell your friends.
If these clubs are treating people badly it's important to get the word out.
The nightclubs and live music venues are in the business of entertianing
people and providing a place for people to go, and believe me, they want
your continued business
 .
Let's all make the nitelife fun and enjoyable for everybody!



Are niteclub promoters going too far?

Not too long ago in not just LA, but other major cities across the nation as well, there wasn’t as many niteclubs and niteclub promotions as we have today. But now, there’s something to do every nite of the week, and there’s a niteclub promoter out doing his best to get you in there to his or her promotion.
And because there’s so many new promotions and new niteclubs, there’s also a demand for new patrons to fill these places as well. With the economy the way it is right now, some cities are not filling venues as well as they used to. Take for example the San Francisco Bay area, where the jobless rate is the highest in the state. There just isn’t that much money for going out and partying like people used to. So, of course the once popular venues that packed people in night after night, are not filling the nightclubs like they used to. Here is L.A., they are feeling the crunch as well, and while there are still new venues opening up all the time, the crowds are not coming in as much as they used to. There’s a lot of reasons you can blame for this; the present economy, the recent war, exams at college, vacation travel plans, and also the fact that there are just so many places to choose from now, that the people who are die hard nightclub goers, just can’t get to every spot that’s open.
Another big problem that has risen is that nightclub promoters who have promotions at the bigger nightclubs in town are adopting the wrong practices at the door. The “hype” to keep people waiting outside a nightclub for a long time before letting them in, even if they are on the guestlist, just to make a place look “hot” and “popular” is wrong, and something that needs to be addressed.

The original Studio 54 in New York in the seventies was the originator of the now famous “New York Door hype”, where the doorman would pick some lucky person, from the multitudes who stand outside, to enter. Now years later that same practice is still in effect, and even though a person would be on a guestlist, they are forced to endure a long and punishing wait outside, being pushed and squeezed in the little cramped space in front of the velvet ropes. Yes, there are times when people will not be complying to the nightclubs dress code policy, or may be too drunk or rowdy to enter, and those  people shouldn’t be let in, but I’m talking about the people who are dressed properly, are not causing trouble, and are not already “over the limit” already. People who were contacted that they were on a guestlist, only to find that they had to still wait for an hour to enter, and then told that the guestlist is now, “closed”, and they will now have to pay the full or a discounted cover charge to get in, that’s what I’m talking about, and that’s not fair.

The biggest complaint that people have nowadays is that the door policies need to be changed, and hopefully changed for the better. It would be wise for nightclub promoters all over town to heed this warning, and change their door policies. Otherwise, these much sought after patrons will find other places to go, or other alternatives to nightclubbing.

Exciding the maximum capacity in a venue is another problem, and one that has produced some very deadly conciquences, like the unfortunate incidents in Rhode Island and Chicago. Again, it’s the promoters responsibility to better monitor the door, and not be so greedy to make as much money as possible, that they are forgetting their responsibility to the safety of their guests.
Most nightclub promoters are good about this, and other issues, and try to work hand in hand with the nightclub owners, the surrounding neighborhood, and their customers, to produce a harmonious evening for all, and still make money. But that’s what it’s all about in the end isn’t it? making money?  I think if we try and make an enjoyable experience for everyone who comes out, they will in turn tell their friends, and that “word of mouth” recommendations will bring the people back again, and again.
Because really what’s it’s all about is going out for awhile, leaving your troubles behind, and enjoying yourselves.

 
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