When I turn 18 I want to start bouncing. I'm definitely not nightclub bouncer material as of yet. (78-80 lanky kg) but I'm not scared of a brawl and know a lot about diffusing confrontation, so even being doorman for a local pub or something like that would suit me perfectly. My mate needed cash, so he hit the gear, stacked on weight and did some door work, hes still doing it and its worked out well. so I figure I could do the same, either way it beats the sh*t out of apprentice chef wages

Lol Cord. You beat me to it mate. I was just thinking the same thing.

Crab,

The last time I had to actually put my hands on someone was last weekend. Prior to that I haven't needed to for months and that is not because I can beat the snot out of everyone I've encountered, it is because I know how to interact with people and make them understand through a haze of alcohol and god-knows-what.
Somehow I don't quite think you have the maturity yet to do that.
I have worked with people with your attitude and nearly all of them I've had to rescue from some one about to rearrange their limbs or I've had to send them home for their own safety.

Cord wrote..
"Go 18 months from today without rising to any verbal argument, and avoid any physical altercation, and you might be showing signs of being in a headspace to not make a situation worse."

Wise words!

I'd say go on the Door, he'll quickly learn what is like to be a member of the adult world!

I'd personally have higher aspirations at 18 than becoming a 'bouncer'. Its a very easy life to get used to and institutionalized by. I was 23 when I went on the Door, but I already had been through college and had good job so Doorwork was a nice bit of pocket money. I personally think the government dropped the ball in the UK by letting under 21's get badges, and quite frankly I don't think most 18 year olds can handle the job anyway. How on earth can you expect to know how to run a bar/club when you've absolutely no experience of even being a customer in one? I've known a few young guys (and older ones actually) who've come on the Door, been seduced by the 'lifestyle' and end as total wasters living only for the night and sleeping off drug, alcohol and female induced sleep deprivation. I know plenty of people who started the door as a youth and before they even saw their life blink away they are 40 driving a now beaten up BMW and same tacky jewelery.

Aim higher...

Gavin, with reference to 18 year olds having 'absolutely' no experience in bars and clubs I'd like to point out that in most of the world (including Australia, where crab is from) 18 year olds are legal and often frequent such places. The only places I know of where 21 is the legal drinking age are in the US, Fiji and Indonesia. So although 18 year olds may not exactly be veterans, they should theoretically have just as much experience as a 21 year old in the US.

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I'd personally have higher aspirations at 18 than becoming a 'bouncer'

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what aspirations can a (17) year old have. Im not an intellectual bloke, so I might as well do something mindless to get some extra cash on top of my job.
You Brought up kfc cord, but I can deal with people when I want to. Sort of how you adjust the way you eat depending who your with. I have some people skills, and im definitly not afraid of an angry dero at the local pub. So it just might be for me.

My mates been doing it for a while and he says its a great night gig, decent pay, etc. cant see anything getting out of hand at the local pub, and i get in enough brawls that I might as well get payed for it.

anyway, its just a thought at the moment, and I have a couple months til im 18, so i can think it over.