A Night in the Life of a Security Worker at Popular Bourbon Street Nightclubs

When party animals go out to have fun, few of them notice the large staff that makes the fun possible. It takes many individuals to keep a club safe. If most of the staff aren't noticed, then they're doing their job properly. Let me introduce you to this part of the party support team.

The person at the door does serve a function other than bringing people into their club from busy Bourbon Street. He or she is also a member of the security team. This is also the first safety checkpoint of the evening. At this stage, ID is requested from anyone who looks underage. Signs are posted prohibiting anyone under 21 from entering, but kids still try every night to slip in unnoticed.

The door staff remain in constant contact with a manager inside the club as well as the rest of the security team. That futuristic earpiece isn't just for show! At the first sign of trouble, a call can be made and the upstart's fun is over. Many of the security staff in the area have had military or police training, and most have several years of experience. Recent classified ads require 3-5 years of previous security background to be considered for this job. Even though the door guy would likely have no problem handling a bad situation one on one, calling in backup is the standard procedure.

Escorting rowdy patrons out of the club is an essential part of keeping the rest of the crowd happy. This is done as quickly and quietly as possible. Nothing empties a club quite like flashing police lights and the sound of sirens! Once on the street, the police are rarely more than a wave or a whistle away. Many times, drunk and disorderly customers are whisked away without the rest of the club's customers noticing that there was ever a problem.

As well as from keeping an eye on the customers, the security team also makes an effort to keep tabs on the rest of the nightclub staff. Throughout the night, they check in with porters, wait staff, and shot girls to make sure there have been no problems. If anyone has shown signs of bad behavior, this can often be corrected by a verbal warning if the problem is caught early enough.

Restricting access to the offices of the management team is another duty of the security staff. If a person doesn't work in the club and they need to see a manager, they must get radio confirmation before being escorted upstairs. They are also walked back out of the restricted area after business is concluded. This cuts down on robberies, as well as keeping members of the wait staff from being harassed.

At the end of the night, the head of the security team is often one of the last to leave. Making sure the staff get safely to their cars or taxi cabs is their final chore. Then, they can go home and get some rest before the party starts again the next day.