Club Entourage in Norfolk, VA Gives Bigoted V.I.P. Treatment
Entourage: High Priced Bigotry
Norfolk, VA 23510
United States of America
V.I.P. tickets, which are supposed to mean Very Important Person in club lingo, usually mean differences in treatment. Mainly I witnessed my tickets being completely ignored. It was appalling.
The bouncers gave a no-pass-go response to avoiding the line even toting the V.I.P. tickets and required a dress code tax on my dates 'Tims.' It was later told to me the 'tax' went straight into the bouncers pocket. But there were some perks...kind of.
From the sleek bar to the candle-lit booths, the Entourage decorum was inviting. A passé, silhouetted, woman dancing on multiple small flat-screen televisions, the only comfort was in that the music was not outdated.
Though the D.J.'s attention was impossible to obtain, the floor was not crowded at all. The dance floor resembled an ice-rink in that at 10:30 p.m., on a Friday, it was empty. Empty, in the sense that there was not one person on the floor. This is a real problem for a club. Money is made mainly by the bars. If the dancers are not dancing, then no one becomes thirsty. If no one is thirsty then no one is buying drinks from the bar.
The bar was staffed with two bartenders that couldn't keep up with the demand as I waited 20 minutes to make a 3-drink order. The poorly mixed drinks aside, the attendance was clearly 'members only', consisting of mainly African-Americans.
The club as a whole was thick with patrons giving steady looks of discontent at a Caucasian Entourage presence. Did I mention the refusal of a V.I.P. booth?
I quickly realized that the party needed to be moved when my 3-drink tab came back at 40.00.
While the Entourage may have entertained the likes of many a celebrity, I am sure that this was a paid appearance as the environment does not seem to be fitting a socialite of celebrity status. There are many places that would cater the same 'high end' drink selection and better accommodations for V.I.P.
members.
Overall, the Entourage was ungraciously unaccommodating. I would not advise this club to anyone. Party-goers shelling out for the V.I.P. treatment are advised to go elsewhere. I advise 'Sevens', a club located two blocks from Entourage, for the true V.I.P. atmosphere.
Published by K. Prescott
K. Prescott is a proficient and talented Photojournalist with five years occupational experience. I write under a pseudonym. Deal with it. View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentMy husband has paid extra for wearing boots before; now, he ensures that he wears C. Hans, Clarks, H. Hansens, loafers etc. The experience may be factual, but I believe what has unsettled some other readers is that the recollection of the experience was biased because the author suggests that white people ('non members') will be treated unfairly at the club. Furthermore, the reference to the club being primarily African American does not bother me, as I believe it would not bother many other 'members.' The authors implications were slightly discerning.
I disagree with previous post. The author of the article seems to parallel lack of true V.I.P. treatment with the fact that their entourage was caucasian at a primarily black establishment. I have been to several black clubs, including Entourage (which also has/had white employees), and observed white people having a great time and embraced by the black patrons of the club. The headline only notes the bigotry the author suggest, espcially when referring to the club as "'members only,'" which implies that non-members (non-black) people will be shunned and/or discriminated. As far the tax on the Timberland boots, many lounges and clubs are prohibiting athletic clothing, 'Timz' etc. in order to have a cosmopolitan and upscale environment. I have been to the club and witnessed the "'members'" get turned away for 'Timz' and sneakers. The bouncer could have simply turned the guy away instead of "'taxing'" for the 'Timz.' My husband has paid extra for wearing boots before; now, he ensures tha
So you're angry that they used this race thing everyone is so touchy about to get advertising dollars from your page view?
You're mad about it all, huh?
Expliotation for money.
And it worked, because the website wrote a title that played on your emotions, so you looked. And they made money.
So the article gave a great depiction of the club, as echoed by Your Name. I guess that means the review was a good one, an honest one.
I liked this review. I don't see the review as being about racism so much as having two sentences about race. I mean, there are not a whole lot of ways you can say 'It's a black club' without someone freaking out.
It is not suprising that two sentences turned this into a race issue though. And having written for this website, you all should know the author doesn't write the headline.
The website wrote the headline so it would catch your attention. I guess it got you to look. And you read it. Or did you? Did you just skim until you saw the word African American and you said to yourself 'aha!Lies! No African americans are racist in the whole world! Only white people are racist!'
Race. The touchiest subject that always sparks a reaction, no matter how small, even two sentences.
So your angry that they used this race thing everyone is so
I dont care if u r white or black, it dosen't matter to me. I've experienced the same thing at this club and I'm black, and guess what I never went back. They practically ignored me at the door, then when I tried to make my way in and I was stopped in my tracked and subjected to a bouncers claim that i was wearing tims after I lifted my pant leg and showed that they were not boots but shoes, and they were ponys, they probably would'nt b able to afford. after this I gathered my group and took my bussiness some were else. This is one place I hope to see closed and reopened by different ownership with common sense. So my brothers and sisters don't turn this into a race thing cuz it is definatly not. No matter your skin color if you like the music then come on. I don't think these duppy holes realize what they have done to their bussiness.
What in the world is wrong with folks.. If you were at the club and felt as though you were surrounded by too many African Americans then man, why didn't you go up and embrace my people and say, he, wzup or how are u doing, something instead of sulking. Give me a break, I didn't know we were in the club counting how mank Black folks came out or not. This is 2008, if we still offend you in anyway, then u have the problem, not us. If there wasn't anyone on the dance floor then why didn't you start something off. You mentioned that the music playing was nice. Please don't get it twisted that African Americans care what u think or don't however, when we do step out, it's too have a good time and mix and mingle, not to count how many White folks are in the area. Us, Black Folk do our thing regardless and have a good time doing it. Don't get it twisted!
Your opinion does not matter
Yes. I agree with the comments mentioned above, not only because they are true but due to the fact both races are treated exactly the same way in an environment when you are literally sticking out like a sore thumb. The world will never change. Club Entourage is pretty classy espiecially when you go and have all the confidence in the world, no matter the shape or color.
I agree with Concerned! It doesn't have to be a club, it could be any establishment that has mostly white patrons. Maybe they were reading the fact that you weren't there to have fun, but merely there to report any and every perceived negative act!
It's funny that someone would write this kind of article about a club that has mostly african american patrons. I have gone to many clubs that have mostly white patrons and have received the same treatment. Us african americans should write more articles like this about clubs that cater to white patrons such as the ones I've visited. If we did there would be more articles than one would want to read in a year.