fed up with bouncers at concerts...wanna stick it to the man

I realize that this post should probably be elsewhere, but I really want people to see this (I figured more people visit the Heart of Metal forum). Sorry in advance, because this is going to be a long one.

Last night I took the ferrie to Vancouver (I live in Victoria, BC) to see Ace Frehley's show. As I am KISS ultra-fanatic, I was looking forward to this concert probably more than any other I have seen. I even spent an hour and a half painting my face (which no one else did....it got awesome reactions in the lineup). And of course, I got drunk (but not to the point of stumbling, swearing, slurring words, etc). I was more ready than ever.

Now, I should also mention that on Friday my wallet (containing ALL of my identification) was stolen. On Monday, I had to run around the city ordering new everything. By Wednesday, I had a new gym pass, student card (picture included), bank card (temp, at least), and temporary driver's license (which has no picture). Knowing this could be a problem at the Commodore Ballroom where Ace would be playing (19 and older....I'm 20), my friend Ryan's (who was going with me) mom called to find out if my current id would be okay, to which they replied no problem.

So, here we are in the lineup at the show. I get to the bouncer. He says 2 pieces of id, so I give him my picture student card and temp driver's license (which they said on the phone would work, right?). He says no, this won't work. I'm freakin' shocked out of mind. We argue (well, more like discuss vigourously) for about 15 minutes about how we called and yada yada. He keeps saying "none of our people would have said that". I'm telling him I'm 20, there's no problem here. Yet, (and I should mention that he was a real jerk, not just because he wasn't letting me in....he was a punk). He gets me to sign my name to compare to the license, which I do flawlessly. I continue pleading my case (about the wallet being stolen). Then, I make a mistake: as I was mad, surprised, desperate, scared, and drunk, I was now thinking a million miles an hour and accidentally said my birthdate was December 31, 1987 instead of December 30, 1987. OH!!! BIG DEAL!!! He says why did you say the wrong day? I say oops, sorry...I meant December 30. He says you can't come in. And that was it. I didn't get to see Ace because of this idiot with this ridiculous power.

Now, my reason for posting this (aside from therapy....I'm really mad about this) is this reminds me of the many instances of concert security being overly cautious. For instance, when I was head-banging (in my seat...not in the aisle) at the Ozzy/Rob Zombie concert in October, I was asked by security to stop. SERIOUSLY? Something is not right. I realize the need for order; I'm all about that. But, is the world becoming so paranoid (no pun to Ozzy) that it has to revert to this? It's rock'n'roll. I've even been to concerts where you couldn't stand. I was asked to sit down during Bohemian Rapsody at Queen and Paul Rodgers.
I think there's a situation here. We're losing our right to enjoy ourselves at concerts. I hope that none of you ever have to go through something like this with one of your heroes. It's truly heartbreaking.

tough break, but who cannot remember their own birth date? if you were that inebriated then it was your own fault (well, yours & the person who told your mother that the id would suffice) .

mc666 wrote:

tough break, but who cannot remember their own birth date? if you were that inebriated then it was your own fault (well, yours & the person who told your mother that the id would suffice) .

I know it seems like a stupid thing to do, but I really wasn't that intoxicated. In fact, about 5 minutes before I talked to the bouncer I mentioned to someone having their 20th birthday that I turned 20 on December 30. I'm not bending facts here; I really was just in overwhelming shock that I said the wrong date.

Strange because in Spain they dont look at the door if you are young. Everybody can come in a concert, from 14 till 100. A concert is culture and very good for young people or do they want the young people to be on the street fighting and doing drugs???? (its better to do that inside )

That sucks. Really sorry you missed Ace. I would LOVE to see him in concert.

I've seen bouncers get out of hand at concerts. I WAS a bouncer/security for some tour that Disciple was doing with several other bands. Of course, this was at a church, not a club. The other security they had were not familiar with the "concert experience" like I am. When the kids began moshing in a giant pit a lot of the security guys FREAKED! and started grabbing kids and such. Between bands I had to tell them to chill a bit that they were just having fun. At the same time, I can understand how hard it is to keep order in what seems like total chaos.

One time us Ultimatum guys went to see Megadeth (back on the Cryptic Writings tour). We were walking into the theater and Sean jumped onto the back of our bassist at the time (Alex). They were just goofing around and a security guard grabs Sean and starts roughing him up and was going to escort him out. We were like, "what the heck is your problem?" The whole lot of us had to stand up for him because this burley security guard was just being a total ass-wipe! We finally got in, but that sort of stuff is ridiculous. Stupid rent-a-cops who think they are all powerful. And now my rant is done.

ult

ultmetal wrote:

The other security they had were not familiar with the "concert experience" like I am. When the kids began moshing in a giant pit a lot of the security guys FREAKED!

I will never forget an Overkill gig I attended on the YEARS OF DECAY tour back in '90... it was a special benefit show for a local girl who needed some sort of medical procedure (either a transplant or an operation of some kind, I forget now) and it was held at an outdoor band shell on the campus of Ramapo College in New Jersey. The "security" for the show were just regular college rent-a-cops, most of whom looked like retired guys in their late 50s/early 60s. When Overkill came on and that crowd started slamming and jumping around, I remember looking at the security guys at the front of the stage and they just had this wide-eyed, "deer in the headlights" kind of look on their faces, they obviously had NEVER seen anything like that before in their lives and had no idea what to do about it, haha!! It turned out to be a pretty decent show, the security guys must've decided that they weren't going ut to risk their life and limb wading into the mass of fans so they pretty much let the crowd go nuts and do whatever they wanted out on the field... the guards just stayed behind the barricade at the front and made sure nobody tried to jump onstage...

I've never really had that sort of expirence with security before. Actually I kind of owe it to them, one time I was at a Dark Horizon concert in california(still dont know I went too that thing, it sucked) and we were all moshing and what not when some guy started swinging a stake from the wood fence outside around. I got hit and fell beneath everybodys feet. I think I got knocked out, because I woke up over to the side of the stage. Later somebody said a guard hauled me away out of the crowd.

Great Story FF.

Sounds like you should be directing your anger at all the annoying kids that try to trick bouncers so they can get into clubs.

Eyesore wrote:

Sounds like you should be directing your anger at all the annoying kids that try to trick bouncers so they can get into clubs.

Hey! Now that sounds about right. Metalheads and rockers unite! We need to get rid of the young preppies.