Pig bouncer at Instinct

[candlemansa]

Last night myself and my friends left Loafers and went down to see Instinct.
We approached the bouncers and we were stopped by a shaved head prick. We asked why we were been stopped and he turned around and told my friends that they could go in but I couldn't.
I was in shock, I have never ever been stopped going in anywhere. So we asked why.
He said that apparently I had been in there last week causing trouble. Now there are a few people who know me on this and they know I barely open my mouth.

A) It wasn't a gay bar last week.
B) I haven't been out in ages,
C) I don't go to straight bars cause I get paranoid.

While all this was happening they were leaving in straight girls with dresses up to their asses. As there are only two gay bars in Cork gay people should definately be given priority. All my friends left with me and some who were already inside came out and we all went to Loafers were a great night was had. The owner of Instinct should really do something about his bouncers or he'll be finding patrons won't be going.

While we were in Loafers we got chattin to several guys and guess what, they were refused entry.

[Angelous]

Hey candlemansa!
theres been a few peeps giving out about that bouncer guy !
perhaps a boycott until he is fired is in order?

[LeBaron]

Hi Candelmansa

Yes indeed, you were not alone, for indeed I was also a victim.
I did not even get a reason just the usual grunted " Not tonight pal "

A few observations

1. For sure I am NOT his pal.

2. A lot of places have become enlightned as regards thier
security staff and tell that them to ENCOURAGE ppl to come
in, and whilst they are in the security staffs job is to
protect them, not insult them ( eg JD in the Raven is a perfect
example of how to do this job )

3. I know for sure that Candlemansa and I were not the only ones
singled out last night, so what is the story

I think Hoggy should sit back and smile, his custom is being driven at him in thier hordes by the baldy ones attitude

[Mr.Intentional]

A lot of bouncers are like that lately..
If they don't like the look of ya..
Or if their authority needs excercising..
They'll just tell ya to fuck off.

[nicnoi]

I guess your right, although if this prick wants to exercise his inflated ego, he should fuck off and do it elsewhere....
After all I am the one paying his wages ( or not in this case )

[thalia]

Yeah that guy JD is a good example alright. A lot of his employees have the same attitude as him. They're a cut above the rest.

[LeBaron]

I agree. Totaly professional and fair.

Even down to the fact that they all wear a numbered badge, so if you have an issue you can walk away and later contact the security company.... result no issues even arise.

[markinmanc]

Considering last night was opening night, how could you have been causing problems last week?

Mates of mine worked the door at Garlands a few years ago. The club had a policy to refuse every nth person, mainly to maintain some kind of exclusivity, cachet about getting in.

But if the place has 'bouncers with attitude' it will put off exiles, non scene types and tourist. I'm too old to be bothering with prissy door staff.

Should be home in June, so i will make up mu own mind then.

One thing the gets me about Cork is that I have been sober (ie not had a drink at all) and been refused entry to a pub for being drunk. This has never happened to me before, I have never known this to happen elswhere to people.

Maybe it is a Cork thing?

[NuMarvel]

candlemansa Posted - 12/04/2004 094056 "As there are only two gay bars in Cork gay people should definately be given priority"

Okay, I'm taking this quote out of context and I'm going off the point here but i have to say that just because we're gay doesn't automatically mean we're entitled to special priveleges in gay bars/clubs. We're customers, like everyone else walking in and we should expect to be treated as such.

And customers should be treated with respect and courtesy and not be stopped at the door of a pub/club by someone who basically doesn't want to leave you in for no good reason...

Think a boycott might be a tad extreme for something that happened on one night - Booty has said in other threads that management has been made aware of the issue of the bouncer and i think it's fair to say that it will be dealt with fairly promptly.

(Unless of course, Hoggy planted the bouncer - evil plans ahoy!)

Here's hoping that it never ever happens again, anywhere! (I can dream, can't I?)

[markinmanc]

I disagree with one point Nu. They are meant to be gay spaces, so gay people should be given some kind of priority. Otherwise it will end up a straight bar with the assorted queen or lezza propping up the bar.

That doesn't mean anti-social behaviour should be tolerated. I would guess the place has some kind of gay/straight customer ratio? It will have a few mixed groups wanting to go also.

The Manc Village is realising this, they relaxed their door policies too much, to the extent that it was predominantly straight at weekends in places.
Or go to Via Fossa any night - I call it the gay bar for people who don't want to mix with gays.

Queer has a fairly strict gay policy at weekends.

I guess everywhere will have teething problems Instinct will be no excpetion.

But the owners should bear in mind the devastating effect word of mouth can have on the gay scene.

All a bit off the point, but then, erm, that's me!

[redbulljunkie]

I disagree with "priority for gay people". How do you decide a person coming in the door is gay or not? Apart from the obvious "do it and let us see that you enjoy it" that springs to mind ([p]), what do you go on? Clothes? Limp wrist? Accent? That's one way to scare off the previously non-scene types who haven't yet been converted to the Order of the Lisp.

[LeBaron]

I agree with RBJ, I dont think there should be a priority policy. I fact one of the things that I do hope will happen is that we get a good mix of ppl coming in, screamers, off scene, and yes, str8.

I think what happened on the night was just a factor of poor staff selection and I guess, from some feedback I am getting, that they are going to correct that.

Anyone can make a mistake, what is important is that the mistake is corrected with good grace.

[thalia]

It's one or the other people, either we return to before the Equality Act of 2000 where bars can say "no puffs, fags, queers or dogs" and be entitled to do that or we open our space to everyone and hope they do the same for us.

Instinct is a gay pub, it caters for gay people, if straight people come in there it's great because it means straight people are accepting and liking lgb culture. This means the more the community mixes the more tolerant and accepting everyone becomes.

This "gay space for gay people" or talking about allowing in ratios is nothing short of bigoted horseshit and coming from gay people who have experienced firsthand what discrimination is about I find it quite quite sad. No wonder this community is so incestuous and hidden away if we have to deal with bigoted people from the straight community coupled with gay people who deliberately cut themselves off from the rest of the world.

If Instinct becomes packed with straight people even as it caters for gay people it should encourage the owners to open another pub with the same theme. Open a chain like starbucks since that pub theme is so popular.

[LeBaron]

Thalia, well said.... could not have put it better myself

[Andor]

Speaking of which, last time i went in to The Other Place the bouncers stopped me and asked me "was i sure i knew what kind of place it was".

I don't go to the club often but i found it a tad annoying at the time that they would judge me based on first appearance.

When i got in there i went to the bathroom and had two horrible fag hags fondle my hair while i washed my hands and asking me did i pluck my eye brows....
So i guess it needs to be done to prevent the horrible 'wans from taking the place over... so long as its not a total refusal of entry.

[thalia]

LeBaron after seeing some of your well written posts I shall take that as a compliment.

[LeBaron]

Interesting point...... Do you pluck your eyebrows ?
Dont keep us guessing

[LeBaron]

Thank you Thalia

[Andor]

No, LeBaron my eyebrows are naturally Schmexy!

[LeBaron]

Cool

[markinmanc]

Thalia I feel your post is needlessly offensive.

If I want to drink in a striagh pub I will. If I wnt to drink in a gay space, for want of a better phrase, then I want it to be gay, nt nominally gay.

I don't advocate some kind of apartheid. Pubs operate door policies.

If you want a gay Stabucks equivilent.. a souless generic everywhere and nowhere kind of place, then you and I have a different idea of what a gay pub is, or should be.

[LeBaron]

Disagree with you Markinmanc, inclusiveness is where its at.

Thankfully we have moved on from times past, we are more confident now and can hold our heads high in anyones company

[markinmanc]

quoteOriginally posted by LeBaron
Disagree with you Markinmanc, inclusiveness is where its at




There is a difference beetween inclusiveness and being in a minority in what is promoted as a gay place. Witness the Manc village. In Cork maybe there isn't the demand or market for it.

I'm being painted as seperatist, anti-straight,ghettoist, which is not true.

[Bootyzilla]

Originally posted by Andor

I don't go to the club often but i found it a tad annoying at the time that they would judge me based on first appearance.


Fair enough, I take your point...

quoteOriginally posted by Andor
When i got in there i went to the bathroom and had two horrible fag hags fondle my hair while i washed my hands and asking me did i pluck my eye brows....
So i guess it needs to be done to prevent the horrible 'wans from taking the place over... so long as its not a total refusal of entry.


...but NOW who's judging by first experience? The Horrible Wans might well have been lovely people, but how would you know? You've already made up your mind.

Inclusiveness is something sorely lacking up till now on the Cork Scene. I am as anti the idea of Lesbians-Only/Gays-Only nights as I am anti the idea of Queer-Only spaces. Finally we are at a stage where it is no longer taboo to be openly gay. Do we really want to be the engineers of our own seggregation from the straight community?

I don't think so.

[kevSaMo]

Hmm..
Years ago, I used to manage gay bars in LA.
We bought a very popular straight bar, and turned it gay.

The one thing that helped us most in the transition was a big sign we put up outside the door.

It was a free standing sign that could be taken in or put out as needed, not painted on the walls.

It read

"thingamajig is a now a GAY bar.
We welcome all gay people
and their friends.
We are tolerant of all,
and assume you are too."

Worked wonders!

[admin]

very very good Kev!

[amnesiac]

Isn't Instinct a "lifestyle" bar as opposed to a gay bar?

I'm going to try and catch Fabula there Wednesday night.

[LeBaron]

I will be there, would not miss her for anything....
I am going to dye my hair and wear a false beard just in case

[amnesiac]

We'll smuggle you in somehow.

Fair play for deciding to give the place another chance )

[LeBaron]

Lifes too short for grudges, and I am hearing mostly praise for the place so fair dues to them

[jc]

Ya its a huge improvement to the gay scene.

[amnesiac]

It's great to see a bar that listens to it's customers' feedback. Let's hope it's acted upon!

[LeBaron]

And I also heard that they even have doors on the toilets !

What luxury

[amnesiac]

And the locked cubilces were put to very good use on opening night ;)

[LeBaron]

** Blushes **

Just got a flashback to the bog scene with Ted in Genuine Deception

[I]

[amnesiac]

*runs to the cubicle*

[LeBaron]

** and locks the door **

[amnesiac]

***cue the country and western music***

[LeBaron]

**** Stand by your man ****

[Bootyzilla]

*Steals Everything*

[amnesiac]

I tried to steal a disco ball from the third floor of Stranos in Galway once. Ippy and I were stopped by a scary bouncer and an even scarier lesbian.

[jc]

Meanwhile, Piggy at the door is getting restless! Twil only be a matter of time before he appears at the cubicle door to wallow in the trough!

[Bregalad]

I've been asked similar questions up and down the country over the last few years since my coming out. Had a certain problematic bouncer outside the george who almost refused me entry because I'm not the stereotypical vision of a gay man, same has happened to me when I went to the other place a few times when confronted by new bouncers who say they cannot remember me even thiugh they have only been working there for a month while I have been a regular customer (albeit with less frequency recently) for near to five years and I have intimate knowledge of the club, the office and the cafe, far beyond these trodlodikes.
We all are different and by fuck I thought I wouldnt see the day when genuine gay men and women are turned away from our venues by some ignorant cunt manning the door.

[candlemansa]

I think for me it is just a case of I personally don't feel comfortable in a straight bar because I'm obviously gay and I become superparanoid and with reason because guys still will pass stupid homophobic comments. So that leaves me with gay bars, and in cork we have only two. That doesn't give me a huge choice, been turned away on sunday while straight people were been left in despite the hundreds of bars they can frequent did gall me. Its a gay bar and I don't care what anyone says but gay people should be catered for first. Im not saying don't let them in, just don't let them in over gay people, or else define it as a bodega type friendly bar.

[NuMarvel]

But Candle, giving gay people preference is no better than a straight bar giving preference to straight people. In fact, I would argue that it's worse because we've (the collective we) been subjected to that form of prejudice, we know what it feels like, so we should be the last ones to reinforce that way of thinking.

I understand where you're coming from, I know what it can feel like to think that everyone in a place is looking at you because you think you stand out like a sore thumb - but the only way to get over that is to do it anyway! You're a tax paying member of the public, like most other people and you're as bloody well entitled to drink where you like, as long as you don't impend other peoples right to do the same.

I can also understand what it might feel like to be turned away from a place where you may feel more comfortable, (especially for what would appear to be no good reason!), but other people are entitled to go there as well. It's got to be equality for all or equality for none.

And as for definition - well to be picky for a minute, it's defined as a "lifestyle" bar, which, to me at least, means that all are welcome.

Anyways, I hope you try Instinct again and let us know what you think and how you get on.

[Proud Mary 1980]

Ahhh Stranos........ the photos!!!!!Originally posted by amnesiac
I tried to steal a disco ball from the third floor of Stranos in Galway once. Ippy and I were stopped by a scary bouncer and an even scarier lesbian.

[amnesiac]

Mary you can never release them, NEVER!

[Bootyzilla]

Originally posted by candlemansa
I think for me it is just a case of I personally don't feel comfortable in a straight bar because I'm obviously gay and I become superparanoid and with reason because guys still will pass stupid homophobic comments.


In that case, don't you think that instead of hiding ourselves away in an exclusively gay bar, it's a better idea to throw the gay bar open to all and educate the ignorant about who we really are? I mean, keeping strictly to ourselves won't solve anything.

Originally posted by candlemansa
Its a gay bar and I don't care what anyone says but gay people should be catered for first. Im not saying don't let them in, just don't let them in over gay people, or else define it as a bodega type friendly bar.


Why? I am not pointing fingers, and i really can't understand the reasoning behind why you were turned away last Sunday, but in general terms, if there's one drunk gay and one sober straight man both trying to get into a gay bar, i know which one i'd let in.

I think a huge part of the problems with the Cork gay community is this sense of responsibility to that community - that !!GAY!! automatically excludes Straight. Plenty of people are unhappy that there are straight men & women in positions of power on the Cork Scene - but that is ridiculous. Best man for the job, I say.

Also, (and most importantly) discrimination on the grounds of sexuality is totally illegal - not to mention plain rude -) If the tables were turned and there was a Straight-Only bar opened in Cork we'd be up in arms. And rightly so.

[Proud Mary 1980]

quoteOriginally posted by amnesiac
Mary you can never release them, NEVER!
They'd make nice wanted posters.

[amnesiac]

I'm thinking of putting wanted posters up for you you cheeky Mare. I know you're studying but when is the last time I saw you???