I would have liked to use the title “be your own body guard”, but I recall that it is a trade marked term used by Blauer Tactical. BTW if you are interested in expending your education on real world self defense that is a great place to be.
so…
Why do clubs have security?
Because they need it.
That is why. We could shift around all the legal jargon of “assisting patrons, safeguarding patrons, and actively providing a reasonably orderly environment” but all is long winded ways of saying “keeping shit cool.”
Who is watching for you? Who is assisting, safeguarding, and maintaining order for you day to day?
If you have any sense, it would you. After all, who is a bigger fan of you than you?
The answer of course is your stalker, who right now is burning out the eye balls of a photo of you with a cigarette while listening to Bye Bye Horses…
Seriously though, you must be the one to keep your ass out of trouble.
Trouble- where is it found?
Most who train for violence (outside of professionals) are planning for some type of random act of violence, involving an unexpected ambush or surprise, with an unknown person initiating the attack.
While this certainly happens, it does not represent the largest pool of incidents.
The core of planning for any contingency is centered on two questions
- What is the most likely course of action?
- What is the most dangerous course of action?
We see the use of violence (both verbal and physical) In bars and clubs across the country literally every single day.
Most people are actually not that bad when they are sober. They maybe salty, they maybe rude, they maybe mildly antisocial, but for the most part they remain law abiding.
Additionally most people (somewhere around 97-98%) are “pressure cookers” they are unable to escalate to violence immediately. They need to be psyched up. This is often fueled by alcohol, and time. They may harass you in order to gain momentum. To this end you have some degree of control over the entire altercation.
Talk to anyone who is currently or has been employed in the service industry and they will tell you a similar story- “Nothing good happens after midnight”
Guess how many fights happen before 10 PM at establishments who serve alcohol? Less than 5%. The obvious exception here is sporting arenas where people are boozing it up early in the day. You can check this for yourself too, review the times on your local law enforcement’s blotter. It’s all there.
Relating to this specific topic….
Most people who get in to a fight, or start a fight, or are pulled in to a fight had contact the day of the incident prior to the beginning. Something was said. For example this month, every fight I had to break up was started with two individuals who were standing and talking to each other only 20 minutes early.
This ties back to the idea of the interview.
People who attack other people are selective. While each person has their own criteria, a preference certainly exists. These people are looking for indicators, and many of them need additional “help” in order to get aroused enough to fight. Selection and interview can happen in minutes, or hours. These factors may not be consciously known the one starting the fight….but they are there.
Back to you.
What is your plan tonight? Going out drinking until you can’t stand? Are you going to be the most obnoxious asshole in the room? Talking shit with that guy over there, just a good time right?
This behavior is not very helpful if you’re interested in staying out of the shit.
Remember what your father told you, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt
Those who will not behave will be incarcerated
….Or gets DUI, or get’s put in the ICU, or arrested…
As a reminder, any incidence of violence can result in one or both parties going to prison, being seriously or grievously injured, and even death. Even from a single blow! Look back at the examples from this article here on violent incidents which resulted in unexpected death.
4 things to keep your ass out of trouble
Walk. Walk when someone is giving you shit. Walk when you suspect someone is going to give you shit. Walk when you get the insight it’s getting worse. Walk away before you get taken away.
Tell the staff why you’re leaving. Do not expect them to throw someone else out and let you stay. Do not expect them to realistically do anything at all. Maybe it will get through to them they are losing customers, maybe it won’t. That is not your problem. I suppose this is least important part. One positive is by notifying the staff you are having additional witnesses who can say they watched you leave first. In the event shit goes down later that would be a nice thing to have on your side…
Don’t be drawn in. If you see someone is currently making their way around a room looking for trouble, don’t get sucked in to their games. Don’t get macho either, maybe you can handle this person or that person…can you handle the heat of the courtroom? Can you handle all the crazy shit people do these days after they started the fight? The list goes on and on, and realistically you are the one driving the shitshow if you allow yourself to be pawned in to the game. The smarter bet is let someone else be the clown for the evening.
Leave before things get ugly. I think people have a lot of fun when they are out, but I will tell you no one looks like they are having a good time at 2 AM. It’s always ugly, every night of the week. By the end of the night the only people left are the ones who didn’t know when to quit. The number of fights and violence increases at a geometric rate after midnight, and 2-3 AM is the height of the wave. There is a shortcut though- just leave. Go out, have fun, enjoy yourself, and go home early. Relocate to a place with a smaller group of strangers after 1. It will save you many headaches.
Do whatever you want, but remember the odds are working against you the longer you play them.
When I go to my shift tonight, I will deal with people who are not smart enough to keep their asses out of trouble. I have no doubt, someone will get hurt. Someone will get a DUI. Someone will put themselves in a very bad position. Someone will be placed in the back of the patrol car parked outside the bar.
Hopefully it won’t be you….
{ 3 comments }
Adam, very good article. I like your suggestion re: telling the staff why you are leaving-it might seem like an obvious thing in retrospect, but it would be an easy thing to forget in the heat of the moment. I don’t enjoy or frequent any of these type of businesses (especially at night) unless it is a result of an unavoidable (rare) business/social, because they are generally too loud for my taste and like you said, there are often people who are habitually looking for trouble where alcohol is served and there is no use increasing your odds of having to deal with them.
Since the article was primarily addressed to men, it would also be interesting to read about what women should do to be safer when going out. I think women sometimes underestimate their vulnerability (especially when they are with a group of their friends) in these situations and the focus on fun can trump safety concerns. I’m not trying to be sexist and over-generalizing, just expressing my opinion based on some of the conversations I’ve had with women who have not been in fights or otherwise assaulted and don’t realize the increased dangers around alcohol, whether they are drinking themselves or not.
Every dude out there should read two books called Bang and Day Bang by Roosh V. If they did, they would be too busy scoring to bother with fighting. Seriously, I always got a kick out of the dudes who’s whole M.O. while at a bar was acting bad, i.e., impressing other dudes. They’re so into the tough routine, they miss hundreds of opportunities to see that girl would would mellow their asses out and make them happy (and stay out of bars).
Shane that is another thing worth bringing up – these guys who are showing up supposedly to meet girls blow it every time by spending all night staring at other other guys and pissing on the fence posts. I don’t see how that works in their favor to freak out everyone with the anti-social behavior.
We had several minor fights last night, all of them related to extremely drunk guys starting shit with dudes who were seated with their girl friends. My personal take away for the night, my arm drag to face bar is very fast now and from the feedback i was provided it “really fucking hurts”