Why do nightclub security guards make close to nothing???

[Sortie]

For the last few months I've worked at one of "the top 3 nightclubs in Vegas".

The base pay is $11 an hour.
All tips {the few and far between ones} I get, I have to give to the senior guard.
I deal with drunks, break up fights, and argue with people all night long about why they can't get into the bottle service section without having a table.

I don't wanna be a mean guy---but drunks bring it on themselves.
All night long---same thing....
I'm a 6'4 270 pound verbal punching bag.
No insurance.....only a 10 minute break....and no chance at working full time.
I know I need another job.
...and I'm working on it.
But is 11 dollars an hour typical for a Vegas nightclub bouncer?
Or is it just the club I'm at?

[Phx2Vegas]

I've worked in the industry out here in AZ for many years and the average pay is about $10 hour for security...but most of the places I've worked at you also get tipped out from the bar, door, etc..

[Sortie]

That would be nice and make this job more bearable if were the case for me.

[Phx2Vegas]

Hey look at the bright side, your around hot ass girls and getting paid for it..

[WT661]

Hey look at the bright side, your around hot ass girls and getting paid for it..

Man I wouldnt care about that. I'd rather get paid. LOL.

That sucks though Sortie. I would hope you guys would get paid more. Are you suited up? or in just basic clothes?

[wowzers83]

I was wondering how much the guys make......I always thought they made out decent since everyone else does.

What else are you gonna do for 11? Doesnt vegas have like a 20% UE rate? Just be glad you have a job.

I have looked around here for part time work and its sick what guards make. I have found 11/12$ for guards that have to carry. And the spots they cover arnt the best. Id rather be in a club with some loud music telling a drunk to STFU vs telling someone to drop their knife.

how much do bar tenders make? They have to be pulling in a few grand a night.......

[Sortie]

Are you suited up? or in just basic clothes?

All the guards in this club wear a black suit.
Funny thing...we are NOT allowed to wear a tie.
Why?
Because it would make it easier for a patron to grab us and "bring you down"
So management is aware that we do indeed have confrontations.
Still....they don't pay.

I was wondering how much the guys make......I always thought they made out decent since everyone else does.
how much do bar tenders make? They have to be pulling in a few grand a night.......

Oh yeah...EVERYBODY else that works there is killing them almost every night.
The cocktail servers get over 20% gratuity for every bottle served....plus I see some of them get cash tips on top of that.
The bartenders {from what I'm told} in the main room walk away with $400+ every Friday and Saturday.
The porters get a percentage of what the cocktail servers get.
The barbacks get a percentage of what the bartenders make.
And it's not some sort of discretionary fund with the porters and barbacks...IT'S A SET PERCENTAGE.

The best part of the whole thing is that all three jobs:cocktail servers--bartenders--& porters are UNION JOBS!!

Yup--union jobs with all the benefits:
-- WAAAY higher base pay
--health insurance
--sick days
--paid vacation
--yearly raises {i think}
--strong union behind them --so they arent getting fired so easily.

I'm not saying they don't deserve it.
They sure as hell do--they deserve that and MORE.
They work hard--and put up with a lot of crap.
It's not easy money.

But what I do isn't easy either...and when the shit hits the fan--and everybody else runs in the other direction--I have to step in.

[Drew]

For the last few months I've worked at one of "the top 3 nightclubs in Vegas".

The base pay is $11 an hour.
All tips {the few and far between ones} I get, I have to give to the senior guard.

So all those tips I give to the security guy looking after my table... none of it he keeps???

[Sortie]

So all those tips I give to the security guy looking after my table... none of it he keeps???

I don't know about every club.
But in the one I work in, there are two types of guards:

1-Section host guard--the one that greets you and gives you your stamp. The one that gets you the girls. The one that allows you to bring other people that aren't on your RSVP to your table.
He's the one that can accept tips. He's the one I have to give my tips to. He's not making much more than me---but he's gonna make it up in tips.

2-The rope guard. He's the one that checks your stamp and allows you into your section while keeping those without stamps away from your table.
That's me.

There are other guards posted around the club--they don't watch a rope-they are just there as guards---verrrrrrry little interaction with people other than bathroom directions.

[theScott]

That is disappointing to hear - especially about the tips.

Unfortunately, sometimes essential people end up not getting paid as much as they should be.

[redbullvodka]

would it be possible for you to build some relationships and work with hosts and other staff so that if you bring people in for reservations you can make some side cash? also, can you work the door (or back door) and set up "grease" opportunites?.. you know, people tip you to get past the ropes.

[ReleaseTheCrackin]

You answered your own question --- this is why unions are so important in a capitalist economic environment. Because our human condition is so fixated on greed, those at the top are naturally going to try to get as much productivity while paying as little as possible for help. We live in a sociopathic society, and without worker protection the system of capitalism seeks to exploit and take advantage. This is explains why inequality has exploded in this generation. Even if those at the top are experiencing record profits...they will always seek to either downsize or eliminate a position all together because they serving their investors. Investors hate money going to workers, regardless of profits.

Thats where unions come in. A good unions sole purpose to to fight for the interests and the benefits of workers. Why have corporate mouthpieces in the media worked so hard to demonize unions? Greed, pure and simple, and the greed at the top has become so insatiable. They dont want to stop the trend of the last 30 yrs where all of the wealth is being transfered to the top at the expense of the working middle class.

So my suggestion? Try to unionize las vegas security. Im sure security guards all across the strip share your frustration. You guys serve an important, and critical role for the club. You should be paid more --- and you deserve more. This will not be an easy fight, but if you are serious about improving the conditions for not just yourself, but all security guards --- then the sacrifice will be worth it.

Good luck, friend.

[Carolina J]

Drug and roll those bitches!!!....oh, sorry...I thought this was stripper section of the forumn.

[Sortie]

would it be possible for you to build some relationships and work with hosts and other staff so that if you bring people in for reservations you can make some side cash? also, can you work the door (or back door) and set up "grease" opportunites?.. you know, people tip you to get past the ropes.

No and no.
There is no side cash to be made from the hosts.
They don't even know the rope guards exist.
Insofar as working the door, well, I was told from day one that because of my size and stature I would be working inside.
The 'higher ups' thought my 'presence' in the VIP area would be some sort of deterrent.
Whatever.....

While I do understand the value and importance of being a union worker, I'm not quite suited to start a union.

I do appreciate the replies thus far I must say.
I'm happy at least YOU people understand.
BTW--this is quite a site---lots of inside stuff here---kudos!
Anybody else wanna chime in fell free.
I'm all ears.

[Carolina J]

would it be possible for you to build some relationships and work with hosts and other staff so that if you bring people in for reservations you can make some side cash? also, can you work the door (or back door) and set up "grease" opportunites?.. you know, people tip you to get past the ropes.

No and no.
There is no side cash to be made from the hosts.
They don't even know the rope guards exist.
Insofar as working the door, well, I was told from day one that because of my size and stature I would be working inside.
The 'higher ups' thought my 'presence' in the VIP area would be some sort of deterrent.
Whatever.....

While I do understand the value and importance of being a union worker, I'm not quite suited to start a union.

I do appreciate the replies thus far I must say.
I'm happy at least YOU people understand.
BTW--this is quite a site---lots of inside stuff here---kudos!
Anybody else wanna chime in fell free.
I'm all ears.

"Norma Rae is a 1979 American drama film that tells the story of a factory worker from a small town in North Carolina, who becomes involved in the labor union activities at the textile factory where she works"