Cover charge

[AKKuya]

I live 20 miles west of Daytona Beach, Fl.  It's a small town community.  Last Saturday night, I went to a local bar where I was informed that it would be $12.00 at the door.

This place is known for very young women with Playboy like bodies and very little clothing.  Isn't $12.00 a little too much?  If it was a large city like Miami, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, or New York City where a large population in the millions could support that, then that wouldn't be a problem.

The parking lot had a few cars and from the door where I was standing only a few customers were inside.  It seems to me that some business owners are placing "We only want wealthy customers only" type of messages.

After being informed of the amount, I went elsewhere where no cover charges were imposed.  The other place wanted to have customers inside and the parking lot had more cars outside.

If the charge was reasonable around $5.00 or less, then I wouldn't have a problem.  In the end, I went to a place with no charge and that was better. 

[Babalonian]

Sounds like ya judged the scene and made the right call to me, but you might of been able to of gotten in w/o paying if you know how to be friendly and professional with the bouncer.

On a busy night out here in LA and Hollywood, at a busy and bangin club or bar, before say 11pm, the average door charge to a place I don't know anyone at is $10 for bars, $10-20 for the larger dance clubs... and only for the men.  Exceptions or things I'm not afraid to argue with the bouncer about to get in for free: If it's late (after ~11), if the club is ~%50 full, or if I'm one of the few guys smart to bring along some pretty lady friends to get me and the homies in for free if it's relatively a hot-dog party in there.  If they don't fold then they don't know what they're doing and I move on knowing the atmosphere must suck because the guy controlling the door is out of tune with what's going on inside.

[maddafinga]

Sounds like ya judged the scene and made the right call to me, but you might of been able to of gotten in w/o paying if you know how to be friendly and professional with the bouncer.

On a busy night out here in LA and Hollywood, at a busy and bangin club or bar, before say 11pm, the average door charge to a place I don't know anyone at is $10 for bars, $10-20 for the larger dance clubs... and only for the men.  Exceptions or things I'm not afraid to argue with the bouncer about to get in for free: If it's late (after ~11), if the club is ~%50 full, or if I'm one of the few guys smart to bring along some pretty lady friends to get me and the homies in for free if it's relatively a hot-dog party in there.  If they don't fold then they don't know what they're doing and I move on knowing the atmosphere must suck because the guy controlling the door is out of tune with what's going on inside.

I used to have a second job as a bouncer at a dance club here in town for a few years.  Depending on what normally goes on in the club, 12 bucks may not be too much, but, if you don't want to pay that (and I personally wouldn't) you did the right thing by going somewhere else. 

Now as a bouncer, if you are a regular, and a good dude, which is to say I like you, you're cool to me and never start any trouble, I'll happily let you in free, just to have someone to bs with a bit when I have a little time. You don't want to be a suck up, or a self appointed assistant bouncer, that's annoying, just chat like you would with one of the guys.  I'd let people that I liked in free all the time, after a while, the guys that worked the door started to recognize those people and just automatically let them right in.  Being friendly with the staff goes a long long way.