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As many of the old-timers know I throw all-ages club parties for the 15-18 y/o set and have for about 6 years now. We feature drag queens, live DJ sets, and even had a band at our last event. There's been various ridiculousness over the years... Like the kid that jumped off our smoking patio at the last event and broke his ankle and then expected US to do something about it???
Here's a little background to how our club party staffing works. Because we're a small not-for-profit org. We all wear many hats.
As most of you would assume; I take the photos at the events... But I also run security, help do set up and break down of all the decor and DJ equipment, work the cashbox... You name it: I've done it.
During the last event - we hadn't even been open an hour when I get the news that somebody had puked alllll over the women's washroom. I go to the front of the bar and they're on minimal staff - ie: just the bartender. Which meant I had to clean up all the yack which covered the front hall and the entrance to the bathroom. I guess I could be thankful that they attempted to get to the bathroom... :P
Then as we were letting people into the event, we had three patrons that claimed my co-conspirator whom I host the parties with said that they could get in for free. We always have a guest list and he hadn't provided me with one - so I said no - they couldn't get in. They persist. I phone Alex and he says yes... BUT they have to wait until he gets there to verify their ID. They whine and bitch and moan and I say there's nothing I can do and leave.
An hr later I found them in the party and Alex was still elsewhere, running errands, getting prepped, etc... I asked them how they got into the party without Alex there and they whined and said it was cold out and they didn't want to wait, so they paid to get in and now Alex owed them money.
Alex being the consumate professional - when presented with this information when he arrived - brushed them off and said "I have a party to throw. You were asked to wait. You didn't. I don't owe you a dime." and walked away.
Then during the drag show we had a severely drunk patron not just weaving aimlessly onto the stage but getting in the way of the performer. After gently suggesting that he get out of the way several times. We decided that it was time to get a little more forceful. So I took it upon myself to remove him as my security designation would suggest. I grabbed the back of his sweat shirt and shoulders to remove him to the side so the performance could continue. In his drunken state he resists and all 125 lbs of him dragged me to the floor as we slipped in a puddle of beer. I fall... HARD on my knee, my elbow AND... Yep.. You guessed it... My camera.
So after taking the little shithead outside for some air and a talking to - we explain to him what's happened and that in the struggle he broke my camera when we fell. He agrees to help me purchase a new lens and the situation is forgotten.
Fast forward to a few days ago when I catch him online on facebook. He's been one of our regular patrons for several years now - and I found it annoying that he'd been avoiding me. So I mention the camera and he goes off on me. Says that nobody saw the struggle and that I'm a liar just trying to get money out of him.
I explain to him that I have no reason to lie - that there was several witnesses - and that he'd already agreed to pay for the new lens. Which will cost me AT LEAST $250 before taxes..
The bitch of this is - now that my camera's out of commission - I'm getting freelance bookings like mad. *sigh*
As many of the old-timers know I throw all-ages club parties for the 15-18 y/o set and have for about 6 years now. We feature drag queens, live DJ sets, and even had a band at our last event. There's been various ridiculousness over the years... Like the kid that jumped off our smoking patio at the last event and broke his ankle and then expected US to do something about it???
Here's a little background to how our club party staffing works. Because we're a small not-for-profit org. We all wear many hats.
As most of you would assume; I take the photos at the events... But I also run security, help do set up and break down of all the decor and DJ equipment, work the cashbox... You name it: I've done it.
During the last event - we hadn't even been open an hour when I get the news that somebody had puked alllll over the women's washroom. I go to the front of the bar and they're on minimal staff - ie: just the bartender. Which meant I had to clean up all the yack which covered the front hall and the entrance to the bathroom. I guess I could be thankful that they attempted to get to the bathroom... :P
Then as we were letting people into the event, we had three patrons that claimed my co-conspirator whom I host the parties with said that they could get in for free. We always have a guest list and he hadn't provided me with one - so I said no - they couldn't get in. They persist. I phone Alex and he says yes... BUT they have to wait until he gets there to verify their ID. They whine and bitch and moan and I say there's nothing I can do and leave.
An hr later I found them in the party and Alex was still elsewhere, running errands, getting prepped, etc... I asked them how they got into the party without Alex there and they whined and said it was cold out and they didn't want to wait, so they paid to get in and now Alex owed them money.
Alex being the consumate professional - when presented with this information when he arrived - brushed them off and said "I have a party to throw. You were asked to wait. You didn't. I don't owe you a dime." and walked away.
Then during the drag show we had a severely drunk patron not just weaving aimlessly onto the stage but getting in the way of the performer. After gently suggesting that he get out of the way several times. We decided that it was time to get a little more forceful. So I took it upon myself to remove him as my security designation would suggest. I grabbed the back of his sweat shirt and shoulders to remove him to the side so the performance could continue. In his drunken state he resists and all 125 lbs of him dragged me to the floor as we slipped in a puddle of beer. I fall... HARD on my knee, my elbow AND... Yep.. You guessed it... My camera.
So after taking the little shithead outside for some air and a talking to - we explain to him what's happened and that in the struggle he broke my camera when we fell. He agrees to help me purchase a new lens and the situation is forgotten.
Fast forward to a few days ago when I catch him online on facebook. He's been one of our regular patrons for several years now - and I found it annoying that he'd been avoiding me. So I mention the camera and he goes off on me. Says that nobody saw the struggle and that I'm a liar just trying to get money out of him.
I explain to him that I have no reason to lie - that there was several witnesses - and that he'd already agreed to pay for the new lens. Which will cost me AT LEAST $250 before taxes..
The bitch of this is - now that my camera's out of commission - I'm getting freelance bookings like mad. *sigh*
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