Everything that happens in your establishment, good or bad, starts at your entrance. The crowd, the vibe, the fights, the falls, the energy, the safety, the comfort, the spontaneity, the scene, the action, and the security – it all hinges upon what goes on at your front door and it trickles down from there.
While most bar owners think they have their security under control, and manage their staff with best intentions, even the best of them can slip up now and then. “It’s hard to pick any particular common mistake bar owners make with their security,” says Anthony Lotito, Founder and CEO of Americore International Security and a retired First Grade Detective of the New York City Police Department. “They’re not so much mistakes as they’re more often exercises in poor judgment.”
IDENTIFY YOURSELF
No one gets in your bar without a valid ID showing them to be 21 years of age or older. That we all know. But just as important as abiding by that law is identifying your establishment as a strict enforcer of it, a notion that can deter underage drinkers from even attempting to enter. New technology for checking IDs not only helps verify various drivers licenses and ID cards, but its very presence can be intimidating to even the gutsiest 20-year-old.
“If a customer walks into a nightclub and sees their picture go up on a computer screen via their driver’s license, even if they’re drunk, in the back of their mind they know how much information you have on them,” explains Andrew Sachs, President of IDScan USA.
For the bar and nightclub scene, Sachs says two new IDscan developments in particular are well suited – a handheld ID scanner available now, and the SCANnet (Safer Clubbing at Night Network) system due out in mid-October. “SCANnet works by taking a digital image of the front of the ID and uses optical character recognition to extract data,” says Sachs.
“Not only did we keep security in mind when developing SCANnet, we also realized how valuable the gathered ID information is, and we allow users to put this to use for marketing purposes,” he continues.
Sachs emphasizes that bar owners should be aware of local regulations regarding personal information and its use, as such laws vary state by state. In that vein, he also suggests bar owners stay aware of their liquor laws and liabilities, as local authorities and governments are always looking for reasons to cite bar owners for underage drinkers and other violations, something that IDscan products can help avoid.
“Enforcement of these rules is huge today,” he says. “Especially with the economy the way it is, states are looking to make money, and one of the ways they’re doing that is passing out more citations and penalties to liquor license establishments.”
BALANCING YOUR BOUNCING
Your door staff is the next line of defense in keeping the underage out, as well as the troublemakers. Hiring the right mix of doormen, bouncers, and security can be challenging, and requirements for employment can vary from state to state. (For example, in California, any bouncer or security guard has to be registered with the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, complete a criminal background check, including submitting their fingerprints to the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and must undertake the “Skills Training Course for Security Guards” before receiving a security license. In New York State, it is illegal for a bar owner to knowingly hire a felon for a bouncer position, though owners are not required to do background checks on their bouncers.)
Let’s face it – Al Capone was a bouncer at one point in his life, evidence that the aforementioned lapses in good judgment also apply to bouncer selection.
You need guys who know how to talk to people,” says Tony Caldarola, Director of Cabaret Security at Americore International Security and a former New York City police officer. “The stereotype of a bouncer is a guy who is 6’5”, 350 pounds, and can just pound on somebody if necessary. That’s not the right mentality to have. You want to have guys who are articulate, who can talk to people and diffuse a situation. A lot of times, if you talk to people the right way and handle it properly, you can diffuse a situation before fists are thrown. Though you also have to have some sizeable guys so that if a fight does occur you can break it up.”
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
In one-room bars, hand signals or whistling can do the trick. But in anything larger, radio devices are highly recommended and very effective Custom Earpiece, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, provides bar and club owners with many options. The BlackDiamond Radio, for example is a great communication tool for security in hotels, nightclubs, and large bars. This handheld device features the most modern compression circuitry available, which means it is an ideal choice for loud venues (as all good clubs will be). The cast aluminum chassis meets military specifications for drop and splash testing, so the rugged nightclub scene won’t take its toll – it will take a beating and keep you in communication with your staff.
For a more discreet security look, Custom Earpiece manufactures the Cipher, a three-wire earpiece communication device. Three wires separate from a strain relief. One wire goes to a discreet clear-coiled tube, which is easily hidden by hair and collar. The second wire goes to a microphone with a clothing pin, and the third wire goes to a discreet “push-to-talk” button. Using this kind of equipment will keep your staff safer and more confident in its ability to aid each other in any situation, with no communication breakdown.
I SPY
Your staff can vet IDs at the door, maintain order inside the club, and keep each other abreast of all activity. But as the owner, you need to keep an eye on all of that, to not only make sure it’s being done correctly, well, and honestly, but to protect yourself from liability issues whenever possible. 
“Not only for security reasons, but for management reasons, video system installations have been a phenomenal investment for the modern club owner,” says Jody Stahl, Director of Business Development for World Wide Security in Garden City, New York. His company designs, installs, and services various security equipment and systems, including CCTV cameras and recording devices for bar and clubs.
“We advise bar owners and teach them how to best set up their system. Once we know what they want to achieve, we suggest components, but then also explain what else they can do with the system that is to their advantage.” Stahl advises bar owners to first consider what they want to capture and where it’s located in their venue.
THAT SECURE FEELING
All of this technology and equipment, of course, comes at a cost. “Security can be very expensive,” says Lotito. “But you have to make sure you have a good security force that is also cost-effective. You can’t cut corners.” An overriding theme to successful security initiatives is the notion of being proactive, rather than reactive, to your club’s environment.
From installing the best possible ID scanning equipment, vetting and training your bouncers, utilizing communication technology, and keeping a watchful eye on the whole set-up, club owners have to act first, rather than later. Set the precedent for a proactive approach by your entire staff.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE “HOW TO: IMPROVE ON-PREMISE SECURITY” IN THE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 DIGITAL EDITION OF BAR BUSINESS MAGAZINE
