Webster’s Dictionary defines “bouncer” as: “A person whose duty is to throw troublemakers out of a bar or public meeting.”
The alternate definition is “a boaster, a bully.”
This reflects the complicated nature of the term.
On the one hand, a bouncer should be a person who represents safety; on the other, they can carry the negative connotations of an aggressive bully who uses physical size and strength to throw out patrons.
Bouncer is a word people in the bar and restaurant industry are trying to get away from, and it is a career to which the Ontario government has recently added stricter guidelines and regulations.
Andrew Campbell has been working as bar security at the Great Canadian Cabin for almost three years now.
“There are stereotypes about doormen, you know, that they’re big goons,” Campbell says. “Me, personally? I don’t fight. I’ve never been a fighter and never really had to because of my size.”
Looking past his big smile and kind face, Campbell does fit the size stereotype of a bouncer, towering at 6’5” and weighing over 300 pounds. Campbell recalls the welcome speech the manager gave him and other security staff when they were hired.
“The manager told us there’s a difference between a bouncer and a doorman,” he says. “Bouncers are built as idiots who just toss people out, and doormen are the guys that can talk people out of the bar.”
Rick Crego, manager of the Ottawa bar and nightclub Tila Tequila, also doesn’t use the term bouncer to refer to his staff. Crego called the term a “faux pas.”
“First off, they’re not bouncers, they’re security. They have a security license, so they’re security guards,” he says.
Enacted in 2005, the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act requires all people responsible for security in Ontario bars and restaurants to get their security guard license. In order to get licensed by the Ontario government, one must show a clean criminal record and background check, fill out several applications and go through training.
As enforced by the 2005 Act, there are inspectors sent to bars to make sure doormen and security are licensed, that they are following regulations, and are using appropriate means to keep the establishment and patrons secure. Security guards also have their criminal records checked annually.
Crego says he hires observant, friendly and well-groomed guys with experience as his security guards, and he’s rarely had any security guards who embody the negative stereotypes of a bouncer.
“We’re told to take our time and not to be violent. Don’t instigate. Talk to people, get them walking. We’re supposed to have a strict ‘hands-off policy’, unless they initiate violence,” Campbell says.
“In fact, I’ve been told I’m too nice to do my job by people I’ve been kicking out,” he says.
Campbell says kicking people out is one of the hard parts of the job, especially when they are friends or acquaintances from the bar. Campbell says he wishes people coming to the bar understood doormen usually aren’t trying to bully or seem powerful.
“Especially with the laws in Ontario these days, we have to be very careful,” he says. “Inspectors are out all the time.”
“We’re not on power trips, we’re not having fun kicking you out,” he says. “We’re ruining your night, we know that, we’re sorry, but unfortunately, we have a job to do.”