The Nightlife Guide to the Real Keys to the VIP

[Guest]

Ever wonder how some people just breeze past a long line, and everyone seems to know them? Here are 8 rules for being a VIP, and getting past the velvet rope, without blowing out your credit limit. Try out as many as possible, and and enjoy the service you will receive.


[B]1. Be a Regular.[/B]
I worked in the service industry for nearly ten years, and saw it many times. There were a few classes of people that got taken care of, in varying levels. Celebs get the best treatment, bar none. The next step is the regulars, that tip solidly. Being a frequent guest will get you taken care of about as well as the person they don't know, and is blowing money around for a 1 time event. The staff knows you, knows they will see you again, knows you're a decent tipper, and won't stiff them. Go straight to the head of the line!

[B]2. Tip decently.[/B]
Tipping a ton, or nothing will get you remembered. Another way to get great service, is to tip BIG on the first drink of the night, or first visit, then tip normally after that. Aim for at least $10 on the first drink, or 30-35% of the check for dinner. Then at least $1 a drink, or 20-25% of the check after that. This will get you VIP service, without selling a kidney.

[B]3. Offer Value.[/B]
Are you just there to party, or do you have an angle? Do you run a business, are a member of the press, run a blog, or are a photographer? If so, you have an angle. One of the biggest rules I've learned is that more places want publicity than have it. Even the hottest places want more press.

I frequently take pictures, and have started doing videos, for clubs and local bands. Even going to new places where I know no one, the camera case, or videocam, gets me past the line, usually with no questions asked. When taking photos or video, I often get asked where what I'm taking can be found, many times by the manager. That gets me VIP treatment at that venue, even on the nights I'm not working, and the same will work for you.

[B]4. Be a Cool Customer.[/B]
Most employees and customers are longing for a real person on the other end. Authenticity often breeds loyalty. Anyone who has had frustration dealing with a “faceless corporation,” or working for an environment that resembles Office Space, knows this. Be yourself, and go out of your way to chat with, and get to know the staff of the places you frequent. People they can be friendly with, and not have to be in “work face” all the time with, WILL be appreciated.

[B]5. Get to know the promoters and DJ's.[/B]
The life of a promoter is pretty tough. There are very few promoters who do it long term. Find out who the main promoters are for places you like to frequent, and meet them. Getting people at a venue can be tough. If you always good for 5-10 people every time you show, you and your entourage will always be easier to get on their list. DJ's are similar, in that there is a high burn rate, and many go unappreciated. Meet and chat with the DJ every time you go, and let them you know you like what they do. DJ's have lists at most places also, and bringing some friends out to hear them spin, will put you in their good graces.

[B]6. Be one of their first customers.[/B]
There is a high burn rate for restaurants, and clubs. This leads to new places opening pretty often. Most places will remember their first customers, and appreciate them. Building a great reputation is hard, and those who are there from the start often get treated like gold. In the first few weeks after opening, aim to make a couple of appearances each week. This will allow you to get to know many of the staff, often the manager, and occasionally the owner. This gives you a huge leg up on those who come after you.

[B]7. Be forgiving.[/B]
Things do go wrong. Your drink gets made wrong, or you get over-charged. The new door guy won't let you in. Maybe the pub makes your food wrong. Let's face it, “Stuff” happens! You have a couple choices when it does: You can flip out and throw a fit, quietly seethe and never go back, or brush it off and let them make it right. Most places will bend over backwards if they truly stuff it up, and make it right to you. Be cool, but let them know something went wrong, and how they can reasonably fix it.

[B]8. Do what you say.[/B]
Reservations, and being on lists can be tough at times. If you get one one, make sure you go. In many clubs, list are time sensitive, i.e. no cover charge before 11pm. Don't be the yahoo, who walks up at 11:15, and expects the same treatment. You many be able to pull it off once or twice, but don't push it. That kind of behavior gets remembered, and not in a positive way. The nightlife scene is full of pretenders, scammers, yahoos, and the like. Be where you say you will, when you say you will, and be a step above most of the people they deal with everyday. Having integrity: it's not lost on anyone.


[SIZE="3"]Leave a comment. What say you?[/SIZE]

[Guest]

Once again, great stuff man.

I've gotten to know one of the bartenders at social house and she always takes care of me. Two huge 20oz (the ones they usually give you with water) glass of mixed drinks were 10 bucks, and it was like drinking straight vodka...She had some heavy hands...

[Guest]

[QUOTE=El Fenix;34791]
[B]2. Tip decently.[/B]
Tipping a ton, or nothing will get you remembered. Another way to get great service, is to tip BIG on the first drink of the night, or first visit, then tip normally after that. Aim for at least $10 on the first drink, or 30-35% of the check for dinner. Then at least $1 a drink, or 20-25% of the check after that. This will get you VIP service, without selling a kidney.
[/QUOTE]

Yeah, definitely agree. Even when I just order a glass of water, I leave a tip, and that sits really well with the bartenders.

[Guest]

When I used to go out all the time I tipped rather large.

I was remembered often and it was greatly reflected in my tab and drink service.

Tipping big allows you to skip over everyone in line and usually your bartender will have your drink already poured and just hand it to you. Tipping big almost always means your drinks are poured insanely strong. Tipping huge almost always means free shots usually taken with the bartender when they feel like taking one. Tipping huge almost always means shots being passed out to you and your group free of charge.

My suggestion.

When you first start going somewhere pay with CASH. Pay for each round of drinks with cash. On each bill tip a very nice amount of money. If your drink is $7.50 leave a 10 each time. Yes, this might sound like a lot but it will pay off if you become a regular at this establishment. Go back to the same bartender over and over. Don't stray.

Doing this will in time get you a hook up. After you have been to this establishment several times and tipped in this manner maybe on your 4th trip open a tab instead of paying cash. Even if she didn't hook you up with drinks and charged you for all of them tip extremely well anyways. On your next trip if you don't get a hook up I would switch bartenders. I would say this works at least 60% of the time.

Some other points:

As Lazarus said throw a dollar down even if you order a water. For some reason bartenders really appreciate this. I guess most don't tip on water.

If you do get a hook up make sure you tip very generously. Say your bill should have been 80 but you were only charged 30. You should leave about a 30 dollar tip or more.

[Guest]

[QUOTE]Say your bill should have been 80 but you were only charged 30. You should leave about a 30 dollar tip or more. [/QUOTE]

Usually, on the first go round to a place, I tip them the full $50 difference. It was what I expected to pay anyway and I don't have to worry as much about how much I bring next time. It pays off in the long run.

[Guest]

good stuff here...and agree on tipping.

huge social value to be had by being able to walk up to the bar, and the bartender hands you your drink immediately over the heads over people that have been waiting, especially women. Can't remember how many times i was opened by girls directly from that alone with their jaws dropped to floor.

[Guest]

This is good stuff here but I think I'll keep my $$$ and buy penny stocks! Better return on my investment. ;)

The best way to get the hookup at the bar is to have a hot girl that is friends with the bartender get your drinks. It is a very common practice to not charge attractive females.

Another way to drink without "blowing out your credit limit" is to bring your own flask! And there will be absolutely no waiting in line when you serve your own drink! Thats VIP service right there folks! lol.

Sorry bartenders make way too much and the drinks they pour are way over priced.

[Guest]

[QUOTE=UncleHOwie;34802]This is good stuff here but I think I'll keep my $$$ and buy penny stocks! Better return on my investment. ;)

The best way to get the hookup at the bar is to have a hot girl that is friends with the bartender get your drinks. It is a very common practice to not charge attractive females.

Another way to drink without "blowing out your credit limit" is to bring your own flask! And there will be absolutely no waiting in line when you serve your own drink! Thats VIP service right there folks! lol.

Sorry bartenders make way too much and the drinks they pour are way over priced.[/QUOTE]

or you could just not drink alcohol when you go out. We're all guilty of it (especially me, but i'm trying to change that), overdrinking when we go to bars. But if you can go to a bar and do what you came to do, be it gaming, being social, or just hangin out with friends without depending on alcohol, you will be much stronger than the guy next to you that has to get liquored up to be social. I think drinking to be social is a crutch and is a problem that is typically overlooked and even accepted in the community. Its kinda like having to take drugs to be able to sarge, it points to a big hole in ones inner game.

I'm not saying drinking is bad. One or two drinks here and there is fine. And as i'm sure most of you know, i have drank to excess way too many times.

[Guest]

@ Howie

I routinely carry a flask with me, especially when I hit up Uptown. The lines in Uptown are ridiculous as is the pricing.

@ Just/Us

I concur. I'm guilty of over drinking. Yes, I use it as a social lubricate. But, I also use it in excess...read drinking at home, alone. About a week and a half ago, I set out to drop the booze and am proud to say that I can count the number of drinks I've had on one hand in that period of time. I've been on three day2s and have not indulged in too much booze, just one or two so they don't feel weird that I'm not drinking.

I've yet to sarge sober over the last two weeks. Although, I did sarge sober at first all those years ago when I first started. I suppose I fell into the habit of thinking that if I'm out, sarging then I probably should have a drink to loosen up a bit. It's strange, but I think a lot of us actually believe that we're cooler when we're drunk. But that's not the truth. The truth is that we just don't think about what we're doing like we normally would when we're sober. We still do the same stupid shit, we just don't give a fuck. And, that can be dangerous.

Having said that, I've picked up WAY more women while I was stone, cold DRUNK than while I was straight up SOBER. I'm not too sure why, that's just a fact.

Sorry to hijack...

[Guest]

I have flasked it many times. I also like to pre-game but that usually backfires as I want more and end up spending more money. If you are trying to save money there are two or three kickass options:

1) Don't drink. This is the best thing you can do. It's also the hardest.
2) Bring a flask and absolutely do not bring any money with you. Leave cash and cards at home.
3) Don't drink and leave cash and cards at home. This way you do not have any bills in your pocket screaming to be spent on 'just one'.

As far as over-tipping is concerned I couldn't give a damn if I have to wait a few minutes for a drink. It isn't worth it to me to be the 'cool guy'. I am appalled every time I look at my receipts the next morning.

To BR:

Absolutely beyond a shadow of a doubt pick up more women when stone cold drunk than when sober. It is because you lose all inhibitions when intoxicated PLUS it opens doors to pick up drunk girls. When I'm sober there is no way on earth I will pick up a drunk girl, but when I'm drunk that's a whole different story.

If we could somehow find a way to be inhibition free while sober it would work just as well and probably better as the quality would sky-rocket because they wouldn't be drunk swamp-rats.

Like everyone else it seems, I have a hard tome going out and not drinking. I rarely have fun at a bar when sober.