Bouncers are often privy to the sharp edge of nightlife, with one recalling a time a microphone exploded.
Working in a bar in any capacity is an eye-opening experience. You would think, seeing people at their most subhuman, drunk, and grotesque, would put most off drinking for life. But the late hours, high stress, and physically exhausting nature usually do the opposite.
Most staff, be they bouncers or bartenders, take a seat together when the lights come up and the dancefloor clears. The room is still full of glassy eyes. However, these are from the shell-shocked, thousand-yard stares of the employees. It takes a while to feel calm again, and a few drinks too.
Bouncers, though, have a whole different battle to fight throughout the night. Now, I know there are some power-hungry douchbags out there. But working as a bartender, security is a lifesaver. When some drunk is trying to grab your shirt over a bar, or a woman is dragging someone by their hair, bouncers are there to save you the hassle of peace negotiations.
Bouncers who have worked bars for years have some amazing war stories. Everything from unbelievable bathroom disasters to world war three level brawls. One bouncer, however, looked back on an exploding microphone that ruined more than just the singing.
Exploding Microphone Showers Club Crowd
Karaoke is usually a pretty funny night if you’re in the mood for some terrible singing and drunken highjinks. There is little space for ego when you’re belting out Wonderwall off-key. But one guy still found a way to injure more than just the crowd’s ears.
Sean Kernan, writing on Yahoo about his experience as a bouncer, recalled his story. “A young man went on stage to start singing after Jen called him up. Everything was going great. He was obviously drunk — but that’s the norm for singers.”
However, as his closing bars petered out, rather than hand back the mic, he chose violence. “He takes the mic and power spikes it like a football, as hard as he can.”
Being pieces of sound equipment and not footballs, this isn’t great for microphones. “The mic explodes into 30 pieces, sending a shard that hits a lady in the face. She started crying and had to get stitches.” And that was that, the night was over, and the exploded microphone was dust.