Front & Center: Pugilism the least part of bouncer’s job

Most people choose careers.

“I was shoved into mine,” jokes full-time security guard and part-time bar bouncer Anthony Viramontes.

“I was 17 when I went to a punk rock show where a buddy was playing,” he recalled. “The venue owner needed someone to run the door and monitor the mosh pit and asked me to help make sure everyone was safe.

“From that point on, I’ve been doing security gigs.”

Viramontes’ size played more than a small role.

“I’ve always been a big guy,” he said. “Back then, I was about 6-foot-2 and 280. All the high schools wanted me to play football for them, but I was never into team sports.

“Now I’m 6-3 and 365,” the 34-year-old said.

During a recent interview, Viramontes discussed black eyes, button-up shirts and “bro’ row.”

S-R: Where did you grow up?

Viramontes: Right here in Spokane.

S-R: What was your first job?

Viramontes: Washing dishes at KFC when I was 16.

S-R: Which high school did you attend?

Viramontes: Ferris.

S-R: Did you have a favorite class or activity?

Viramontes: All I wanted to do in high school was skateboard and play music.

S-R: Were you thinking ahead to a career?

Viramontes: I remember it being a big focus in high school – “What do you want to be?” But I was like, “I just want to enjoy life.” I didn’t really think about what my career would be.

S-R: Did you get any college or vocational training?

Viramontes: I went to hair school.

S-R: Did that lead to a job?

Viramontes: No, but when I’m not busy working security at the House of Charity, I give free haircuts to guys who have job interviews or just want to get cleaned up and feel good.

S-R: Was there a moment or event that changed the direction of your life?

Viramontes: Kids. (laugh) First a stepson, and then my daughter.

S-R: How did that change you?

Viramontes: I was 23, working at Hot Topic (clothing store) and partying all the time when my daughter was born. That’s when I started taking life a little more seriously and got into full-time bar security.

S-R: Did anyone explain the proper way to do that job?

Viramontes: They said, “Watch ‘Road House’ with Patrick Swayze. That’s everything you need to know.” I thought they were full of crap, but I’ve seen “Road House” a million times, and the funny thing is, (Swayze character) Dalton’s whole outlook on running security for bars is to first be nice, then take it outside and be nice some more. That’s pretty much what you have to do.

S-R: Do any early career memories – good or bad – stick out?

Viramontes: As much as my early memories would seem bad to most people, they always turned out good, because I learn from every experience. Whether I got beat up or someone else got beat up, there’s always a lesson there.

S-R: You’ve been beat up?

Viramontes: Plenty of times. A black eye. Bruises everywhere. Sore the next day.

S-R: After an encounter, has anyone ever come back later and apologized?

Viramontes: That happens pretty much every weekend.

S-R: Have skills learned in other situations come in handy working security?

Viramontes: Some restraint techniques I learned working at a group home and the House of Charity – the same techniques big casinos and officers use – help keep me and the other person from getting hurt.

S-R: Have you ever wondered whether you chose the wrong line of work?

Viramontes: No, never.

S-R: How would you describe Garageland?

Viramontes: We consider ourselves a dive bar. But we’re all-ages from 3 to 9 p.m., because we have a full arcade and serve food during those hours.

S-R: Is it obvious to someone approaching Garageland that you’re a bouncer?

Viramontes: (laugh) Yep. It’s me and one other big guy, and we’re right at the door. There’s no way you can not tell we’re bouncers.

S-R: How do you dress?

Viramontes: Just regular clothes. I don’t recommend button-up shirts, necklaces or jewelry – anything someone can easily grab and pull.

S-R: Are you armed?

Viramontes: I don’t have a weapon because I know how to talk my way out of most confrontations, and I know how to restrain someone without hurting them. Some venues’ bouncers have weapons, handcuffs and/or pepper spray.

S-R: When are you busiest?

Viramontes: Spring break, St. Patrick’s Day – I’ve had some fun that night – and the Friday before Hoopfest weekend.

S-R: New Year’s Eve?

Viramontes: New Year’s Eve is pretty chill because most people leave right after midnight.

S-R: Does one group cause more trouble than another?

Viramontes: I’d have to say the biggest problem are the college kids who hang out on Division – “bro’ row” – because they like to talk crap and get too drunk. Also out-of-towners who don’t care what they do here.

S-R: Do you have radar for troublemakers?

Viramontes: I can spot ’em a mile away. Swearing or being loud. The way they stagger or hold themselves. If they can’t find their ID, because anyone who’s sober knows where their ID is.

S-R: How often do you turn potential customers away?

Viramontes: Every night.

S-R: How do they react?

Viramontes: Some are cool about it. It’s all about the approach. I go, “Hey, man, I’m just watching out for you. You’re too intoxicated to come inside tonight, but come back tomorrow, no problem. Make us your first stop. We really want you here, but tonight’s just not your night.”

S-R: How many customers do you kick out after they’ve entered?

Viramontes: On a bad night, five or six.

S-R: Are they banned from coming back?

Viramontes: Not unless they do something really rude to our bar staff or me.

S-R: How do you defuse tense situations?

Viramontes: One way is to make a joke about it, like “OK, that was weird.” If you don’t acknowledge an awkward situation, it’s easier to avoid escalating things. A bouncer’s most important skill is knowing how to talk to people – being able to approach them in a friendly, professional way.

S-R: And if that doesn’t work?

Viramontes: In any situation where I have to go hands-on, I will make it very clear three times. “If you do not leave, I will escort you out,” and say it loud enough so everyone involved hears me.

S-R: Do you occasionally call the police?

Viramontes: If I have to. The downtown PD know me from bouncing and working at the House of Charity. If they drive by and see me, we may have a BS conversation. And if they’re walking by, they’ll ask how things are.

S-R: Can women be bouncers?

Viramontes: Absolutely. I wish there were more, so they could kick women out and avoid any sexual harassment or sexual assault claims. Plus some men respond better to women. Good social skills are at least as important as size when it comes to this job.

S-R: How much do bouncers earn?

Viramontes: That’s at the discretion of the bar owner. I get paid minimum wage, but I only work five hours a night, maybe two nights a week.

S-R: How about tips?

Viramontes: If the bartender feels you’ve helped out enough, they might give you 3 to 5 percent of the tip pool.

S-R: Can bouncers drink on the job?

Viramontes: That is a gray area. Some places allow their bouncers to have a drink or two on the job. This job will make you drink more, or drink less. It makes me drink never.

S-R: Are there common misperceptions about bouncers?

Viramontes: People think I must like to rough guys up. That’s not what this is about. It’s about the customers’ safety and enjoyment.

S-R: What mistakes do bouncers make?

Viramontes: The No. 1 mistake is reacting emotionally. You need to put your emotions aside and realize the person is intoxicated and doesn’t know what’s going on. Another mistake is not knowing when to shut up. If the conversations isn’t going anywhere, then you’re done talking.

S-R: Have you ever been on the other side of the encounter?

Viramontes: A long, long time ago.

S-R: What did that teach you?

Viramontes: Not to be a drunken jerk. (laugh)

S-R: What advice would you offer someone who wants to get into this career?

Viramontes: Don’t. It’s not a career. If you want to do it to make a little extra cash, then maybe.

S-R: What has this job taught you about yourself?

Viramontes: That I have tons of patience. Well, maybe not with my kids. But with grown-ups who’ve had too much to drink.

Writer Michael Guilfoil can be contacted at mguilfoil@comcast.net.