Two years ago I entered my last summer of being the “Head Bouncer” of two of the NJ shores hottest clubs. I have to say after 10 years in the business and 8 years at the shore it had been an adventure. I look back and think of all the great things that have happened at the clubs. The relationships you build with co-workers and customers, I have really made some great friends out of this industry, friends that will do anything for you, friends that will last a lifetime.

I have witnessed, changes in every area, fashion, music, drugs, and my favorite the promoter. I saw the coke craze, the X and GHB, ruffies, special K. I dragged people out who were practically dead. I fought with more guys then I care to remember. I had celebrities spit on me, people bite me, I been called every name you could think of, along with a variety of other insults, physical attacks, etc..  The biggest change is the customer as the time ticks they got younger and I got older. I would say to myself, I think you are losing touch with this industry, its leaving you behind. Then I realize I'm still having fun and my guys are still around. That was until my crew started to change and the familiar faces that I built my reputation on were almost completely gone except for a few guys still wanting to hang on with me, the reality set in. I didn't want to be one of the guys the young kids talk about saying what’s he doing here he’s too old. I was 28, getting married with a professional career. I have the salary, benefits, pension, stock options, what the hell am I doing here with a bunch of kids!?! The decision was made I was out, this was it, I'm done.

The summer ends and true to my word I'm  finished I gave up my bouncing jobs up north and settled down for the onset of my 30’s. You know, focus on my career, starting a family ,buying a house all that bullshit. Well, I got the house, the job, working on the family thing, so I should be happy, right? WRONG! I had a void like I was missing a piece of myself, but what was it?

Is it the clubs?      I'm thinking why?  What do you miss?  It can't be the 2 stab wounds you got, not the overdoses, where the kid shit and piss’s themselves, not the juiced guy who has rubbed six gallons of baby oil on himself after I caught him doing push-ups around the corner, not the various other injuries and bumps and bruises, not the come on let me I work here, I'm a  promoter, not police reports or court appearances, not the lawsuits. What the hell was it? OH! MY GOD it was YOU, the GUIDO, you know the funny little guy all jacked up with some crazy outfit. It was the people that lived to get in and died if they couldn't.  The people that worked all week just to come down here and blow off the steam. I was missing it, missing the people I worked with for so long. I actually missed seeing the whacko Carline in his construction gear, standing on the bar after being told 8,000 times to get down.

Well, I had to come up with something and I did, I'm back starting this weekend. I can't wait to see the fists pumping the silicone bouncing around and hopefully some old cats that remember my ancient ass. I know its not the same as when I left but I still need to do it just to see what I have left and what is going on in this ever evolving industry. I know I won't see my old buddy Joel running around having a heart-attack that will be weird, but you got to adapt I guess. I'm hoping a few weeks and I'll lose interest and go back to my quiet life but I need to return I need see if still gives me the rush that it did a few years ago. So, at 30 I'm dusting my old ass off and hoping I can keep up with these kids. Who would have ever guessed that the people I considered the biggest pain in my ass for a decade would people I would missed. Sometimes you can't make sense out of life, like I can't make sense out of some of the shit you people wear as clothes, but you go with it and see what happens.