Jason KingDickcity at Teenwood
March 27th 2008 22:40
Category: No Category
This is not related to any films - this is my outlet at one of the worst night's in my life. Lastnight!
I am a 35yr old cinema technician and cinema manager. I manage a team of 6 projectionists in the lovely suburb of Chatswood in the Sydney area.
Being a cinema we have a fair amount of school kids working for us and I took on a trainee projectionist after he completed his HSC last year. During the course of his training I believe we have become quite close friends. Well yesterday was his 18th birthday party and I promised I would attend.
Incase I was going to have a few drinks I jumped the bus to the city I had to get, followed by the train back to Nth Sydney (travel time 1hr), where the eve was to take place. The initial plan was to have a couple of drinks first at a very nice venue called The Commodore then proceed to another place known as Greenwood.
I was warned by laughing friends throughout the week that "would you really want to go to Teenwood?", Teenwood I asked?, "yeah - once you're over 19 they don't let you in". I laughed at them back thinking this would be silly - about 10yrs ago I pretty much lived at Greenwood as it is a stylish beautiful venue - I think it's an old church that has been renovated. Now being 35 I still get asked for ID because my mum has what she apparently has and calls "the young gene". I don't age very quickly, plus I use a great moisturiser. LOL
I arrived fairly late (9pm) so we only stayed for the one drink. As the bulk of the crew left halfway through mine and another staff member's drink we decided to finish our beer then walk up and join our "crew". By the time we got this Greenwood venue all our friends were inside except for three of us. A "bouncer" approached us and told us we would have to come back in an hour as there were not enough vagina's inside and it was currently "dickcity" inside.
Slightly perturbed we walked to another awesome pub in Nth Sydney called the Rag and Famish. Great venue, an older style pub. Anyway the three of us sat there for an hour and enjoyed a lovely beer talking about work, as you do. We then proceeded back to Teenwood after our allotted hour. As we approached the same "bouncer" walked through the crew to us and said "sorry mate, it's the same story, still too many guys inside" - I was getting a bit annoyed at this stage so explained my story that I had traveled over an hour to join my staff members 18th birthday drinks and was told "I am really sorry". I basically responded with "I don't think you are at all". I then called my friend and said I was going home and to enjoy his night and commenced my walk to a bus stop. I got called by this friend 10min later while halfway to the bus stop. "Come back" he said "My friend went to school with one of the bouncers", I was thinking things were looking up. I then walked back where I was met outside by a good friend of my staff member. We walked up to the queue where my original "so called" bouncer was not insight. Thinking things were looking up I waited while this guy explained that I was the boss of his friend and could I be brought inside. He didn't even look at me and said "sorry mate - he doesn't fit the dress code" - I was wearing expensive black jeans and a black t-shirt and jacket with very expensive white shoes. The guy trying to get me in was wearing blue jeans, white t-shirt and dirtier white shoes. I asked him to ask the bouncer as to what the difference in our dress was that allowed him inside and not myself. His response was NO. During this time - one of the staff members I was originally rejected with approached 2 young girls on there way and asked if he could join them - he placed his arms around 2 girls who looked about 14 and was let straight inside with no questions.
Another "bouncer" then approached me and apologised that I would not be let in for the same reason the first bouncer had given me "because I was not on the guest list" - I proceeded to then state that I had never even heard of a guest list at this stage and I was quite certain this was some age discrimination I was facing. He informed me that no - it was the guest list. Two other staff members then appeared and walked straight inside without question - by asking them over the phone I discovered neither of them were on a guest list.
My other friend decided to go home at this stage and called for a friend to come and pick him up in a car.
I had 2hrs to wait for a bus home and as you can imagine I was not very happy at this stage. I sat outside the venue and watched the people entering and leaving. What I saw went like this - if you were female regardless of how young you were you were let into this venue without ID checking. If you were a male with more females in your group than there were males then you were let in, if you were a male traveling with other males then they used their list of excuses to say NO, if you were a male traveling by self then they used discretion.
My concern in all this is a) I am used to venues saying no to under age drinkers and while still occasionally being asked for identification managing to enjoy my eve and b) is it not illegal for underage alcohol venues and c) is it not disgusting for bouncers to be referring to their patrons as dicks and vaginas especially when said "patrons" are under age????
I will be writing my concerns to the venue, the licensing police, the local newspapers, the SMH, A Current Affair and Today Tonight. Stay tuned.
I am a 35yr old cinema technician and cinema manager. I manage a team of 6 projectionists in the lovely suburb of Chatswood in the Sydney area.
Being a cinema we have a fair amount of school kids working for us and I took on a trainee projectionist after he completed his HSC last year. During the course of his training I believe we have become quite close friends. Well yesterday was his 18th birthday party and I promised I would attend.
Incase I was going to have a few drinks I jumped the bus to the city I had to get, followed by the train back to Nth Sydney (travel time 1hr), where the eve was to take place. The initial plan was to have a couple of drinks first at a very nice venue called The Commodore then proceed to another place known as Greenwood.
I was warned by laughing friends throughout the week that "would you really want to go to Teenwood?", Teenwood I asked?, "yeah - once you're over 19 they don't let you in". I laughed at them back thinking this would be silly - about 10yrs ago I pretty much lived at Greenwood as it is a stylish beautiful venue - I think it's an old church that has been renovated. Now being 35 I still get asked for ID because my mum has what she apparently has and calls "the young gene". I don't age very quickly, plus I use a great moisturiser. LOL
I arrived fairly late (9pm) so we only stayed for the one drink. As the bulk of the crew left halfway through mine and another staff member's drink we decided to finish our beer then walk up and join our "crew". By the time we got this Greenwood venue all our friends were inside except for three of us. A "bouncer" approached us and told us we would have to come back in an hour as there were not enough vagina's inside and it was currently "dickcity" inside.
Slightly perturbed we walked to another awesome pub in Nth Sydney called the Rag and Famish. Great venue, an older style pub. Anyway the three of us sat there for an hour and enjoyed a lovely beer talking about work, as you do. We then proceeded back to Teenwood after our allotted hour. As we approached the same "bouncer" walked through the crew to us and said "sorry mate, it's the same story, still too many guys inside" - I was getting a bit annoyed at this stage so explained my story that I had traveled over an hour to join my staff members 18th birthday drinks and was told "I am really sorry". I basically responded with "I don't think you are at all". I then called my friend and said I was going home and to enjoy his night and commenced my walk to a bus stop. I got called by this friend 10min later while halfway to the bus stop. "Come back" he said "My friend went to school with one of the bouncers", I was thinking things were looking up. I then walked back where I was met outside by a good friend of my staff member. We walked up to the queue where my original "so called" bouncer was not insight. Thinking things were looking up I waited while this guy explained that I was the boss of his friend and could I be brought inside. He didn't even look at me and said "sorry mate - he doesn't fit the dress code" - I was wearing expensive black jeans and a black t-shirt and jacket with very expensive white shoes. The guy trying to get me in was wearing blue jeans, white t-shirt and dirtier white shoes. I asked him to ask the bouncer as to what the difference in our dress was that allowed him inside and not myself. His response was NO. During this time - one of the staff members I was originally rejected with approached 2 young girls on there way and asked if he could join them - he placed his arms around 2 girls who looked about 14 and was let straight inside with no questions.
Another "bouncer" then approached me and apologised that I would not be let in for the same reason the first bouncer had given me "because I was not on the guest list" - I proceeded to then state that I had never even heard of a guest list at this stage and I was quite certain this was some age discrimination I was facing. He informed me that no - it was the guest list. Two other staff members then appeared and walked straight inside without question - by asking them over the phone I discovered neither of them were on a guest list.
My other friend decided to go home at this stage and called for a friend to come and pick him up in a car.
I had 2hrs to wait for a bus home and as you can imagine I was not very happy at this stage. I sat outside the venue and watched the people entering and leaving. What I saw went like this - if you were female regardless of how young you were you were let into this venue without ID checking. If you were a male with more females in your group than there were males then you were let in, if you were a male traveling with other males then they used their list of excuses to say NO, if you were a male traveling by self then they used discretion.
My concern in all this is a) I am used to venues saying no to under age drinkers and while still occasionally being asked for identification managing to enjoy my eve and b) is it not illegal for underage alcohol venues and c) is it not disgusting for bouncers to be referring to their patrons as dicks and vaginas especially when said "patrons" are under age????
I will be writing my concerns to the venue, the licensing police, the local newspapers, the SMH, A Current Affair and Today Tonight. Stay tuned.
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Comment by Jason King
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Comment by Jason King
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Thanks Kev
Man I am so sorry about leaving you outside like that and that the night ended so horribly for ya. but have to say that I did enjoy SJ's "rat little pub", the Rag and Famish.
Kudos to you on the affirmative action, and I think you can take another stab at the Greenwood if you want by questioning their food supply policies. The licensee is required to sell substantial food at any venue that sells alcohol. I didn't see any. so ask around to see if you can find more people to back this up and you will just add more ammo to your argument that the Teenwood is a cesspool.
good luck with all of this.
Will see you around some time soon so till then.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I don't like hearing people being referred to by their genitals....glad you're doing something about it. I'll be waiting to hear more when you get responses,
Tracy
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Hope you stick it to them - make sure you post updates!
Michaelie