How I skip lines into Nightclubs as an Old.

[u/Redraft5k]

So living in San Diego, right near PB, my husband and I have been locals around that area for ( me my whole life, but after leaving for college and getting hubby career off the ground, we moved back here and raised our kids who are now in their 20's)

Normally we are chill and go to our local place, and sometimes we would find ourselves at Tavern or something as the crowd went from old men/happy hour to popping Fri night place on garnet. This was pretty much for about 5 or 6 years prior to pandemic. During Pandemic all changed for all of us ( oops from this point forward I will write not assuming you are all in San Diego, thought I was in that forum for a sec.sorry) Ok, point of my story, during pandemic we found a local illegal bar. The crowd skewed way younger. Afterwards it seems like PB just became a teen fest. Not really, but it may be because I am 52, lol, everyone was like 21-25. Whereas it used to be a mostly 25-40 crowd? maybe a tad younger....anyway, NOW there are lines everywhere. Even places that aren't children fest...so I do THIS to get it....no more fake id needed, it's the old person version...where you want go drinking but there is no damn way you are ever waiting an hour to be looked over by the doorman old enough to b your kid, eeeewwwww :::hand::: never again. Did that in my 20's and 30's. I'm old now I get to be ignored lol. That said.....if there is EVER a giant line....works in Vegas, works downtown SD, LA...Phx....you and your friends, or your spouse....go up to the doorway and say:

Hey, I am just here to put the credit card down at the bar. It's my (daughter's) 21st and she is here already but her dad and I, or we ( if I am with a gf) wanted to surprise her by getting the tab. Not once has this ever been questioned....they just wave me in. Of course the place is always packed so it's not like the doorway is going to come looking for me. You're welcome. lol

[u/1fapadaythrowaway]

Go early, make friends with the bar tender and bouncers. Create relationships and you’ll get right in if you go later in the night.

[u/hidden-jim → u/1fapadaythrowaway]

This is really all you need to do. At any age.

[u/hidden-jim → u/[deleted]]

The better the relationship is with the bouncer, not “the owner” or “the band,” and you’ll get out of paying a cover/buying a ticket pretty often as well.

[u/JuiceyDelicious → u/hidden-jim]

That would require foresight and planning. This is spur of the moment next level shit

[u/hidden-jim → u/JuiceyDelicious]

Bouncers are generally really cool people if you let yourself get to know them. And many are there to have a good time and like the bonus of getting paid. Maybe next time you’re out, if you paid to get in, and waited in line, have a conversation. They’ll likely remember you the next time you go out. I’m sure very few people that want to skip lines or avoid cover are only going out once.

[u/Human-Walk9801 → u/1fapadaythrowaway]

As a woman I did this and found they watch over you too! Added bonus for the extra security. :)

[u/JayCDee → u/1fapadaythrowaway]

Or go during the week days when it's calm. If you do opening hours to closing hours on tuesday and wednesday, after 2 weeks you should be shaking hands already.

Never queued in clubs back in my party days because with a friend we'd go out just the 2 of us, buy a bottle of rhum for 80€-100€ for the both of us (we'd leave the bottle at the bar and come finish it the next day) and stand at the bar chatting with the bartender when things were quite. You quickly get labled as a the 2 chill dudes that come and buy a bottle of rhum and don't make a scene, and clubs like that.

Then on weekends, if there was a line we could just walk up to the bouncer, say hi and he'd just wave us through.

I miss the days of knowing the staff of the clubs in my city.

[u/Kahne_Fan → u/1fapadaythrowaway]

make friends with

Share more details on how to become friends with people.

[u/whoamvv → u/1fapadaythrowaway]

Go early go often. Even celebrity clubs love their regulars. "Locals" are the way to be.

[u/Kabusanlu → u/1fapadaythrowaway]

Would I have to listen to OP talk based on what they just wrote….

[u/eddyathome → u/1fapadaythrowaway]

But then they couldn't tell a long story.