Fast-paced and heavily-based teamwork - Door Staff 9:30 Club Employee Review

5.0
9 Feb 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

When I realized that I was going to be the equivalent to a bouncer here, I was actually pretty nervous because who would ever listen to me? Although the training was rigorous, it's self-explanatory as to why. The environment is so fast-paced, there are so many things to consider at any given moment because you need to figure out what needs your attention in a dark, crowded area. When you do end up addressing a situation, you need to figure out whether a patron is a little too intoxicated, aggressive, or if they can even hear you, just to give some examples. You need to be able to think fast enough on the best way to communicate in a loud music venue, not only with the patrons, but with your coworkers, too. To succeed in this job, communication is absolutely key; people's safety is at stake. For example, on one of the times I was training, someone fainted and the concert had barely started. My trainer hadn't even noticed what had happened. I needed to have the confidence to make an urgent call to our nearest rendezvous. Next thing my trainer and I see is a whole rush of our coworkers running through the crowd on the second floor. The whole point of training being so rigorous is to give you the confidence and trust in your instincts to watch over people. Another time, some time after I had completed training, I had a patron too drunk, and when I called for back up, the patron ran away. I actually had to follow them wherever they went, but eventually they got away from me. Luckily, a coworker on the second floor spotted the patron, and we were able to ask the patron to leave the premises. Lastly, there was a patron who threw their jacket on the ground because coat check was full. When I politely asked her to hold her jacket since it was a fire hazard, she cussed me out and refused to comply to which I called a manager. The manager helped me in solving the problem by checking in the coat for just 15 min. After that, the patron held on to their jacket for the remaining 2-3 hours of the show. You have to be very patient with super intoxicated people for that matter, which this particular patron was. As you can see, there are some rather difficult situations that require fast critical thinking, but with the good trainers I had, they gave me the confidence and trust in my instincts to succeed. In fact, it later became habit. Also, knowing that your coworkers are absolutely there for you is a huge plus. You don't need to be some huge bulky guy to have authority, but having multiple coworkers by your side at every situation that needs to be addressed can be all you really need. I miss working here.

Cons

Depending on where you are in the rotation of positions, it can be dull. And if you end on that position, you could stuck there by yourself. Sometimes you'll also have to stay late to make sure the venue is clean and the artists are completely out. It all depends how dirty it is, and how late they stay. So make sure you don't have to go to work the next morning! Also if you want to build a career through the Club, it's not very likely. I wanted to do marketing here, but I had to apply to be an intern. Not to mention, the internship is unpaid. You can also have full time hours because you choose which shows to work and sometimes you'll have a lot of hours because you have to stay late to completely close. You never know who's going to stay late and who's not until the day of or if the artists have multiple shows at a given period.

Explore other reviews about 9:30 Club

5.0
22 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Cool shows -Night shift but hours usually dont go too late (average 12am-3am clockout) -Fun -Diverse team -Thorough training/cross training provided -Easy to move up within company/many opportunities if youre interested in different positions of concert/nightlife -Working different venues within company

Cons

-You never really know what to expect every night(could be good or bad) -Shifts could range from 4 hrs to 12 hr days throughout the week -Would be harder to get full time hours but not impossible -Slow seasons -Pay could be a bit more considering location

3.0
24 Jul 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Company has strong reputation in the industry. - Best shows in the area.

Cons

- Long days, which is typical in the industry. - Mediocre pay for living in the area. - Leadership was missing, when staff needed them the most.

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