Around 2 a.m. on Saturday nights in Old City, the
party moves from the clubs to the streets. Club-goers
excitably stagger onto the sidewalks of Market Street,
desperate for a cab to the next after-hours spot or just
trying to push their way through the drunken crowd to
the nearest pizza joint.
Behind the scenes are the people who make this
madness happen weekend after weekend – the bartenders,
doormen and dancers who control the alcohol-
charged environment of the city’s many bars and
lounges.
Despite the glitz and glamour of working in the nightlife industry, three Temple students say that the stress can outweigh even the greatest of perks. Read on to find out just how they help get the party started so you can have a
good time this Saturday night.
GLAMOROUS
Nicole Cinaglia, a junior theater major, spends
her nights as a shot girl at Glam, an upscale club in
Old City.
Cinaglia began working as a waitress in a bar two
years ago, but really broke into the business this summer
when she won a bikini contest at Tiki Bob’s Cantina
in Northern Liberties.
The physically fit Cinaglia was offered a job as a
“rotation girl” on the spot. Her duties changed from
night to night and included dancing, serving drinks
and working the door and coatroom.
“By the end of the night I am always dead tired,
but there’s never a dull moment,” she said.
Cinaglia said she loves working at Glam for its fun
atmosphere and spending time with her co-workers.
She said that making sure guests are enjoying themselves
is a serious job.
Still, she admits there are drawbacks that come
with her work, namely rumors and arguments that
arise among co-workers.
“It can be hectic, distracting and bothersome to
have to deal with that,” she said.
The aspiring actress said that she sees herself continuing
to work in the industry after she graduates.
“I’m sure I’ll stick with it and get into bartending to make money,” Cinaglia said. “And I can definitely see myself working with the promotional aspects and public relation parts of the business down the road.”
GO DJ
While Cinaglia seemed to stumble into her work,
networking has been essential to the success of another
Temple student as he moved his way up in the night club business.
Jordan Hinsch, also a junior, has been involved in
promoting and hopes to find work as a DJ after graduation. He initially followed his best friend into the business as a promoter in Long Island and found work in Philadelphia when a manager from the Northern Liberties club Shampoo found him on Facebook.
To date, Hinsch has promoted for 12 clubs. He enjoys perks like free admission, free drinks and line-cutting VIP style.
On the other hand, he said that sometimes it’s easy to become absorbed by the work.
“At one point during the summer I was going to a club six nights a week,” Hinsch said. “You see the same people each night, and certain personalities can be hard to deal with.”
For Hinsch, the negatives of the industry outweigh the positives. He said he doesn’t see himself going back into the business after he graduates, unless exclusively to pursue his career as a DJ.
Let’s bounce
Christopher Fillmore, a senior civil engineering
major, spent three years as a bouncer at Temple’s own Draught Horse. He’s now a self-described “bouncer / ‘GWA’ – (guy with authority)” at Tiki Bob’s. As a bouncer, Fillmore has seen his fair share of fights break out in the club. He said he likes being in control, and once was able to help end an “absolute brawl” after about ten minutes.
“Being in charge is ultimately the best thing,” he said.
Drinking is out of the question for a bouncer on a work night, but Fillmore doesn’t mind sobriety. He said that by working as a bouncer and not buying drinks, he can enjoy
the perks of a club atmosphere without spending money on alcohol. The downside of Fillmore’s job is the fact that his every weekend is spent at the club.
“Sometimes friends ask me to go out and I can’t because I have to work,” he said. “It’s also very hard to have a steady girlfriend.”
Still, Fillmore said he will probably continue as a bouncer after he graduates.
“I definitely see myself working as a bouncer for extra money on weekends, even when I’m done with school and have a full time job,” he said. “It’s fun.”
Fillmore doesn’t lie when it comes to the perks of being bouncer.
“If you like good fights and hot girls, this is the job for you.”
Mary C. Schell can be reached at mary.schell@temple.edu.
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