Bouncer: We Aren’t Trying to Ruin Your Night

Story/Video posted April 23, 2018 in Arts & Entertainment by Lauren Smith.

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Bouncers get a bad reputation, especially ones who work at college bars. People tend to view them as someone who is trying to get them in trouble and a buzzkill. But in reality they are just doing their job and trying to keep you, other people and the bar safe. Greg Kurtz, a senior at Penn State studying agricultural sciences, also works as a bouncer at The Phryst, a popular bar located in downtown State College that is best known for being the only bar in town that serves hard liquor to you on your 21st birthday. 

IldlIGFyZW4mcnNxdW87dCB0cnlpbmcgdG8gcnVpbiB5b3VyIG5pZ2h0IHdlIGFyZSBqdXN0IHRyeWluZyB0byBrZWVwIHlvdSBhbmQgdGhlIGJhciBzYWZlLiZyZHF1bzt+IEdyZWcgS3VydHosIGJvdW5jZXIuIA=="We aren’t trying to ruin your night we are just trying to keep you and the bar safe.”~ Greg Kurtz, bouncer. Photo by Lauren Smith

Kurtz has been bouncing at The Phryst since Jan. 2018, so he is on the newer side of working there, but says he has seen and dealt with his fair share of people being too intoxicated and trying to get tough with the bouncers and having to kick them out.

Kurtz has worked as a bartender or waiter since high school at multiple restaurants in the Centre County area. He didn’t apply to become a bouncer at The Phryst, his friend offered him the job and he took it because he needed some extra pay.

Kurtz says he now recognizes that bouncers are not people just trying to ruin your night, they are just doing their job.

“I’m a college student too, I know people just want to go out and have fun with their friends and drink but once it starts getting too out of control we have to ask you to leave," he says. "We aren’t trying to ruin your night we are just trying to keep you and the bar safe.”

Kurtz works two to three times a week. He says he starts around 9 p.m. and doesn’t get off of work until 3 a.m., even though the bar shuts at 2 a.m. “The late nights are hard, especially if you have had class and school work all day and then you need to wake up and do it all over again the next day.”

Kurtz says that graduating in May of 2018 will end his bouncing career. He is applying to become an officer in the Pennsylvania State Police.

Life Outside of Bouncing 
 

When Kurtz is not bouncing at The Phryst he likes to go home and hang out with friends, fish, and take care of his two puppies, Kip, a one-year-old yellow lab, and Oakley, a one-year-old husky.