Interview: How To Get Past New York's Toughest Bouncers

Electric Room: Damon

At this point, several club-goers make their way towards Damon, and employ an all-too-common plea to get into the room:

Damon: Hi guys, who are you here for, which guest list? Club-goers: We just came early, figure we could walk in. Damon: We're just taking reservations right now for Electric Room. Club-goers: Just reservations, we can't walk in now? Damon: No not right now, sorry. Club-goers: Later on do you think we can come in? Damon: I don't know. It depends on how busy we are but we're basically booked out. Club-goers: We're just trying to get a drink and we'll bounce Damon: Yea I can't right now, we're just doing reservations so...there's a bar above us if you want to try that. Club-goers: Even if we just want to get one drink and leave? Damon:I can only do the list at the moment.

[Back to me]: He had a good argument though (laughs). A few years ago that's probably what I would have said to the bouncer. We're the toughest door. I pride myself in that because we're not new, we've been open for two years and we're still attracting people. So what is the craziest thing you have seen at your job? Umm naked people. I've seen people with their breasts literally out, trying to come in to Electric Room. A lot of men trying to pass for women. Do you have any crazy stories? The opening night was definitely crazy. We're a very small room, and I remember walking up to open the door, I looked out, and there are 450 of New York's elite standing there. How does this work exactly? Some of them are my personal friends, some of them are major VIPs, they should all be in here right now. I had to go to each person and say listen i want to let you in, we can't right now because it's a very small space. I said I'm happy to take care of you when I can, but I can't at the moment. Rather than be tough I chose to be nice to everyone that night. What's your favorite nightlife memory? I did the VIP door for Madonna - that was a pretty big one. It was supposed to be 700 people and 4000 people showed up. I thrive when it's like that. I'll do the door at a Grammy party and I'm looking at a wall full of VIPs asking who's more of a VIP? My favorite memory is working in New York City nightlife for over 15 years, and working with Don Hill, working with Nur, working with Madonna...my favorite memory is the fact that I'm continually doing it. The job never gets old. It's always fresh and new and exciting. [Photo via @legendarydamon]