The Metropolis

People With Least Significant Job in City Surprisingly Willing to Have Picture in Paper

Chuck Ansbacher | Friday 18 March, 2011 14:46

As Spider-man said in the Bible, “With great power comes great responsibility.” But what about when you have the smallest amount of power ever? Just, like, a semblance of power. Do you also have a great responsibility? According to the fresh faces managing the guest lists at some of London’s hottest clubs, even more so.

If you believe the “pickers” profiled in today’s Evening Standard, managing a guest list at a nightclub is akin to managing the daily schedule of the Queen…

OK, that is a pretty fair equivalency. But let’s get real for a moment; these people are paid, amazingly unashamed snobs. I wouldn’t even call them “glorified” snobs, since the word “picker” does not in my mind inspire any image other than a finger in a nose.

But don’t tell that to Gabriella Guthrie, who was not only willing to have her full name and photo put in the paper, but was also willing to have the following quotes associated with it:

Club crowd: There’s no particular style but Public is a Chelsea club. We’re not expecting you to wear a ball gown – by all means do if you want to – but you have to make an effort. You don’t necessarily have to be beautiful to get in but you have to have the overall package.

The overall package… like, the overall package?

No-nos: You can’t just be nice to get yourself inside. It’s quite obvious when people you’ve never met are your best friend at the door. You’ve got to be careful of namedroppers. There are certain names that people will use and you have to make sure they’re not lying. We don’t want people who have just rolled out of bed and are too tired to dance. Trainers and tracksuits are not what Public wants.

The only thing more pathetic than being a door-picker is being someone who lies to impress a door-picker. Or someone who wears trainers. YUCK.

Yes-yeses: Always be polite to a door girl. It helps to know someone inside. If you’ve got a booking, then you’ve got one foot near the door. It’s never guaranteed, obviously.

But the booking “books” me a space in the club. That’s why you have bookings!

Oh, I know why we have bookings.

Queue jumpers: Door girls make sure that we look after each other. We also understand each other and sometimes favours can’t be pulled. We have a select VIP crowd that we want to look after. We know who they are, we would recognise them instantly and the ropes are miraculously opened.

Door girls understand each other. They’re there for each other. When it’s been a really trying night, and the namedropper to VIP ratio has been unbearable, there’s nothing like being able to go to another club and cut the line. That self important rush of superiority cures all ails.

Open to bribery: Never. If I’ve said no I’m not going to change my mind. If I let you in it’s because I want you inside not because you’ve given me money towards a handbag.

“If I let you in it’s because I want you inside not because you’ve given me money towards a handbag”

Um… that’s what she said?

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