To do doorwork well you need to achieve the right attitude, time after time after time. Whether that's as your heating kicks out as you shower for work, whether the last customer you just escorted out ripped your shirt and threw up on your boots or even as the music goes off and you find a sleeper in the gents.
There are tricks for this, some may seem like the acts of an obsessive but they serve a purpose. I like a shit, shower and shave, then straight into my work clothes. Plumb in the radio, tuck the loose radio end away behind the first aid kit. Fasten my boots, on with my jacket, on with the coat, fill and check my pockets then head out the door.
When I arrive at work, I try to get a sense of the evening. How many folks are out and about, are we expecting a late rush or are the fools queuing already? Then on with the radio, sign in, fix my badge, grab an ear-defender, pat down my pockets and get out there.
When I'm at work I try and be attentive, alert and detached. When my calm is disrupted I rely on the routines of routes, tasks, stances and venue checks to slip back into the right mental approach for work.
Keep focused 'til I'm back in my house and then as the uniform comes off, so does the work mind. Not until I'm in my vest and pants have I really stopped for the night.
All these little things help me to keep a consistent approach. It's not rocket science but by having a routine and sticking to it, you can with a quick action or thought regain your composure and be back on top in an instant. None of it is really important and none of it can't be skipped, but all of it helps to reinforce the cycle.
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5 comments:
Odd questions ahoy!
What do you carry in your pockets for a shift? And do you all carry first aid kits? Just seems a bit unusual to have extra bulk when it would be a minute away.
And do you get custom moulded ear defenders? Because of stupid new EU hearing regulations, we're told to wear ear defenders, but if I'm wearing a radio earpiece it has to be louder than the music anyway so I'm probably doing more damage to my hearing with that nevermind the useless foam ear defender rubbish.
There is a small level of inebriation in this comment, but I feel we can wash over that. When I start a shift on the door, my appearance and compusure seem to be the least on my mind; I worry about my energy levels, how much red bull I have consumed, the caffeine in my system; the adrenaline that is keeping me alert through the night and then as an afterthought my appearance comes into play; maybe this is why my colleagues and bosses are constantly on at me to get my boots polished. (Please note; due to my drunking cunting state my post may not be illegible; grammatically correct or non-shit)
an.otherdoorman,
I use these routines to get me on the ball even if I've not had enough sleep, rest, caffeine, fitness work, speed work etc to get that 'on-top of the game' feeling naturally.
Stuart,
I'll do a what's in my pockets post soon. As to ear defenders. I use an in-ear radio earpiece and to hear it without deafening myself I use a simple squish and stuff in the other. It fairly well balances so I still have spatial awareness while working and hearing after.
You wouldn't happen to know the model/make of your earpiece would you? For some reason my manager doesn't want to spend money on custom moulded earplugs..cheapskate. We tend to wear a bog standard headphone things (just to point out I'm not a doorman - I work in a music venue that has all sorts of acts coming through from classical to 1970s reformed rock groups)
Nothing like being inside for a concert, turning your radio up to hear it and walking out into silence only to be deafened.
Also, squishy ear defenders are dreadful.
I use one of these, not from these folks but it'll let you know what to look for.
http://www.rocketradio.co.uk/motorola-mth-series-tetra-covert-earpiece--microphone-8-p.asp
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