Bounced: An interview for Writers with Bouncer/Author Bill Carson.

Fiona -
Well, hello there - who are you and why are you here?

Bill -
Hi all, My name is Bill Carson writer and ex- bouncer among other things. I worked as a nightclub bouncer for about five years back in the nineties.

Fiona -
Good to have you here. You know, I came across your book, Modern Warrior Handbook, and I was a little dubious, so I only got the Kindle free sample. It was tasty though - so now I have the whole platter. You're very violent.

Bill - 

It's a good book, and I have to disagree with the last statement, Fiona. I'm just quite good at defending myself.

Fiona - 

I don't mind the correction - violence is often required to defend oneself. How did you get this good?

Bill - 

Amazon Link

I started to learn Karate as a teenager I was bullied a few times and decided to take up Karate and was lucky enough to have an excellent teacher. I have been training ever since.

Fiona - 

How old were you when that turned into a career as a bouncer?

Bill - 

Oh I was pretty old for this game probably about thirty I think

Fiona - 

So you had some wisdom behind your techniques. What is life like for a bouncer? Can you walk us through a typical night?

Bill - 

Well it's dangerous, as you might imagine.
I always wore a bulletproof vest. 

Two of my compatriots had been stabbed to death, so that 

type of thing was always in the forefront of my mind. I would park my car in different places vary my arrival times.

Fiona - My understanding is that a bulletproof vest does not protect against stab and slash wounds - did your vest also have stab plates? Was it cumbersome?



Amazon Link

Bill -

 I had a stab proof vest with the ballistic trauma plate in the front pouch. Yes, it was a little awkward, but it definitely was a great piece of kit. 

I would recommend that anyone in that line of work to obtain one.

Fiona - Anyone trying a rabbit punch would have had broken knuckles - just another bonus for the vest.

So you were making enemies - people who would want to get back at you? Why did you need to vary time and route to work? Were you concerned that the issues would follow you home?

Bill -

You will inevitably run into a few lunatics in this line of work. I lost count at the amount of death threats. I employed a whole range of techniques of avoidance.

Fiona -

I assume you never sported a fake mustache. Can you add a few to the list you started?

Bill - 

I learned from the mistakes of others. Well, I never went in for disguises, but I didn't use my real name,

for example; you could get away with that in those days not so now though.



Amazon Link

Fiona - 

Yes, well now you're a famous author. Can I just pause here to say that your book is very accessible to writers who need to write a fight scene and they have never had to fight - or had any training. There are great graphics to make the move visual. You really go step-by-step. I would caution those who think that reading your book will give them superpowers - you can't read about a move then apply it under bad circumstances.

These are skill sets that are trained and practiced.

Bill - 

Thanks, I tried to show the reality behind a violent confrontation. There's so much rubbish out there on this subject.

Fiona - 

Sadly true. Okay so back to bouncing. You arrived safely with your vest in place. Now what?

Bill - 

When I arrived at the door, I would have a little briefing with my team to remind them to stay switched on. The thumping soundtrack would then start up the noisy punters (patrons) would begin to arrive. You spend half the night checking ID's and staying on the lookout for drugs and the dealers.

Then the tell tale signs of a fight - the breaking glass, the high pitched screams - that was our cue. We would go in.

I had a system. Basically if a fight broke out, we were alerted by an alarm or the lights would flash on and off at the front door to alert me. I would always sneak in around the back of the disturbance and take down the troublemaker from behind with a technique that we had developed back at our little gym. Then I'd show them to the nearest exit.



Amazon Link

Fiona - 

How often were these women?

Bill - 

Quite often I found some women to be most aggressive.

Once, I was called to a disturbance where two women were fighting. They weren't pulling hair and scratching one another; they were throwing punches like boxers. And one of them was heavily pregnant!

Fiona - 

How do you unravel the girls who have entwined themselves into each others' long hair? Do you just jerk them apart and let them rip each others' heads?

Bill - 

I tried to be as gentle as possible. When fisticuffs broke out between the ladies, it was difficult to know where to put my hands. But yes, we just yanked them apart basically.

Fiona - 

Bahaha! And did this ever cause "wardrobe malfunctions?"

Bill - 

I've seen some sights Fiona, scary. Yes, interestingly not so much with women,

but almost always when guys had been in an altercation their shirts would end up in shreds.

Fiona - 

Why does that surprise me? That seems more of a cat fight kind of move - nails and all.

What sort of place is this? What kinds of clientele?

Bill - 

I worked in a huge night club at Kings Cross in London. Rough was not the word to describe it.

I have worked in lots of different venues some were rough, some really rough, and some that were okay.

Fiona - 

And you mentioned drug users and pushers - what cued you in about them?

Bill - 

Well they are not very bright, or they just don't care. But if you are vigilant enough,

you can spot them dealing and also cannabis smokers usually reek of the stuff. Horrible sickly bitter sweet smell.

Fiona - 

Eventually, you decided to impart your wisdom and write a book. How did all that come about?

Bill - 

I always took a small diary with me and entered the nights shenanigans into it. One of my brethren saw it and suggested that it might make a good book. After I hung up my stab proof vest and gum shield, I wrote Show No Fear a bouncers diary.






Amazon Link

Fiona - This quote from Amazon gets to the core of it:

"Time for a bit of scum bag cleansing." In this eye-opener of a book, the author records the "more unusual and violent incidents" in his career as a bouncer. It may shock you to realise exactly the risks that bouncers take on the doors of night clubs and pubs, and even at private functions. If the bouncer is to "show no fear", he must build up strong mental and physical toughness through disciplined training. The author gets plenty of opportunities to try out the techniques he learns in the gym, whether it's a stranglehold or a right hook. If you have a run-in with some "weekend warriors", words are simply not enough to deal with it. But this is not a disheartening story of mindless aggression. Some incidents are really funny, and the author's colourful language and wry humour help soften the blows when they come. Read this book, and next time you'll spare a thought for the bouncer who takes the crap so you don't have to.

Fiona - I'm sure it's a fantastic resource for people who want to write bouncer characters correctly in their books. You have been awesome Bill, and I know you are hot and sweaty from your workout - I really appreciate your stopping what you were doing to chat with us. I will just keep you for this one last question. Can you please tell me about your favorite scar?

Bill - 

I have a few, not sure about having a favorite though. I do have one just above my right eye. A chap punched me in the face one day, not an unusual occurrence in that job but the problem was that the had two sharp door keys protruding between his fingers which left a nasty little scar. He had one two though afterwards.

Fiona - 

Oh you know that the ladies love it - it makes you very rakish. Bill, thank you so much for your time.

HERE'S A video of bouncers talking shop and how to avoid a bad night.


Thank you so much for stopping by. And thank you for your support. When you buy my books, you make it possible for me to continue to bring you helpful articles and keep ThrillWriting free and accessible to all. And they're FREE if you have Kindle Unlimited!

Body Guard and Close Protection Specialist: Information for Writers with Rock Higgins

______________________________________________________

Fiona - Hi Rock, Would you please introduce yourself

            to my readers, and tell us how you spend your

            days and about your credentials? They are pretty

            impressive.

Rock - My full time job is as an Executive Protection

           Operator (Bodyguard) I work a 7 day on 7 day off

           rotation for an international businessman and his

            family. As I oversee 20 guys, it's pretty busy as we

            travel worldwide. So it is either working, planning

            or training plus much more. 

            My Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist

            qualifications not only helps my full time role, 

            but when I work for myself. 

            I train businesses in anti-terrorism

            procedures. I also teach civilians, law

            enforcement, military and bodyguards in close

            quarter combat and now, of course, the writing.

Fiona - I have your book. Can you tell me about the impetus to write Meditations of a Modern Warrior.

            Whom did you want to reach?

Amazon Kindle Link

Rock - It didn't start out as a book. I had been doing a newsletter and had so many people asking for back

            issues. Someone said I should put it into a book form, and so I did. 

           

            The book is really for anyone regardless of  age, experience with violence/dangerous environment,

            or employment. Over 90% of being secure is mental, so the book mostly informs people how to

            look at themselves, their environment, and generally how they live or should live to be secure. It's

            getting the average person to take on the correct mind-set.

Fiona - Authors, if you are writing a a plot line that includes a safety detail, this is a great resource book for

            you. It includes all kinds of possible plot twists that Rock is preparing professionals to face. It will

            help you understand thought process and preparation as well as write those awesome combat

            scenes.

            Rock, let's pretend just that. I am writing a plot line where I have a heroine who needs protection

            because she is a daughter of an executive worth mega bucks. What do you tell her about what life

            will be like with close protection? 

Rock - Well I have been in that position so this is first-hand knowledge. As a young person, they don't

            want you there, and if I was in there shoes I would not want anyone cramping my style either. It is a

            master and slave relationship and a lot of give and take to build up trust. Depending on the threat,

            high medium or low risk, the environment that the daughter lives in and travels to, and also the people

            with whom she associates are going to impact how the operation is handled. 

            The more space you can give them when it is safe, the closer you can get when the situation changes.

            They are the masters (Employers) but when the shit hits the fan, it is a role reversal if they want to

             live or remain unharmed. Through the work of building trust, they learn to recognize from the

             bodyguard the signs of trouble and know how to behave and obey orders when command of the

             situation falls firmly onto the bodyguard. And they effectively become the slave. I use the code word

             'Harden Up' as an indicator from me to them that it's going serious, and they have a Pre-text fast

             dial to me with the same code word to get me running.

Fiona - "Harden up" - I LOVE that! Okay lets talk things going serious, can you give me an instance when

            you would say "harden up"? And another instance when the Principal would text you the "harden up"

            message.

Rock - I work as either an IBG (Individual Bodyguard) or as a team leader in charge of a team. 

            As an IBG, I am giving orders to my boss. As a team leader I am giving orders to my team. 

            As an IBG, unless there is a direct threat, it will be the opportunist who attacks. 

            Unarmed, edged or blunt trauma weapons or firearms. On my command of "Harden up," I need to

            simultaneously move the principal out of harms way and take on threat. 

            You can see this on the website under close protection and the latest blog post gives a bit more

            detail. (BLOG LINK to Rock Higgins Blog Article on this subject) With a team the nearest person

            to the threat gives the order to "Harden up," he takes on the threat while the team evacs the principal.

Fiona - And the text message?

Rock - For example in Moscow, you know you are in a nice place when doormen (bouncers) have AKs

           and chest riggs. A family friend's party, at the venue we don't know any of other guests, so there

           may be an indirect threat. Then a family friend turns up with three SUV type vehicles. Eight uniformed

           soldiers in urban camo de-bus and go into all round defense with AKs, and the family friend gets out

           and goes into the venue. As we are in the venue but not close, that is when the txt message comes in

           handy.

Fiona - What do you call the person you are protecting is there a specific term?

Rock - Officially they are known as the Principal, actually known as the Boss

Fiona - What if it's not the principal? What if it's his wife or kid?

Rock - Kids get called by their name, wives or husbands Mr. or Mrs. surname.

Fiona - Can you tell me some of the criteria that would put someone in a low

             medium of high risk category?

Rock - Some risk criteria:

Low risk - 

* City / town being visited is relatively free from crime. 

* Emergency services in place with fast effective response

* There is no direct threat to family member. 

* Normal close protection security procedures in place 

Link to V.I.P.A. Website

Medium risk -

*City / town being visited has normal / average 

  crime rate. 

* Emergency services in place are slow or only

   respond to certain crimes /emergencies. 

* Terrorists have been active in the area in the

    past. 

* No direct threat against family member. 

* Opportunist attack is more prevalent. 

* Contingency plans to be put into place. 

High risk - 

* Crime is higher than normal. 

* Opportunist attack at higher rate with foreign

   nationals targeted. 

* Unsafe or no-go areas in area visited.

* Direct threat against family member. 

* Terrorists active within the last year. 

* Emergency services slow, lack moral, equipment, 

  or are unable to cope with crime levels. 

* Contingency plans to be implemented

 Extreme Risk -

* These are personal risk assessments which are

   combined with a country risk level to give a more

   in-depth picture of threats faced.

Fiona - Has one of your young people (or older

            people for that matter) ever tried to ditch

           you?

Rock - Young people trying to do runner. Yes that

            happens a  lot of the times, especially where

            boyfriends were concerned.

Fiona - Hahaha Can you blame them?

Rock - Nope, but it's a right pain in the backside

Fiona - I bet - Do you have a "talk" with the boy?

Rock - Yes once the guys knew who we were and what we did, they usually were on side. But there

             have been some fantastic escape plans that I am sure prisoners of war would be proud of.

Fiona - LOL I actually clapped my hands when I read your last answer. Can you tell us a story?

Rock - Without giving too much away... 

            We could not figure out how one young

            person was getting out of a secure building, 

            we even actually made a joke about how

            they were getting out that in fact was true. 

            I was asked to load some luggage for a

            family friend into a car, a suitcase which I

            struggled to lift. I got another to help me and

            as we were putting the case into the boot I

            said wouldn't it be funny if such and such

            was in here. Well it turned out that was how

            they were getting out of the building. The

            next time I was asked, I opened the case

            before it left the building, and a head and

            shoulders popped out. Although serious, I

            couldn't help but laugh at how ingenious they were.

           I could actually write a book on all of the funny stories without giving any operational details away,

           maybe in the future.

Fiona - You should! Very cool that you are living what we are writing.

 Fiona - Rock, can you describe your favorite scar and tell us the story behind it?

Rock - That has got me stumped. Through all of my military career, my security work and all of the insane

            contact sports I play, I am pretty scar-less. I do though have a dislocated little finger that is out of

            shape from playing rugby and every time I look at it, I laugh as I remember it was snapped in half 

            and bent backwards. At the time, I let out a very girl-y high-pitched squeal which I am to this day

            embarrassed about.

Fiona - I'd pay good money for a video of that!

Rock - There is no video of me squealing, and I think I would say no there is no video of me squealing even

            if there was LOL.

Fiona  - Rock, thank you for the pleasure of your company and for sharing all of this wonderful information. 

Readers, you can catch up with Rock through:

Linkedin - Paul 'Rock' Higgins CMAS, SAC Dip
Facebook - Paul 'Rock' Higgins CMAS, SAC dip
E-mail vipatacticaltraining@hotmail.com
Website - www.vipatacticaltraining.com

Fiona Quinn's Newsletter Link, Sign up HERE

Thank you so much for stopping by. And thank you for your support. When you buy my books, you make it possible for me to continue to bring you helpful articles and keep ThrillWriting free and accessible to all.