Ever queued for two hours to get into a club? There are some nights – albeit few and far between – that might justify such action, but what if there was only a 50% chance that you were going to get in once you eventually reached the hallowed door.
So fare the prospective clubbers at Berlin’s most infamous after-hours destination, Berghain. During peak-hours – typically between 4am and 10am – the queue can stretch several hundred metres from the door, but that’s far from the most intimidating thing about the club. At the door loom arguably the scariest bouncers the planet has ever seen, with a seemingly random method of sorting those lucky enough to get in from those destined for a long, disappointed trudge home.
If you’ve ever been to Berghain, you’ll probably already know about this uber-exclusive and mystifying door policy. Last October, even Richie Hawtin was on the receiving end of some less than friendly treatment from the bouncers, and had some choice words on his Twitter pager afterwards.
"U know what, BERGHEIM (sic) is a great club once you are inside, but why does the door policy have to be so fucking ridiculously hard. Come on guys, you have a great club but don't act so egotistically cool. We would all love to play and work with you, but you need a serious attitude adjustment!!! Good luck and remember those who have been supporting your scene before you even opened......."
Dubfire, again via Twitter, later said "I have to say that the bouncers were TOTAL pricks though and roughed up a lot of our crew"
For a more detailed account of the goings-on outside Berghain , you can read a first-hand account of one man’s nervous approach on the Guardian website.
