Nobody’s Thug
Back in the mid-90s, I was working with a partner in Los Angeles. We got the call to work a detail for a wealthy V.I.P. who needed two bodyguards for a night out at one of the swankiest nightclubs in the city. My partner and I were responsible for driving this gentleman and his entourage of 15 people to the venue, and the job was fairly routine, as these jobs go; escorting his guests to the restroom, getting the server when the cocktails were running low, keeping his area of the V.I.P. room secure.
Everything changed when a friend of mine showed up. She and I had met at the gym, and both knew some of the same people in the acting world. It just so happened her photo spread had just appeared, and she was Playboy’s Playmate of the Month. She came by to say hello, and immediately after she walks away, my client asks “who was that?” He was rather forceful guy, clearly accustomed to getting what he wanted. “I want to meet her,” he insisted. So, I thought to be polite, I’d make an introduction. I brought her around to his table, and of course she was her usual nice, friendly self and she’d become something of a celebrity so she was obliging a fan.
After a few minutes of chatting, and a glass of champagne, she excused herself and returned to her friends. My client walked up to me and said “I want her.” He seemed to mistake her charm and politeness for interest in him. I explained that she was there with her boyfriend, a New York actor of some note, but that didn’t dissuade this guy. “How much do I have to pay you to kick his ass?” I was taken aback. I’d never had a client make such a ridiculous request.
Well, my idiot partner says “One thousand dollars.” I couldn’t believe it. I wanted to kick his ass! I explain to the client that no, that’s not going to happen. He ignores me, turns to my partner, and offers him $2000. Well, he then explains that he was “just kidding,” and the client is furious. I explain to him that we don’t beat people up, it’s against the law, and that we’re not willing to go to jail so he can get this girl (that’s just how arrogant he was–it never occurred to him that she wasn’t interested in him!)
About an hour later, the entourage decides to leave the club, and my client spies this girl at the curbside valet. He turns to me and says “Come on, I’ll give you $5,000 to kick his ass.” At this point, I’ve about had it with this goofball. I answer him loud enough for everyone in his group to hear “Listen, I am NOT going to kick his ass for you. Drop it.” Looking back, I guess that wasn’t the best way to handle it.
So now, the client is furious with me. He’s embarrassed, he’s been drinking, and he angrily slides into the back seat of his tricked out Mercedes SUV and slams the door hard. I slip in to drive. His assistant, the guy who hired us for this job, is sitting next to me and I can see in the rearview mirror that the client is pissed. Then the verbal abuse starts.
This guy is yelling his fool head off at me, like a three-year-old child who had his candy taken away. It is all I can do not to yell back, or dump his sorry behind off at the side of the road. I stay calm. I remain professional. He continues to scream at me in this vehicle. He yells at me all the way back to his condo, where the rest of the entourage is waiting to party some more at his place.
When we get out of the car, and he sees all his guests waiting for him in the carport, he decides to play the last jerk card in his deck. He yells at his assistant, “Get him out of here, pay him.” He’s trying to be a big-shot, and make it look like I did something wrong. His assistant hands me the $400 fee for the night.
“Do you see this money?” I said as calmly and patiently as I could. “I’m not for sale.” His mouth dropped open and his guests were utterly silent as I tucked the bills under the windshield wiper of his fancy Mercedes and walked away.
The next day, and for several days after, this guy’s assistant calls me and leaves messages. I don’t even bother to listen to them. I don’t return his calls. About a week later, I’m out at a club working for a long-time client, and I run into the assistant. He runs up to me “I’ve been trying to talk to you,” he says, and reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a worn-out envelope–clearly, he’d been carrying it around all week.
“My boss feels really bad about the way he behaved, and wants to apologize. This is for you.” I tell him that it’s not necessary, but he insists. “Take it,” he says “you earned it.” I finally relent. When I open the envelope, I about fall over in shock. Inside is $1,000 cash.
The lesson in this story is that you can count on running into people who will tempt you with money to do the wrong things. If you let a client treat you like you’re some hired thug, then you will become a thug. In this case, it turned out that maintaining my integrity (literally) yielded a higher reward!
David Lamanno
http://www.socalbodyguards.com/
Andrew Palm
Great story and great job. Integrity and morality are critical in the security industry.
David
This sounds like it was mainly an alcohol problem on the part of the client. Unfortunately, alcohol can distort someone’s character traits in a negative way. Protecting a drunk in a club seems like a tough way to make a living. Your ethics stood you well. Good job.
Bobby Williams
Hi,
I like that you handled yourself with respect for yourself. That is hard to find these days.
My question to you is how do I get into bodyguarding. I like to think that I have the ability to do this line of job.
Thank You God Bless You and Your Family,
Bobby Williams
Devin
Bro
Great story. Most of my clients are from the Middle East Royal Families ( KSA and UAE ) and I deal with issues just like yours more times then not. I feel your pain. Good luck.
Bill
Man,… this story reminds me of so many similar incidents. Not quite the same storyline, but the same immature, arrogant type jerks who think they own the world because they have a few bucks.
I was just a kid, early 1990, I was given a job protecting some VIPs from a now defunct airline called Quebecair. The head honcho of the group wound up having a few too many and started with the usual alcohol-induced bravado. This guy wound up acting like a real agressive idiot toward the staff of the nightclub where we were at. The bouncers came to me and advised me that if he pushed or shoved oout of the way one more of their employees, they would take him out back and put the boots to him, corporate VIP or not. From then on, I stayed close to the idiot to make sure he didnt start any more fires and tried to put out the ones he had started, so to speak. Things like this remind me that these types maybe need to get their heads kicked in at least once in their lifetime,…but then again, thats probably why they need protection.
David LaManno
Thanks for all of the responses… the guy was a real asshole, regardless of his nationality.
This is just one of the many crazy stories i have encountered as a career bodyguard, and the Director of Bodyguard Training International.
Often we teach that composure WITH your client is all too often over looked. I cant tell you how many times i see these thug bodyguards on TMZ that threaten paparazzi… when clearly the client and bodyguard are in public… this is a huge NO-NO…
As much as things can go fubar, even from your client, remaining the calm, clear-headed agent is always your main responsibility; hence the importance of TRAINING!!
Anyone who reads this article, and mentions this story will receive $200 off our 6 day premier bodyguard academy in 2008!
How is that for giving back?
http://www.usabodyguards.com
Jim
David
That’s the way you handle idiots like that who think they are beyond providing common courtesy because they are rich and powerful. No one on earth is that powerful. Good work!
Jim
Neen
I love this story. As the saying goes, “If you don’t STAND for something, you’ll FALL for anything”. BRAVO on STANDING for your integrity!!
DH
man, having money makes some people lose they damn mind.
Jonathan
Good job. Its hard to remain professional to jerks who think they own you or just getting high off their horse just because they have a few bills in their pockets.
Dark Horse
Well done, I have never had a Client act like that. I can only imagine how mad I would be in a situation like that.
Stay Safe
Yasser
dude this is the best story yet
Cheryl
Huckie im glad to see that you are posting stories on True Bodyguard Stories again. It’s my favorite part on the website. Keep them coming
Cheryl
freddie(eagle master)
i was a body guard for 30 years in 1988 i had a motor cycle wreck which make it hard to stand guard..so i went to the hiring and firing of employees..in 1999 my best friend and partner pass away..with his death all the paper work exact some is with his wife and others..i am out well over 55 millionfor all the work we did..we worked with pink floyd,led zeppin,micheal jackson,zz top plus a few others…always keep a copy of your work…no matter what someone tell ypu
Ellamarie Richmond
Honor and Integrity are gifts to self none can give them none can take them
Rick
Great article Huck! Maintaining your professionalism is key for this career!