Door policy at the Berghain nightclub - Berlin

to whom it may concern,
i dont even know how to explain what Ive been through in your club tonight. I went in with 2 friends and we were looking forward to a good night in Berlin's Berghain. We went in and had our bags checked, nothing was said to us about the contents of our bag. We went through and paid our entrance fee. I was having a good time withe my friend on the second floor and decided to take a picture of her ont he swing when an insane "boy" came over and grabbed my camera and walked off. I went after him and asked him could I have my camera back when he grabbed my arm and dragged me down stairs unbeliveably aggressively and told me to get out bacause you can't take pictures in Berghain. Nobody had told me this the was the way on the way in and so I told him I didn't know and I wouldn't take any more pictures. The only way I can describe it is that I was dragged around to look for my coat by two lunatice bouncers, one was an oldish girl and muscular and mental because I kept on trying to tell her I did nothing wrong but try and take a picture of my friend on the swing, she was so aggesive and rough I have never seen anything like it in my life. They through me out without my friends or my jacket and the black bouncer on the door told me he was going to take me around the side and kick my ass. I am never going to go back to Berghain again and out of all the places Ive ever been in the world I have never experienced anything like it in the world. This is completely unacceptable and I am reporting this to Toytown and exberliner and any blog that will listen to me. Your door staff and your floor staff is deplorable and I have never experienced anything like this in my entire life. I am a teacher from Ireland and am very conciencious and have never experienced such depolorable hateful treatment. I will never recommend this nightclub to anyone. It is "apparently" the best nightclub in Europe. I realise you have a huge amount of people coming to your door but regardless you should keep a check on who you employ.
Kind regards

I'd have to say it doesn't sound like the best nightclub in Europe. I hope you got your camera, your coat and your friend back.

Olga no one cares. I like the fact that there was a, 'Black bouncer'. You can take the girl out of the country but never the country out of the girl. Anyone out taking pictures at a club should be shot as far as I'm concerned so you were lucky.
I'm glad your friends walked out with you in protest.
Could you post the picture?

they have my camera, there was a "black bouncer" which was said for differentiation and nothing more

Sue the buggers.

WTF???! Are you on drugs or something?!

I googled to learn more about the "Berghain", and google suggests Berghain + Türsteher (bouncer), so you are definitely not the first to have had problems. It appears there is one "legendary" bouncer by the name of Sven Marquardt with tattoos in his face, and it is considered an achievement to be admitted by him. See also this comical little taz article. Incidentally, the author describes an altercation between two men and a black bouncer. One of the two is described as looking like a Russian mafioso and not exactly slim, when he gets rejected by the bouncer, he calls the bouncer racist and says he would spend a lot of money in the club. The doorman: it's not about money, but "atmosphere ... underground, you know". The 'Russian' insists on knowing exactly why he isn't admitted, the bouncer's answer: "You don't have the right type of body."

Apparently it is one of their commandments that no photos or videos should be taken, it even says so in the Wiki entry. And since the Berghain is so famous, everyone is supposed to know this rule. I try not to spend money in shops and restaurants etc. with this false notion of 'world class' and exclusiveness. One of the basic purposes of any establishment that ultimately depends on guests is to make them feel welcome, and if they have to turn down someone, to do it in a polite manner.

Berghain is famous for now letting in with a camera. Hardly a shock when you consider what goes on in that place!

two of my boyfriend's cousins work the door at Berghain and from what I've heard, people who waste their time and money trying to get into that place are chasing dreams. Call me unsophisticated if you will but there is no way in hell I would wait for two hours in line to see if I have a chance at getting into a club just because it is gay and exclusive. It is possible to grease the wheels of admission, which is why anyone works the door--you can believe it's not the hourly wage paid by the club that keeps them fed and clothed.

There are fairly strict rules about who can and cannot come in and there are quotas as well. For example, once the Spanish tourist quota is filled, no more are getting in. Just like that.

What puzzles me is why anyone (namely, the OP)would waste their time and energy crying about getting kicked out of a club? It is a private establishment, they are under no obligation to provide any services not explicity spelled out. And I hope the subject you teach in Ireland isn't English. FFS.

The OP's post isn't at all futile- it's good for them to share this experience so nobody else does the same thing. The way they were treated was really shitty- such aggressiveness is unnecessary and just damn well shocking. Being Europe's number one club is no excuse to treat people that way.

But to the OP- to be fair, I went there for the first time last night and there are signs all over the place saying photography is not allowed. Plus, the member of staff searching your bag should have asked if you have a camera. If the answer to that question was "yes", you should've been told to check in your camera at the door. I'm not excusing the violence that you seemed to be subject to, I'm just stating the facts. If you still feel unhappy about being handled and threatened, I would suggest going to the police.

Yes, Berghain seems to have a strict door policy- many people were turned away last night and after a half hour wait, I was worried that I wouldn't be admitted. Looking at the people there when I finally got in, it seems the main role of the bouncers is making sure the club gets a diverse crowd in there and it definitely succeeds. The thing with the photography sucks but when you consider that the layout and ambience of the club is its USP, of course you're going to want to protect that from being copied by other wannabes.

Well said, Geordie.

Xargon: "WTF???! Are you on drugs or something?!"

Yes I like clubbing.

BTW: If the camera is gone it can be reported as being stolen so go to the Police. If you were injured put in a claim. If you can't read signs then go to the optician. If you don't want to stick to basic club rules... go home and learn how to spell experience.

If the place has all over it feel free to come over to my place and I'll give you the kick you deserve.

If clubbing is something new for you (how old are you? 13?) be reminded that fcking with the bouncers gets you in trouble no matter where you are. They have enough idiots to take care of so get in line.

And I thought it was general knowledge that you are not allowed to take pictures in that sort of club... You know with all that stuff that is suppossed to go on in there...

But honestly since that Berghain name is now so famous you can count on the experience in there being bullshit. My guess is that you are probably together with 90 percent tourists still having there lonely planet in their back-pocket.

Still sorry for your loss. You can of course call the police because of it...

Wait a minute: I have just reread your post and you are seriously saying that your from Ireland, but you have never experienced a bouncer treat someone like that??? What has become of the Irish... Its the wealth... It mashes peoples heads...

Eh, I'm not feeling any sympathy. The no camera notices are up very clearly and you'd have to be blind not to see them.