I have been told many times by 'Joe Bloggs' that "I could do your job". When they are shown the scars and injuries they soon change they're minds. In my opinion a £12/£15 an hour back then was worth the rick of a serious injury.......£7.50 an hour in 2008 is not.
Before emigrating, I worked in Manchester. The rate of pay was £12 an hour but that was back in 2002. I hear that they are now paying a lot less, this is probably due to the number of immigrants who will work a smaller salary. A former colleague informed me that there are quite a few DS's around that don't even have a good enough grasp of the English language to deal with day to day situations. I hold the employers responsible as, understandably, a cheaper workforce means increased profits.
The result is that the market is flooded with cheap labour, most of whom are incapable of making a decision and as a result the bars and clubs will be once again a free for all; with frightened bouncers hiding in the toilets and looking at the floor when some 'Head' enters the club and refuses to pay.
In its conception the SIA seemed like a good idea insomuch as a national regulatory body that monitored and, to a lesser extent, controlled the industry. The system has collapsed with many experienced and proficient DS being refused a liscence due to their pedigree. Most doors are now staffed by jacket fillers but at the end of the day, if you pay peanuts......you get monkey's.