I'm having my first experience with face control here in Riga.

The Latvian clubs are easy to get into, but I haven't been able to get into 3 Russian clubs. They say "Guestlist only" or "Private party." It's interesting how they size my up immediately and can tell I'm a foreigner by speaking to me in English when they talk to everyone else in Russian.

I don't think I'm getting denied entry because of my clothes because I feel like I look sharper than the scraggly dudes being let in. I think it's just because I'm a "undesirable" foreigner.

Is this only a Russian thing? And would having a Russian friend help my odds? I don't care about snobby clubs but these three seemed to have better ratios from what I could see.

I feel like Russians are notorious for this shit. When I would go to the Russian clubs in Northeast Philadelphia, they could INSTANTLY tell I was not Russian and would make every single thing harder for me, whether it be getting drinks, or trying to talk to girls, or even using the bathroom. I've never experienced that with any other sort of ethnic club/bar setting. I don't have any Russian friends myself, but my brother worked with a few and he said they were able to get him into all sorts of clubs with ease. A Russian friend would most certainly help you.

Quote: (11-27-2011 08:48 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

would having a Russian friend help my odds? I don't care about snobby clubs but these three seemed to have better ratios from what I could see.

Speaking a few phrases of russian would help more.

Saying "What makes you think I am not russian" in Russian might be enough to get you in.

In Latvia it might also be an issue that the Russians don't want all the stag parties to invade their places and screw up their ratio etc., however it's not the first time that I heard about this sort of thing in relation to Russian clubs or events. I also know cases where clubs have a Russian night and really only let Russians in and that's here in Germany (where many Russian-Germans live). Hasn't happened to me because I've never tried to go to such places.
Usually, you often have an advantage as a sharply dressed foreigner when abroad. I don't think I have ever been turned down because of my ethnicity (usually because they are worried about their ratio but also that rather rarely). The only thing similar was when I late at night stumbled past an Indian club in Singapore which was next to my hotel. I asked for the cover and they called up ridiculous money considering that it was way past 3.30am. Not sure whether that was because I am clearly not Indian. Nevermind.

Quote: (11-27-2011 08:48 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

I'm having my first experience with face control here in Riga.

The Latvian clubs are easy to get into, but I haven't been able to get into 3 Russian clubs. They say "Guestlist only" or "Private party." It's interesting how they size my up immediately and can tell I'm a foreigner by speaking to me in English when they talk to everyone else in Russian.

I don't think I'm getting denied entry because of my clothes because I feel like I look sharper than the scraggly dudes being let in. I think it's just because I'm a "undesirable" foreigner.

Is this only a Russian thing? And would having a Russian friend help my odds? I don't care about snobby clubs but these three seemed to have better ratios from what I could see.

Roosh you need to roll with a woman who speaks Russian. Not only does it give you social proof to game other girls once in the club but it makes it much easier to actually enter the club. I look Middle Eastern like yourself and Russian clubs repeatedly tried the face control shit on me. If you have a woman with you who speaks Russian(the hotter the better), the face control gorillas let you in without undue bullshit.

I'm not sure how it would work with having a Russian speaking wingman. Didn't try that in Russia. Russian guys I met were never into game. Take any chick, use her to enter the clubs with impunity, then do what you want from there on.

Quote: (11-27-2011 08:48 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

I'm having my first experience with face control here in Riga.

The Latvian clubs are easy to get into, but I haven't been able to get into 3 Russian clubs. They say "Guestlist only" or "Private party." It's interesting how they size my up immediately and can tell I'm a foreigner by speaking to me in English when they talk to everyone else in Russian.

I don't think I'm getting denied entry because of my clothes because I feel like I look sharper than the scraggly dudes being let in. I think it's just because I'm a "undesirable" foreigner.

Is this only a Russian thing? And would having a Russian friend help my odds? I don't care about snobby clubs but these three seemed to have better ratios from what I could see.

Maybe the Feminist Wing of Interpol is tracking you.

I could get into club 69 with a girl who used to get there often...found her on asw

you need a Russian friend who has access to those places who will basically vouch for you

A shave, haircut, and a few Russian lessons would definitely help. When I go to the middle east, I look like a middle easterner. When I go to east Europe, I look like an eastern European. People approach me in the street speaking the local language and I'm able to respond in kind. Fit the bill. It will carry you a very long way. Sometimes standing out is not the best policy. It's more about showing that you're acculturated than being Russian or Latvian.

LoL to those who say learn phrases in russian. As an eastern european knowing russian from when I was 5 years old I still am often recognised as a non russian if I try to pretend.

I get mistaken for a russian by many westerners trough.

Russian languege is almost as hard as polish and most westerners heve a really terrible accent, well meybe exept French. But native english speakers have a terrible accent.

Quote: (11-27-2011 01:59 PM)Mage Wrote:  

LoL to those who say learn phrases in russian. As an eastern european knowing russian from when I was 5 years old I still am often recognised as a non russian if I try to pretend.

I get mistaken for a russian by many westerners trough.

Russian languege is almost as hard as polish and most westerners heve a really terrible accent, well meybe exept French. But native english speakers have a terrible accent.

Russian and Polish are not hard languages for native English speakers. That is a defeatist attitude. How is it that my friend from Belarus says my Russian accent is excellent and my Czech friends say I'm near-native except for their one crazy phoneme ř?

Besides, accent is not what is the issue. It's acculturation. I've already said this.

If you want a hard language, attempt Georgian.

I guess they have face control in any country that was under the USSR's domain. In Kazakhstan the only thing I could figure out was that "face control" has nothing to do with a guy's face. If you have money or are with girls then you can get in, possibly even if you don't speak any of the language. I didn't think it had anything to do with your appearance, assuming you aren't going there dressed in shorts and sandals. If you roll to the club in a Ferrari you could probably get in even if your a midget.

This is standard for Russia. Some tips include dressing up, getting there early, showing up with white well dressed people, bringing girls.

An ethnic showing up alone to a Russian club and not v. sharply dressed is facing an uphill battle.

Russians have very subtle features that can be identifiable once you hang around them more. Also the face control appears to be another version of "ratio control" where bringing your own woman would help a lot.

Quote: (11-27-2011 08:48 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

I'm having my first experience with face control here in Riga.

The Latvian clubs are easy to get into, but I haven't been able to get into 3 Russian clubs. They say "Guestlist only" or "Private party." It's interesting how they size my up immediately and can tell I'm a foreigner by speaking to me in English when they talk to everyone else in Russian.

I don't think I'm getting denied entry because of my clothes because I feel like I look sharper than the scraggly dudes being let in. I think it's just because I'm a "undesirable" foreigner.

Is this only a Russian thing? And would having a Russian friend help my odds? I don't care about snobby clubs but these three seemed to have better ratios from what I could see.

I think being with Russians will definitely help. The issue is not being an undesirable foreigner, but the fact you are not Russian. Rolling with Russians should garner you acceptability. When I was in Russia, I had some of the same issue, but never when I was with my Russian friends.

Quote: (11-27-2011 03:03 PM)ao85 Wrote:  

This is standard for Russia. Some tips include dressing up, getting there early, showing up with white well dressed people, bringing girls.

An ethnic showing up alone to a Russian club and not v. sharply dressed is facing an uphill battle.

100% right.

Quote: (11-27-2011 08:48 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

I'm having my first experience with face control here in Riga.

The Latvian clubs are easy to get into, but I haven't been able to get into 3 Russian clubs. They say "Guestlist only" or "Private party." It's interesting how they size my up immediately and can tell I'm a foreigner by speaking to me in English when they talk to everyone else in Russian.

I don't think I'm getting denied entry because of my clothes because I feel like I look sharper than the scraggly dudes being let in. I think it's just because I'm a "undesirable" foreigner.

Is this only a Russian thing? And would having a Russian friend help my odds? I don't care about snobby clubs but these three seemed to have better ratios from what I could see.

Do you see them letting other single guys in? Maybe you just need to bring a girl with you.....I have a couple of hotties in Cali that I can always count on to get me in the best parties in town.

It's pretty common for single, or groups of guys to be refused entry into clubs. Although it sounds like the Russian clubs want to remain exclusive to Russians. I usually just walk straight up to the door, smartly dressed with confidence, and if they ask I just say I'm meeting people inside.

Quote:Quote:

Do you see them letting other single guys in?

No, guys are not rolling solo here.

Quote: (11-27-2011 08:48 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

I'm having my first experience with face control here in Riga.

The Latvian clubs are easy to get into, but I haven't been able to get into 3 Russian clubs. They say "Guestlist only" or "Private party." It's interesting how they size my up immediately and can tell I'm a foreigner by speaking to me in English when they talk to everyone else in Russian.

I don't think I'm getting denied entry because of my clothes because I feel like I look sharper than the scraggly dudes being let in. I think it's just because I'm a "undesirable" foreigner.

Is this only a Russian thing? And would having a Russian friend help my odds? I don't care about snobby clubs but these three seemed to have better ratios from what I could see.

I was in Riga about a year and a half ago and had the same problems in the Latvian clubs. We were well dressed and put together and they dropped the private party line on us at least 2 places. Didn't try going to any Russian clubs though. We liked to think if we went dressed like slobs it might have been easier to get in because we didn't look like we were going to pillage their natural resources. Overall I thought Riga kinda sucked for nightlife. It's also pretty weird how the city is self-segregated between the Latvians and Russians.

Quote: (11-27-2011 04:09 PM)Luckystar Wrote:  

I think being with Russians will definitely help. The issue is not being an undesirable foreigner, but the fact you are not Russian. Rolling with Russians should garner you acceptability. When I was in Russia, I had some of the same issue, but never when I was with my Russian friends.

Luckystar, have you wrote anywhere about your experiences in Russia? I think it would be a good resource for non-white guys to hear some actual first-hand experience instead of just hearsay (of eastern europe also).

Lol, Russians.

You could stick them in the middle of Patagonia, and the fuckers would open up shop and do business as if they were still in Moscow. Its normally the other way around. Unless its a mob haunt, Russians normally let foreigners into their clubs as they see them as the type who would have money. Its funny, going with Russian friends made it harder if there were no women. They wanted to let me in, but they would be turned away. I guess the Russian invasion with Latvia joining the EU has gained pace and they want to keep the booze buses out.

Place is really going to the dogs from the sounds of it :/

Face control tactics:

1) Ask the bouncer if there is a membership fee that can be paid for the night, and if so, do you pay it to him or do you pay it at the door. Be delicate and very polite in your attempts to bribe, just say something like you are a travel writer from America and you are not sure of the local customs and you were not aware that it was a closed club. You may get lucky and see them shuffle you in for nothing. Most Russian places are owned by mobsters or people who are connected. They often dont care about how much money the place makes, its just a venue for them to status whore and do business. Its also a place for them to wash money.

2) Take women with you, they will almost always let you in if you have women with you. They dont want single guys there unless you are on their approved lists, have money or have women with you who will add numbers to the place without screwing with their ratios. Not ideal though and hardly practical. Another way to do it is to offer to pay the entrance for one or two women if they get you in with them, or buy them a drink once inside. Again not possible in the line, you need to probably find women at another venue close by and offer.

3) Phone the club in advance and make a booking for a table if possible. Then when you get there say that you wish to remove the reservation as someone came down ill. Not all, but most Russian clubs have tables you can book, and many will let you in to wait for friends. The only problem with this is that they sometimes want to charge you a booking fee if you cancel.

4) Being able to speak Russian would help in this instance, but its not practical and will make the situation worse for you.

Every single option is a right pain in the ass.

The cost of these clubs is going to be higher than normal, although I expect that the ratios are going to be very good. They normally are, sometimes bordering on the ridiculous. Most people who went to clubs in Russia never understood that the reason why the clubs had the ratios they did was because Russian men were not getting in unless they were connected or paid off the doorman. Women walk in like the cattle herds they are.

Dude, sounds like you have a bit of a nightmare at the moment.

Lebanon clubs are notorious for face control. I had an American friend who printed out fraudulent business cards that said he was from the New York Times and would show up at face control clubs saying he was a writer from America and was going to judge the venue. When pressed, he gave them a card. It worked every time, according to him.

But the general rule is that you need to be with girls to get in. It's all about the ratio.

Quote: (11-27-2011 08:42 PM)swisschalet Wrote:  

Quote: (11-27-2011 04:09 PM)Luckystar Wrote:  

I think being with Russians will definitely help. The issue is not being an undesirable foreigner, but the fact you are not Russian. Rolling with Russians should garner you acceptability. When I was in Russia, I had some of the same issue, but never when I was with my Russian friends.

Luckystar, have you wrote anywhere about your experiences in Russia? I think it would be a good resource for non-white guys to hear some actual first-hand experience instead of just hearsay (of eastern europe also).

I'll be posting more stuff on EE soon.

There is an old Russia thread that got locked up because it got completely out of hand. I commented on my experiences in that thread.

In Bulgaria they (almost) always let you in if you say you are buying bottle service. And it is not ridiculously overpriced like in NYC or Vegas, so two guys splitting a bottle is not going to hit your wallet hard.

Now, if you are solo... have you tried saying you are meeting people inside, that they are waiting for you and pull your phone and try to call them (but of course they don't hear their phones ring, because it's loud inside). Or show a text you received from "your friends" who are waiting for you inside?
All things I have tried in the past, with decent success.