For 2 times I heard of people that were not allowed to get in at Calamar and I stopped going because I completely dislike this kind of door policy that seems to be recurrent in Geneva.
zenbrain, Oct 30, 2006 @ 18:13

This is really sad I think... we came to
- have fun / we had stress instead
- buy them drinks / they have made 3 angry guys instead.

This sounds so weird to me... Really different from cool bars I know in Berlin for exemple...
toma, Oct 30, 2006 @ 18:21

I fully agree with you, had more or less the same experience, i think we should ban this kind of places, but its only my personal point of view.... why should people in geneva admit that some bars are beheaving like that, discrimination at the dor, no sense of humour, unrespespectfull of diversity... We do represent a certain power as a community and i think that we should avoid this kind of places. they are enough places in geneva that are open to friendly people.
Anapourna, Oct 31, 2006 @ 00:04

I already had a bad experience with the owner of the bar. So if you want to have fun, do not go there. There is plenty of places in Geneva where your skin, clothes or face does not matter to get in, so it is not a problem to avoid that kind of "select " bar.

Fortunately, we have the Sindy party !

Cheers mate !

MysterFred
MysterFred, Oct 31, 2006 @ 09:26

While the owner certainly has a lot of talent (he has managed Chez ma cousine, Sip, Demi Lune, Clemence), he is known for his arrogance. That's from my experience and from a lot of people who have worked with him.

And when one of my North African friends couldn't get in, the doorman more or less admitted to him that his background had something to do with it.
iangeneva, Oct 31, 2006 @ 10:31

Please not that I am not sure the guy we had to deal with was the owner or not.
toma, Oct 31, 2006 @ 10:34

hello toma,
i use tigerlili adress because i don t belong to GOL community,

M name is greg and i m the bad guy with the hat.... i m the owner and i created sip demilune chez ma cousine. business i sell few years ago... I m sorry if it happen bad on saturday, i m human, u are not perfect (and don t get angry for nothing...). and i will be happy to talk about that with u in front of a cold beer. they is a reason of a selection, and if there is so many GOl people in my place (especially ladies...) I think selection is one of them....

it s a sunny day guy, we must be cool no ?

TigerLili, Oct 31, 2006 @ 11:24

I fully understand the reason for selection, and respect that, even if it's very far from my way of living. What I did not understand and tolerate was free violence and insults.
I understand it's hard to hear people make fun of a place you own, I imagine it's your baby. But by making that we did not intend to creat an angry reaction.
So maybe one day for a cold beer, when my friends and myself will have the right dresscode.

Have a nice day :)
toma, Oct 31, 2006 @ 11:34

Mister ian,
I saw u pics, u use to come in my business and i always say hello and u answer, and now i m the devil ?

but the worst : u said i don t let noth african people commin in because of my background ?

doesn t it mean because i m not the same religion... it s dangerous and stupid to write and think like
that young man, war began like that ! i m waiting for ur anser and explanation. or next time
u will come in calamar u will tell me. have a nice day mister ian
TigerLili, Oct 31, 2006 @ 11:35

don t tell me u dress like this every night... u make me laught (rire ? mon anglais est pas top).

thanks for u kind answer and sorry for saturday, i was stress, starving like marvin and appreciate u understand. i m there only at the week end time so u know 3 cols beers are waiting for u and ure 2 friends if u can find clothes.

ciao rasta man

greg the bad boy
TigerLili, Oct 31, 2006 @ 11:44

Mr. Gregory,

I see you are in a mood for explanations so I will happily oblige.

I have been to Calamar a few times and I also had a drink with you and a long chat there before your bar was fully opened. You told me about your previous business experiences and about the owners you used to work for. That is why I was so surprised, once when I wasn't let in (fair enough - perhaps we weren't looking right that night - it's your perogative) when you came to the door and started being extremely rude to one of my friends who had simply asked why she wasn't being let in. It's one thing to politely decline entry - it's another thing to be rude. And I found that a shame, because you have done a lot of good things with your bar and because I know your talent.

Anyway, it's at that point that I asked around my friends (who come from all over the place) and received the information that I mentioned. I can't comment further on the North African incident - that's a matter between him, your doorstaff and you.

Your bar is great, very eccentric and individual and it needs selection to be what it is. Myself, I am not against selection. Many clubs I go to practise selection, and I think it's a good incentive to force people make some kind of effort when they go out. But, as you say, I have spent money in Calamar and I would appreciate a bit of civility on the door, c'est tout.
iangeneva, Oct 31, 2006 @ 12:09

Ian,

thanks for ur answer, i wanted to be sure it was not a question of racism. selection is not easy, i m not the easiest guy of the planet but i work with my heart to do the best job and to offer u good place to have fun....

and if u come to calamar it's because the price are cheap and the ladies are pretty no ?

next time i will try to let u get in ( i m kidding...).

Im open for the critics, as long as we can have a discussion like we have now and i have with toma.

TOME FOR LUNCH ! BON APPETIT MESSIEURS DAMES

the bad greg
TigerLili, Oct 31, 2006 @ 13:00

I also know a little bit the gastronomic world.
In fact, everybody should be able to enter a place unless he once was big trouble.
It could be that a badly dressed person spends a lot of money.
You never know how it could be....
Crepe.
Crepe, Dec 29, 2006 @ 16:17

End of story. It may have not been the right moment for both of us. But I have to admit that since that day, I have been offered several times to go to this bar and each bar I prefered going somewhere else. But one day it may change :)
Greetings to anyone on Earth. We're all friend!
toma, Feb 15, 2007 @ 14:52