Downtown bar promoters the centre of criticism in Windsor

by Kurtis Friesen

Over the last couple years, Windsor nightclub owners have adopted the practice of hiring people to stand on street corners in order to entice people to their bars.

Due to a number of resident and downtown business owner complaints, the city’s licensing commission was forced to step in.

In a Feb. 28 meeting, they determined the issue should be resolved among bar owners and residents for the time being.

Frequent downtown visitor Dylan Ives said this approach to marketing may be unusual for occasional downtown visitors.

“I go downtown a lot, so I’m used to it,” said Ives. “But for people who don’t it’s weird. I thought it was weird at first too because they nose into your business and stuff.”

Other residents say some of them physically grab them in order to hand them free passes. Some people have said the hoodie and baggy pants look may also make people uncomfortable.

The Windsor Star reports these jobs are paid for in cash and the promoters are given a cut of whatever profit they bring to the bar, in terms of door charges.

The idea of street-corner promoting may be relatively new to the Windsor area, but it’s prevalent across North America’s major cities. However, some argue that this is Windsor, not Vegas.

Due to company policy, the managers and promoters of Sin Nightclub were unable to comment on the matter.

According to the Windsor Star, Deputy Licensing Commissioner Michael Chantler presented several alternatives in a report. The report suggests restricting these promoters to the property of the club they’re promoting or scrapping the idea altogether and banning this type of marketing.

Although street promoting will remain intact for the time being, it could change in the near future if it remains an issue.