The 'In' Keepers

What did you do?

My job is to say no, and I'm really good at it.

What do you like about your job?

What keeps me doing this after getting kicked in the head, fought, spit on, is seeing people leave the club with a smile on their face. I know that's a trite thing to say, but my job is to make sure people have fun.

815 V St. NW. 202-265-0930. http://www.930.com/ .

MATEEN KHAN, 22 , Be Bar

Be Bar just opened last month, and the gay-friendly Shaw nightspot aims to attract hipsters of all stripes. The decor is posh, the music is trendy and the air is smoke-free.

How did you get started as a bouncer?

We don't have bouncers; we have greeters. I'm not a bouncer, period. I'm very thin. If you breathe hard enough, you could probably blow me into the wind. So people often target me when they have a problem. But I can deal with it -- I have a mouth on me. You have to have some smart remarks to do crowd control.

Like what?

A couple days after we opened, a gentleman who was trying to impress his boyfriend flashed his black American Express card and offered me $250 to let him in. I told him, "First off, you're not the only one who has a black American Express card. And secondly, I can't swipe the card in my [anatomy] to get the money, so I'd appreciate it if you'd get back in line." He's become a regular customer, so I'm glad he took it well.

Be Bar opened only recently, but what's been your worst night on the job?