If you’ve ever been to Berlin, there’s a chance you’ve been tempted to visit one of the most famous clubs in the world: Berghain.
It’s Europe’s techno temple and without divulging too much, a good night out in the former East German heat and power plant can open some delightfully decadent doors. Let’s leave it there.
However, for its hedonistic reputation, there’s one universally acknowledged truth about the legendary club: admission is not guaranteed. Far from it.
In fact, you’ve not had the proper Berghain experience if you haven’t lined up for hours and been rejected by the heavily tattooed and pierced bouncer / photographer Sven Marquardt. It’s a rite of passage – like being rejected at the school disco or being caught by your partner in the shower delivering a particularly moving Oscar speech with the shampoo bottle. Everyone goes through it at some point.
Indeed, the bouncers are unpredictable and Berghain is known to have one of the toughest door policies in Berlin. This leads many a tourist to ask: ‘What’s the cheat code to get inside?’
There are some hacks. Go early, for starters. Don’t go in a big group. Don’t get wasted or be rowdy in the queue. You can have all the fun once you’re inside, but when you’re queuing, silence is truly golden.
But for all of those tips, there’s really no science to it. The picky bouncers can turn you away on a whim. There are no fixed criteria; just an urban legend-fuelling mystery regarding the baffling entry rules, which further heightens the status of Berlin’s cultural identity.
However, a new study has been published that aims to shed some light on the logic behind what seem to be aleatory door policies of Berghain and Tresor – another legendary techno nightclub.
The joint report by German, British and Swedish universities, published in the Journal of Marketing, analysed which criteria are used by Berlin bouncers to decide who gets in and who doesn't.
The findings of “Curating the Crowd: How firms manage social fit to stage social atmospheres“ are based, in large part, on 38 in-depth interviews conducted between 2018 and 2022 with Berlin bouncers, club owners, DJs, security staff and clubbers.
"Selectors are assessing the extent to which people 'fit in' but, paradoxically, also whether they 'stand out'," said Tim Hill, a senior lecturer in marketing at the University of Bath’s school of Management. "Highly stylised dress codes, knowledge of the nuances of Berlin techno club culture, the ability to strike up conversation with others in the queue and evident 'energy' and 'charisma' are key.”
So you need to fit and stand out. Great.
Hill also highlights that the crowd’s look on any given night plays an important role.
"Underrepresented markers of identity, race, age, sexuality, gender identities, are all valued to the extent they help build a 'cosmopolitan' and 'diverse' crowd".
As previously stated, excessive alcohol consumption and boorish behaviour will get you turned away pronto – and the study confirms this. But these fairly evident things aside, it’s really a question of luck – as the "mystification of the selection process to maintain exclusivity" is deliberate. More than that, it enhances the reputation of the clubs, according to the researchers.
Professor Michael Kleinaltenkamp of Berlin's Freie Universität Berlin said that "the careful and sustained curation of the atmosphere in the clubs has contributed to their inclusion in the UNESCO cultural heritage list".
He added that Berlin’s club scene contributes €1.48 billion to tourism overall, so it’s not something to be taken lightly.
Well, there you have it. Random handpicking of a diverse yet complementary crowd on the night which contributes to mystifying a process which reinforces exclusivity.
Considering that doesn’t bring anyone closer to a proper hack, take it from us:
- Dress in dark clothes - black is best
- Don’t play with your phone or take selfies - Berghain has a strict no photography or recordings policy which they take VERY seriously
- Behave yourself in line
- Stay patient and looking bored is recommended (as opposed to jumping up and down with excitement)
And last but certainly not least: When you get to the bouncer – the dreaded Sven or someone else – have a few German phrases at the ready to up your chances.
As the bouncers are used to excessively loud tourists who think that shouting English in slow-mo will get you understood, some memorized phrases will make a good impression. You’ll almost always be asked two questions once you get to the door: ‘How many are in your group?’ (‘Wie viele sind in deiner Gruppe?’) and ‘Who are you here to see?’ (‘Wen willst du hier sehen?’). So, learn basic numbers and know who’s playing. This is crucial.
And if all else fails: “Tut mir leid, mein Deutsch ist (sehr) schlecht / nicht so gut. Kannst du Englisch?”
Remember – they're trying to create a safe space for people to have fun, so just behave like someone whose idea of a good time isn't being a pain in the Arsch.
