New York
Tenjune Doorman Aalex Julian Nixes Kevin Connolly’s Entourage
Aalex Julian
This weekend, meatpacking club Tenjune will be an after-party spot for movies being shown at the Tribeca Film Festival. One person who knows to expect guests like Mariah Carey, John Cusack, and Hilary Duff is doorman Aalex Julian. Over the course of a few years, he worked the doors at Cain, Pink Elephant, Home, and Guest House before being brought on by Eugene Remm and Mark Birnbaum to open Tenjune.
Who are the other top doormen in the city?
Armin over at Socialista is now not a doorman, but he still has a lot of say over who gets in; Wass has his thing going at Marquee; Ben from 1 Oak, who’s young but he’s good and he has a lot of potential; and that’s it. The test for Ben is how he matures — it’s very easy to get a big ego.
What assets were you bringing to Eugene and Mark when they hired you?
As far as table service and table revenue goes, I’ve worked with the top places: Cain, Pink Elephant … I had my own client list and contacts.
What’s the percentage of people you let in versus the amount you turn away?
On weekdays you get 300 to 400 people total [getting in] during a night, and I’m turning away a good 200.
How many promoters do you use? What’s their role?
It depends on the night. A lot of promoters are good with models. Promoter X might bring twenty, 25 models. Another might bring five, ten models and five or ten just normal, good-looking girls.
If you’re not a model, what’s the best time to show up?
If you show up just as we open, that’s your best bet. I don’t want to have some of my tables walk in to an empty room.
How should they dress?
Dress how you feel comfortable and look good. I know who’s wearing something when they’re just trying to impress me, as opposed to someone just wearing a nice pair of jeans, a nice pair of flats, designer sneakers, a blazer …
Read the rest of the interview on nymag.com
Related:
