Brian Banks may be the most laid back bouncer in Albuquerque.
A manager and bouncer who also books bands at Burt's Tiki Lounge, Banks has an excuse to be a mean guy.
Yet he said he was once young and just wants people to have a good time.
"I would like Burt's to be a place where people have fun and not feel like they have a Nazi regime after them," he said.
Instead of standing at the door imposingly, Banks greets his regulars with a nod and a smile.
This doesn't mean he never has to kick people out.
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"The other day, this 40-year-old woman was sitting at the bar drinking tequila all night," he said. "When she stood up she vomited and pissed herself at the same time. I hadn't seen that before."
Banks said he deals with drunk people all the time and it no longer surprises him when he catches people doing crazy things such as having sex in the bathroom.
But physically throwing people out of the bar isn't Bank's style.
"I know that if I were at a bar and had a chance to have sex, I would probably do it," he said. "So I usually just tell them they can't do that in here, or tell them they have to leave."
Banks has been in the Downtown scene for a while and has his own band, Black Maria, that performs at Burt's. Because he is a struggling artist himself, he gives local artists a chance.
"I try to make all the bands feel important," he said. "We depend on them."
Banks said he is grateful Burt's is located on Gold Avenue and not Central Avenue, and is proud the clientele at Burt's is pretty low-key.
"This isn't a rough and tumble place," he said. "I rarely have to physically throw anyone out. And if I do, they are usually outsiders to the scene."
