Joey Morrissey's Nightlife Advice

M2 UltraLounge

When he purchased Mansion and Pink Elephant out of bankruptcy in 2008, Joey Morrissey had a plan for the gigantic 28th Street spaces: Pink and M2 UltraLounge (530 W. 28th St., 212- 629-9000), two überchic, totally revitalized nightclubs that routinely gross more than $150K on any given Saturday night. Here, Morrissey’s nightlife tips.

GOTHAM: What can a would-be guest do about a tough doorman?

JOEY MORRISSEY: The best thing to do is be polite and quiet. Even if he’s rude to you, be polite for long enough and he may feel sorry for you and let you in. Sometimes doormen are rude just to see how you’ll act—as a way to test how you’ll behave inside. If you lose your cool at the door, he won’t let you in because he knows he’ll have a problem with you later on.

G: How long is too long to wait at a door?

JM: If you’re waiting in a crowd and you’re not on the list, give it up after 15 or 20 minutes. If it doesn’t happen by then, it’s not going to happen at all. If you’re on the list and on line, you could wait longer depending on how big the club is. If the venue is small, it’s likely crowded and they’ll let fewer people in. But if it’s a big place, and people are exiting, wait a little longer. You’ll probably get in.

G: What’s the best way to get fast service?

JM: If you’re at the bar, just take your money out and hold it in your hand. They’ll see that very quickly. If you’re at a table, grab the busboy and have him get the waitress. Tip the busboy and you’ll get very fast service. Just $20 will go a long way.

G: What should a large group of guys (sans girls) do to up the chances of getting in?

JM: These days you can get in anywhere if you spend enough on bottle service. At M2, it would be in the $5,000 range. Or they could just buy our Dom Pérignon White Gold, which we sell for $40,000. We’d let you in for that.

G: How are people choosing venues now?

JM: Most people choose these days based on events. Maybe there’s a celebrity who’ll be out or it’s a notable’s birthday, but people want more of an experience.