What’s Your Cover Charge?

One of the most important lessons I ever learned came from working the doors of nightclubs and lounges. I didn’t learn it in a book, or from a podcast, or at some motivational seminar. I learned it in the real world—loud music, long nights, high heels, handshakes, and velvet ropes.

It was the concept of the cover charge.

At any solid club, it doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter what your excuse is. If you want in, you pay the cover. No negotiation. No exceptions. No VIP “just this once.” Pay. Or step aside.

That principle stuck with me far beyond the hospitality industry.

Years later—after enough failed relationships, one-way friendships, and energy-draining interactions—I realized I had been letting people into my life without charging them anything.

No standards. No barriers. No boundaries.

And when there’s no cover charge, people don’t value the access.

They come and go as they please.

They make a mess, drink the best bottles, and leave you with the tab.

So I changed the way I operate.

I implemented a personal cover charge.

Not in dollars. But in character.

If you want access to me—my time, my energy, my loyalty—you’re going to have to pay up front. The fee?

Respect
Honesty
Loyalty
Reliability
Kindness
Effort

Those are the traits I now require to enter my space.

That’s the cover.

No exceptions. No bottle service loopholes. No “but we go way back.”

Because here’s the truth:

The club isn’t always full because it’s easy to get into—it’s full because it’s worth getting into.

And your life should be no different.

Life Mirrors Nightlife.

The nightlife business was my training ground. It’s more than just parties and pretty faces—it’s a masterclass in human behavior.

You learn:

Who shows up just for the perks
Who leaves the moment the lights come on
Who respects the rules and who tries to manipulate them
Who pretends to know the owner but really just wants a free ride

Now, zoom out—and that’s life.

Business. Friendships. Dating. Even family.

People will test your boundaries if you don’t define them.

You wouldn’t let someone walk into your home uninvited.

You wouldn’t let someone eat at your restaurant without paying.

So why are you letting people access your mind, your energy, your peace—for free?

The Velvet Rope Principle

The velvet rope exists for a reason. It signals exclusivity, value, standards.

It says: "Not everyone gets in here."

That doesn’t mean you’re arrogant—it means you’re intentional.

We live in a world obsessed with being liked and available to everyone. But in trying to please the crowd, we often neglect our own standards.

When you raise your cover charge, a few people will walk away.

Let them.

Because the right people—the ones who see your worth—will never flinch at the price.

So now I’ll ask you:

Do you have a cover charge?

Do you have a set of non-negotiables before someone gets access to your energy, your world, your trust?

Or are you still letting people in just because they showed up?

This isn’t about ego.

It’s about value, boundaries, and self-respect.

Because when you truly know your worth,

you stop letting people in for free.

From the Founder, Brian Mazza 8/8