Small Wonder

Walking through the wooden doors of Kilroy's on Kirkwood, vintage rock music mixes with waves of loud voices. The dark, chill atmosphere and assortment of liquor make it a hit on the Bloomington bar scene, a place everyone wants to get into. \nBut not everyone can get in and that's something the bouncer decides. A stereotypical bouncer looks big and tough to scare minors away, but Kilroy's takes a different route. They hired the smallest person in the bar. Standing at a mere five feet one inch, Casey Schmidt proves that "big things do come in small packages." \n"She's pretty into it," said Chris Sternal, a Kilroy's bouncer. "(Even though she's small) she's still pretty intimidating." \nMany who enter the bar don't believe that Schmidt even works there. \n"They tell me to call the bouncer, (but) I am the bouncer," said Schmidt. \nEven though bouncing is a male dominated field, Schmidt admits she enjoys it and isn't intimidated. "I love it," said Schmidt. "After 11 p.m. is when it gets busy, and that's when the fun starts." \nShe greets people at the door with a smile and the phrase "two forms." She thoroughly examines the IDs then looks up at the hopeful bar-goer with a straight face to match the photo with the person. \nShe either allows entrance with a wave of her hand or denies it with a shake of her head and a stern "no." Many customers are surprised to see Schmidt asking for IDs and working as a bouncer. But people, especially men, are as surprised by her gender as with her size. \n"It's a shock. They don't know what to do so they just listen to me at work," said Schmidt. \nSchmidt has worked at Kilroy's for two and a half months. Even though she's still considered a rookie, she doesn't lack confidence. \nShe memorized the holograms of most state licenses and she can recognize the tell-tale signs of fake IDs. She almost has ID checking down to a science. "When they don't argue, you know it's fake," said Schmidt. \nIn one instance a tense-looking guy hesitantly handed her an ID. Schmidt looked at it, then at him and said with a sarcastic smile, "This looks nothing like you." The guy then nervously recited the license number of the ID, but she didn't even check its correctness. She just rolled her eyes and said, "Out." \nThe guy walked out and his older friend begged and even bribed Schmidt to let him. Looking down at her, he began spouting dollar amounts. He got up to $100 but she just stared him down and refused. \n"I've been offered money before, it doesn't work," said Schmidt. \nThere's also a lighter side to being a bouncer, especially for Schmidt. Many who enter the bar don't believe that she's even old enough to get in herself. \nIn one case, an older woman walked into the bar with her daughter. As Schmidt was checking her daughter's ID, the woman jokingly commented, "I think someone should card you. You're awfully little; are you even 21?" "Happens everyday," said Schmidt, laughing. \nShe may have the face and the appearance of a high school student, but Schmidt turned 21 last November. Although she's little, she isn't afraid to go beyond checking IDs and take on the full responsibilities of being a bouncer. \n"I've broken up a couple fights," said Schmidt. "Oh yeah, I've gotten hit. It's no big deal." \nAside from her nonchalant attitude on bar fights and toughness, Schmidt has fun at work. She admits that she loves the job and the people working there. She can joke around with the regulars one minute and ignore the arguments of an obvious fake ID holder the next. But her tough work attitude isn't one she takes home with her. \n"I'm only tough when I have to be, but I'd rather not be," said Schmidt. "It's more of an act. It keeps people in line so they don't mess with you as much. Especially as a female, if you act all sweet (customers) try to take advantage of that." \nShe recently moved to Bloomington from her hometown of Indianapolis. She came here to get out on her own and stay with her boyfriend, who is a student at IU. Schmidt didn't finish high school but is in the process of getting her GED with hopes of going to college. \nHer job at Kilroy's covers her expenses in the meantime. She also hopes that she might be able to save up some money for college in the future. \nGrowing up, Schmidt was a tomboy and she admits that she still is. "I hang out with all guys," said Schmidt. She grew up in a family made up almost entirely of men and only two female cousins.\n"I have a younger brother, and almost all my cousins are guys so it was a big thing, and it was kind of who can take on who," said Schmidt. \nBeing around boys while she was growing up really helped her mold her tough bouncer attitude. She held her own as a kid, and she continues to hold her own as an adult, even if many people don't believe she looks like one.