Rudy
Gonzales at his desk receiving mail
PHOTO: Aude Lagorce |
They
stand by the "All visitors must be announced" signs in
their embroidered uniforms, ready to hold the door for you, hail
a cab or carry your groceries upstairs.
In
a city where everybody is always rushing somewhere, doormen and
concierges could well be the only ones to take the time to remember
your name.
These
uniformed gentlemen, remnants of a bygone era when business was
conducted at a slower pace, are a reassuring symbol of continuity
for New Yorkers who live in a constantly changing landscape. Most
doormen and concierges have been on the job for years, sometimes
for decades. Residents find comfort in being greeted by their familiar
faces on their way home after a long day at the office.
Through
years of familiarity, tenants have come to trust their doormen with
a multitude of tasks. Kenny Bennett, a mild-mannered 49-year-old
concierge at 1040 Park Avenue, once painted a kitchen cabinet for
a resident. Others sometimes take the dog around the block after
work, or keep an eye on a child while its parent rushes out for
a quick errand.
Doormen
can seem idle on occasions, sitting on the bench of a deserted lobby,
or whistling as they gaze at passersby. These are the slow times.
On rainy days when most tenants stay home, or on weekends and summers
when families escape to the Hamptons, doormen find the eight-hour
shift excruciatingly long.
The
guys fight boredom by joking with each other, listening to the radio,
or reading. "But sometimes even reading gets boring,"
said Rudy Gonzales, a 26-year-old concierge at the building and
a part-time student at Baruch College who has a quick sense of humor.
A few years ago, a doorman who is now retired had come up with his
own trick to while away the hours. He made up a nickname for each
resident, recalled Gonzales. One day, as a tall female tenant walked
in the lobby, Gonzales greeted her with a cheery "Good morning,
Mrs. Giraffe."
On
a regular day however, the 85-apartment building keeps the doormen
and concierges busy. At 1040 Park Avenue, three people work at the
same time - one at the door, one behind the desk and the last one
at the elevator.
"You
have to do many things at the same time," said Bennett, who
has been a concierge at the building for nine years now. "Answer
the phone, receive packages, watch the cameras, key people in. It
can get crazy," he said.
Bennett
will tell you that his job as a concierge is the busiest. Still,
doormen, elevator operators and concierges earn the same wages,
regardless of their responsibilities. All buildings on Park Avenue
are affiliated with the 32 B-J apartment workers' union, which guarantees
the workers a minimum of about $16 an hour or $640 a week.
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A doorman
at work
PHOTO: Pema Norbu
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The
pay and the benefits of the job make it attractive to many, but
landing a job as a doorman can be tougher than it seems. "You
need connections," said Bennett, who started out filling in
for his brother who was sick. Gonzales also got some help. He was
looking for a summer job and started working at the same building
as his stepfather.
However,
once you are in and you have learned the ropes, the profession isn't
too stressful. "The job isn't that hard to learn," said
Gonzales, who has been working as a concierge since he was 19. "You
need a minimum of common sense. You've got to want to be helpful
and to smile."
There
is no doorman academy or special training for those aspiring to
become doormen and concierges. "You learn from watching others,"
Gonzales said.
The
patronage system encourages the predominance of specific ethnic
groups. Originally, the Irish had a lock on the profession. Now
Hispanics are slowly taking over, but the door has not opened yet
for African-Americans and women, although a few have been able to
break in. "I think there's one black doorman in this other
building, and there is one woman on 87th St," said Gonzales.
The
slow turnover in the profession is another reason why newcomers
find it hard to get a start. Current doormen are reluctant to leave
a comfortable position. "After a while, there's a lot of trust
between you and the tenants," said Gonzales, as a blond woman
in a suede brown coat greeted him as "the best doorman in the
world" while handing him an envelope last week.
"Little
comments go a long way," said Gonzales.
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