The Etiquette of the Traditional Gentlemen's Club
When most people think of gentlemen's clubs, they think of nightclubs featuring strippers. To minimise misunderstandings, it may be more acceptable to discuss conventional gentlemen's clubs. In its classic sense, a gentlemen's club is a private social club with a formal dining room, a library, a bar, a billiards room, and socialising spaces.
In a nutshell, it's a location where guys may get away from their daily stresses and obligations.
That is also one of the reasons why so few people are aware of these organisations.
On the grounds that this is their second home, members of a gentlemen's club almost never conduct interviews or display the club's areas.
In other words, one of the most crucial aspects of a conventional gentlemen's club is the members' seclusion.
The classic gentlemen's club was founded in the 18th century by and for British upper-class men, and was popularised in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by English upper middle-class men and women.
The first clubs were built in London's West End, and some of the clubs took over some of the functions formerly performed by coffee houses in 18th-century London. White's, Brooks's, and Boodle's were among the world's earliest gentlemen's clubs, providing a setting for gambling, which was outlawed outside of members-only businesses at the time. White's is London's oldest gentleman's club, dating back to 1693, and is usually regarded as the world's most elite private club.
Many of the rules still apply, even if conventional gentlemen's clubs are no longer as prominent or important as they once were. Membership is still via election, with proposers (at least two, although many clubs have more) who have known the candidate for a period of years formally nominating the applicant for membership.
Below is a draught from the book Etiquette for Gentlemen, which was published in 1929. Some of the etiquette norms of a conventional gentlemen's club may be found under the chapter clubs.
CLUBS… & HOW TO JOIN THEM
The benefits of clubs are being recognised with greater appreciation every day, because the club is one of the greatest boons to the businessman, the lonely guy, or the man who is not comfortably or conveniently established at home.
Those interested in joining a club should contact the secretary for information on the regulations and application forms. If it's a new club, two friends' names must be provided as references, with their permission obtained. If the club is well-established, two members who have consented to function as social sponsors must be introduced and seconded.
After filling out the application form, the prospective member gives it to his friends, who should fill in their names and return it to the secretary, who will bring the subject up at the next committee meeting and deliver the notice of election, along with the requisite contribution.
After being chosen, members must make it their business to understand and adhere to the club's rules and regulations. The individual who monopolises the finest chair in the closest spot to the fire and takes an excessive amount of the most recent paper is never popular. The new member should be willing to give up his seat to an older member or an older man, to collaborate with his fellow members in their common interests, and to treat them as if they were visitors at a friend's home.
Another blunder is getting in on a conversation. If a member walks into the club drawing-room and sees two or three other members speaking, he should not join them right away. If they want him to be included, one of them will make a pleasant comment and invite him to join the tiny circle.
The successful club member is the one who is always pleasant, never expresses his own opinions, and never gossips or talks about another member when his back is turned. Speaking about a person as you would talk to him is a good credo to live by, and following it will spare the unwary a lot of trouble.
When utilising the club locker rooms, keep in mind that they should be kept in the same condition as you found them. Brushes, combs, and towels are normally given in a neat array for the members' use, and they should always be kept immaculate.
Another excellent maxim for club members is "Neither a borrower nor a lender be."
If you play cards or billiards, pay all scores right away. If a member approaches you for financial aid, have the confidence to say no! These individuals are great character readers who seek their target with skill and perseverance until their malicious labour is rewarded and the club is cleansed of their presence. Do not be censorious of other members, while taking care to protect the honour of your club via caution and good manners.
It is not appropriate to tip club servants. There is frequently a "Holiday Box" on the dining-room mantelpiece, or in another prominent location, where members might contribute from time to time, with the money being evenly distributed among the employees.
