Recaro

Just a few thoughts running through my head at the mo, but I wondered, how does someone go about setting up a night club?

I live in a town with 1 club and a lot of pubs and bars that close at 11. Everyone hates the club, it smells of **** and looks horrible but everyone still goes there.
I've seen a place thats perfect for opening a club, but is it possible for me (someone with business qualifications or enough money) to get hold of a lot of money to start the ball rolling.

Are there businesses that would be prepared to back me? ie, they own the club but I get a cut as its my idea. not a big cut, just something.

unclebuck

I used to work in the Club Scene for about 7 years from about 85 to 93. Saw it all... the rise of hip-hop, house music, hip house, acid house, hardcore, rave, drum 'n bass, techno... and plenty more besides... I started off doing sound and light, graduated to event organising, and ended up managing a club in Bristol. Wouldn't do it now. The world has become a much more leary place since then. (and believe me, it was well leary back then )

I saw a few people make loads of money and a few lose loads too Got loads of sex, drugs, bla bla, and met (booked and mixed) plenty household names, so it does have it's plus points

Be prepared for long hours, and make sure you are good at dealing with all kinds of people. It's a *very* people orientated occupation.

Good luck.

UB



[Edited by unclebuck - 20/06/2003 00:33:20]

ajm

unclebuck,

which club did you manage in Bristol?

unclebuck

aj... I cut my clubbing teeth, so to speak, at The Moon Club which we converted and ran from '86 to '90. It is still around and trades as LaKota - you may know it. The club I managed was called The Tube Club (bottom of Park Street). I used to run Thursday as the 'place to be' night for the trendiest peeps in Bristol. It was always full.. Happy days etc...lol

Anyway, I heard recently that the Massive Attack guys have bought it, and turned it into a 'members only' club. LOL - the legacy lives on...

ajm

yeah I know both of those! Don't tend to do clubs much these days....

You still live in Bristol?

unclebuck

No, I finally sold up my flat in Clifton last year. LOL - Did you ever attend 98 Proof nights at the Tube?

UB

ScoobyWon't

You will need to apply for licences.

1 to sell booze.
I think 1 for entertainment too.

It'll go before the council, a licencing judge and the Police will comment on the extra risks etc.

ajm

possibly, although I couldn't tell for sure - I tend to be in a bad way if I am in a club... I only came to Bristol in 1993 so might have been too late?

Edited to add: apparently Roo Bar (formerly Steam Tavern) used to be a club and also there was supposed to be a dodgy one in the quarry where the BUPA hospital is now.... all before my time though!

[Edited by ajm - 20/06/2003 00:30:24]

unclebuck

possibly, although I couldn't tell for sure - I tend to be in a bad way if I am in a club...

Yea... you were there I remember you now

UB

ajm

doh! does that mean I'm still barred?

Reffro

As an aside about the funding, no bank is ever going to loan you money to start a nightclub, unless you have some way of securing the loan, and they will want the loan fully secured. They hate nightclubs as a sector, always in leased property, often fail spectacularly etc etc. Just have a look round your local town, how many clubs open there five years ago are still there today? Oh and without extensive management experience of club operations your not even going to get the licence, let alone a loan. Nightclubs are subject to much stricter licencing controls than pubs, its not just a matter of doing a pub management course. As for a company to support your plans, they will want the lion's share of any profits, as its their money you're taking a risk with, but I never heard of anyone like this.

Sorry to be negative but that's the way it is with nightclubs. When I was brokering loans, they were the one business I hated to hear mentioned, always sent a shudder down my spine.

[Edited by Reffro - 20/06/2003 09:46:22]

beemerboy

prob the "Blue Oyster Club"

......tell me quando quando quandooooo!!!

haha

BB

Dracoro

Why is there only one club there now?

Can be a dodgy world to get into, you don't want the heavies from the other club putting a stop to you (maybe that's why they're the only club? unlikely maybe but possible).

Basically 2 things - can you run a club? and is there really a market for it?

astraboy

UB, I thought you'd have an oar in the scene at one point the way you replied to my reviews.I've been to LaKota as well, its a nice club in an "underground" kinda way.
As for the post, I must confess I have been thinking along the samw lines recently. We've heard how not to do it (apply for a loan) how did you do it then?
astraboy.

unclebuck

astra - yea, a lot of it was pretty 'deep underground' lol

The Blue Oyster Club - haha I remember that place. I expect it is still going.

Drac - It can be well dodgy world, make sure you keep the 'right people' on your side. There is a lot of 'off the ball' activity

As for the owning, financing thing, Reffro is right, you won't get an unsecured loan to start a nightclub. No chance. The way I saw people do it, was to stage events at existing venues, build up a brand and a following, then, once they had a track record they could move on up the food chain. At the end of the day though it is a lot of palm greasing, cash in hand, dog eat dog kind of stuff. Frankly, you can keep it

UB

Freak

From talking to managers/fellow djs etc and other people i know in the business its very hard.
Its hard to run a club successfully-let alone having your *** on the line being the owner also
I know the problems some of the big corporate club owners have- and they have vast funds and experience to call on and a massive network of very experienced managers.

Costs far more than it would appear- big risk also.
With no experience you have two hopes (and one of them is bob) of getting a loan to open a club.
Guy i know opened a bar(just one- with the backing of a group of companies). Cost £700k.
Wont even begin to make a profit for yrs until that is paid back-and no guarentee that it will make one if it cant survive.

They would want to see some experience of managing/running something in the same sector-like a bar or something.then there are the licence restrictions, capacity limitations, police requirments etc....the listgoes on and on.

It is a nasty business.

Can make a lot of money- but can also lose a lot.

Opening a bar would be better in the nite life world- at the moment bar culture has taken over from club culture.

Also- ask yourself why there is only one club there- small town? Would people come to it?
If there was a big gap for one- someone else would have probably capitalized on it-more than likely one of the big club corporations.

[/essay]

bubblegum

Another thing to consider is that if the licensing laws are hopefully relaxed in the future, all the Pubs in the area will have the option to open for later and so take away business from the over priced clubs.
Myself I would lokk for an area that has quite a large student population and organise student nights and hire some understated female escorts to come, dance and mingle with the clientle and once the word spreads amoungts the male population that there is some nice totty about at your events, the nights will soon take off.