saved him $200,000 in startup costs. “You have to use the art of negotiation when purchasing property and employ every resource you have to check and double check every aspect of the deal. That’s what I did,” he says.
Once you settle on a site, experts recommend that you clearly define your club’s atmosphere and style. Every club has a theme, and deciding which one to adopt for your venue is entirely up to you. Rau says, first ask yourself, “Do I want to be drastically different from everything else in the area or do I want to not rock the boat and just focus on doing basically the same thing that everyone else is, only bigger and better?”
When it comes to developing a strategy for attracting customers, Rau says most new owners stick to tried-and-true marketing methods such as flashy fliers and catchy radio advertisements. But many also use what is known as street teams. “It’s a form of guerrilla marketing that includes club employees going out on the street and passing out fliers and business cards, and putting up posters, and saying, ‘Hey, have you heard about this new place down the street?'”
There’s no doubt deciding on location and ambiance are two of the biggest challenges when starting a nightclub, but there are others. Harrelson says that while there are a lot of risks involved in opening a club, there are also several rewards. Unlike some businesses, nightclubs continue to do well during tough economic times. And their revenue potential is very good. “Clubs in top markets are doing at least $1 million. Marquee, in New York, will do $10 million this year,” he says. “Smaller clubs can earn anywhere from $250,000 to $500,000.”
In the club: 10 Steps to Opening Your Nightclub
- LEARN THE ROPES. There’s no substitute for hands-on experience–behind the bar, at the door, or in a management position. A good resource for information on the industry is the Nightclub & Bar/Beverage Retailer/Food & Beverage Convention & Trade Show (www.night club.com). This national event attracts thousands of people who work in the hospitality industry. The 2005 show will be held at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Oct. 10 — 12. Another resource is Nightclubbiz.com (www.nightclubbiz.com), a site offering information on how to start a nightclub. The National Bar & Restaurant Association (www.bar-restaurant.com) provides networking opportunities and a variety of services to restaurant, bar, and hospitality professionals. Also, be sure to check out Rocco John’s Nightclub Management L.L.C. (www.nightclubman agement.com), a consulting and management services company that specializes in the nightlife industry.
- DON’T OPEN ON A WHIM. Being a successful nightclub owner is not just about having enough money to open, it’s about having enough money to stay open. Think your club idea through. Create a business plan that outlines all your ideas and strategies for implementing those ideas.
- FILL A NICHE. Don’t open a reggae club where there are already 10 reggae clubs. Find a void that needs to be
- DON’T OPEN ON A WHIM. Being a successful nightclub owner is not just about having enough money to open, it’s about having enough money to stay open. Think your club idea through. Create a business plan that outlines all your ideas and strategies for implementing those ideas.