Just an Idea I guess

[Iceman]

Hi
I live in a small community and every teenager that I have talked to says that they would like a "teen club". Well I just thought of a club/center and by the looks from other posts I'll probably get a whole lot of help.

But I was just wondering what you guys thought of it and to maybe give some insight.

This club has a few things added to just a dance floor and bar. It would have a computer/internet room where I could charge to have internet access and to have playstations hooked up too.
Another part would be of course the arcades and pool tables
Then a TV/ movie room with a big screen TV and maybe a Xbox and just lounge chairs or whatever. Then a party room for Birthday parties or meetings.

It sounds like a really good plan but I dont know I would keep it up float if kids didn't come. And Im ready to set this thing in motion I just to work a few more hours at Wal-mart for money or either to start stripping for money lol sorry.

But tell me what you guys think, because you guys sound like the experts and if Crax wants join up with me that be cool too

[Cheek]

is english your second language?

[evileve23]

Go work in a club for a while. No offense, but you don't sound like you know enough about the business to take on that kind of risk. Im slightly older than you, have worked in clubs, owned my own promotion company as well as currently own a small business, and I have people on board the nightclub venture that have worked at nationally recognized entertainment venues and I am still learning every day. There is so much more involved in just "opening a club" than you could ever imagine! Great ideas still need a foundation and working as someone else's peon is the way to learn.

[omari7]

Guys I have had the same thoughts about the teen club/center idea, and I think there are a lot of others who are interested in starting a teen club. I posted on the internet a while back seeking info about teen clubs, and from time to time I get emails from people asking me to share any ideas that I had learned in reference to starting a teen club.

I was thinking...."experienced guys please weigh in on this"
The startup for a night club is pretty much the complete cost of buying a home in NYC, this dream of starting one is quite far fetched to most of us who possess the passion of one day opening one. How much people actually work and save up for the complete cost of a home. Most people have to save a down payment and then they try to use this and get financing, since night clubs are a risky business getting financing without assets for a nightclub venture is close to impossible, so The "work and save up solution", which I heard on this board is kind of giving advice without giving advice, because saving up and buying is kind of how you buy anything!

I think the people are looking for advice on different ways of building the money.

Stop me if I am wrong....
The major costs of the night club would be:

- The venue
- furniture and fixtures (including the sound and lighting and bar
stuff)
- The Staff
- licenses (liquor license etc...)

What if someone was able to setup one kind of a business that could ultimately lead to the end result, a "night club" with different nights, including one night for the original startup, "the teen club."

Starting a teen club first...you wouldn't need the bar fixtures/liquor licenses, or lighting until you earn with the teen club.

also for some of the teen community oriented things you could get grants if you included educational things, also if you go non profit with the teen thing you can own a venue instead of leasing. The non profit would be for the one night with with the teen club, and the other nights could be for profit.

I don't have all of the answers, but I think that a very important aspect of starting the nightclub business is coming up with ideas of coming up with the financing, and most of the people that are asking for advice on starting a club, are looking for ideas on coming up with the cash!

Can you experience guys weigh in on this teen club idea....I think it is a good one, to dismiss it with...work at a club first is missing the point!!!!!

ar49@nyu.edu

[Securitygeek]

This is just my 2 cents. But I have seen teen clubs/centers start, do great for 6 months, and die. It is a business with even more risks than a nightclub for adults (if you want to call them that). You still have to worry about insurance, drugs, alcohol, and fights. Personally I think they are a great idea, but the risks involved outweigh the potential profit if you don't know what you are doing. The first thing I would look at are successful teen clubs, find one that has been operating in the black for at least 3 years, talk to the owners, manager, staff find out everything you can about what makes their club so successful. Obviously this would most likely have to be in a different city than the one you live in. Just my 2 cents.

[Iceman]

Yeha Engalish is mine sekond lanaguage haha

Thanks for giving me some pointers

[The Event Guy]

Originally posted by Securitygeek
This is just my 2 cents. But I have seen teen clubs/centers start, do great for 6 months, and die. It is a business with even more risks than a nightclub for adults (if you want to call them that). You still have to worry about insurance, drugs, alcohol, and fights. Personally I think they are a great idea, but the risks involved outweigh the potential profit if you don't know what you are doing. The first thing I would look at are successful teen clubs, find one that has been operating in the black for at least 3 years, talk to the owners, manager, staff find out everything you can about what makes their club so successful. Obviously this would most likely have to be in a different city than the one you live in. Just my 2 cents.

Thank you. Someone who speaks my language....

Besides great ideas, posts on the subject of opening clubs are sincere. However, most people's comments are through emotions and mostly made through an individual's passion of music, money, opportunity, or whathaveyou.

Additionally, anytime a comment is made about opening a teen club, the most important factor's are always left out and seem to be focused on how much money can be made. Ultimately, that factor is what drives business. But, a teen club, to me, is really a waste of time and money if it does not serve a higher purpose besides making money.

Teens need a space to chill out, let loose, and interact with other children (and role models) in a positive enviornment. I'm not saying that it needs to be in a church hall by any means...I'm saying that kids are too eager to step into the lives of grown adults and live life like there's no tomorrow. And at times, it certainly feels like there's no tomorrow, but kids deserve more than being over exposured to negativity.

You might say, "That's life" and in reality it usually is, but I feel that kids need a place that takes them away from all of socities pressures and stereotypes. So, does a club satisfy those needs?

Ask yourself that question over and over before and during the planning process of a teen club.


Also, you're either non-profit or you're not. There are many ways to go about raising money for certain projects.

OMARI, you've noted some good insight with your post, but experience is one of the most imporatnt factors in business - besides life. And investing into a business isn't as cut n' dry as it seems. As Securitygeek pointed out, there are MANY legal issues one must take into consideration along with precautionary steps to make a highly volitile endeavor into a teen club.

Too many for my taste unless it was set up to make an impact in the lives of those kids going. Or at least make the attempt.

Here's my last opinion on the subject of teen clubs and those looking to balance that thin line...

Find a community based venue (YMCA, CYO, or what ever) and eastablish a "club night" there. Obviously, it isn't the most PLUSH spaces, BUT if you're clever enough, have the passion and drive, and truley want to DO SOME RESEARCH, then it could be a good opportuinty for you to get your feet wet within the EVENT PLANNING INDUSTRY and overall business concepts of this illustrious and glamorous lifestyle that us "lifers" must lead.



:rolleyes: illustrious and glamorous lifestyle :rolleyes: LOL


You know something, the entertainment business is just like any other business - One must work long hours, under extreme stres at times, and deal with diverse people in nature on an hour by hour basis - Oh, wait...it isn't like most businesses, they're 9-5.

Hope the insight helped.

[omari7]

Eventguy....You said some meaningful things, but yet again the "point is missed!"

I am sure that the majority of people wanting to get into the club business don't really have a clue about what it all entails.
The management of people, the theft, the fights, the drugs, complaints from the neighborhood, the law suits, in some cases the exthortion, and I'm sure you experienced guys can add more cons than pros to the list, or somethings that I wouldn't even believe really happens, but You guys are giving advice with all of these "cons" "facts" (experience) somewhat clouding your opinions. Remember most of us guys don't really have a clue, and most people who start a business don't have the luxury of a mentor, or experience working in the field. Luxuries are great if you can get them, but if you can't..your only avenue is to learn from experience. Getting advice from you guys is like Gold, if only you guys could concentrate a little more on the pros than you do on the cons. When I mean to concentrate on the pros I mean like giving us some good advice that only someone could know if they experience it. Like for example tell us how did you get your startup money....tell us some different techniques on getting the money.
-Achieving the desired STARTUP costs is one of the most important considerations or first step of attempting a nightclub venture.

We need a separate area on this board called "Startup Costs ideas." or just ideas

Teen club was just one idea that I though someone could do to raise money. But if you don't do it right the cons can out weigh the pros. Just like anything. But if you organize a positive environment that will attract positive teens it could work. There
s even clubs that cater to preteens. I don't mean this is the club this is just sort of a once a week events that run during the summer...or if you really have it down, you can have something that occurs before the real club starts. Just idea!!!

But Eventguy throughtout all of the cons you added another idea.
A good idea is to get into Event planning or promoting events.
This way you can earn money, plus learn about managing people, and managing an event. What do you think???
anymore ideas guys?????

[The Event Guy]

point taken, Omari. Well put. guess I over thought what you were asking...

There are many, many pros to this business or else we wouldn't be involved - obviously. I think when all the experienced guys make reference to the cons, it's because we know through experience and the only way for a newby to know is to understand them and quite possibly go through it themselves - hopefully not.

And to answer your question about start up capital, it really isn't an easy question. Many responses are..."a solid business plan..." or "good credit..." or "an investor..." all of which are options that must be looked into on every level because there is no one way to get the start up. Many times one cannot get the start up so getting involved in as many aspects of this business is the start of finding the answer to all of your start up questions through personal experience.

In doing so, you become a self made man or woman with diverse and valuable knowledge to the type of business you decide to embark.

Again, there are no easy answers to yuor question. The obvious is that one would look to Federaly insured banks to get financing, but because of age and life experience, most to all will deny you out right.

The reason for having a SOLID business plan is because of the reason stated above. And when you have several years of working experience for washing dishes to cooking to tending bar to managing or even to General managing, then YOUR experience is GOLD.

Why? because your experience becomes everyday practical in managing and operating a business and it's employees to earn money. And that is what ANY INVESTOR wants to know - If I invest in this great idea that this person has, soes he or she have to practical experience and/or accredited degree in this field of business where I can get solid return on investment (ROI)?

These are just some of the questions to beginning the start up phase - of any business and its plan.

So I ask you young grasshopper, are you willing to invest your life and embark on a full time journey into self empowerment?

Are you willing to sacrifice?
Are you willing to learn from those who don't want to teach you?
Are you willing to follow your dreams even when you starve?


:p


If so, then you will know the next step to the first day of the rest of your life...

And this goes for everything not just this industry.

Event Planning and promotions are horses of a different color sometimes similar, but never the same.

Hope this helps.