designers...used the search feature already

[hardwork]

i have some questions about using interior designers/architects.

do people have positive experiences with them? if so, how did you locate yours? or how does one go about locating one?

i have been led to believe (by designers), that the work they do will pay for itself (increased occupancy, etc)...out of familiarity with codes...

finally, their fees. what are the ways they get paid....% of construction?, time? flat rate? is there a way of ballparking this based on the size of project?

[Visual Magic]

Well, I can answer a couple of questions for you. First off, interior designers and architects should be seen as two entirely different things. While they can cross-over in some areas, and even work together in others, an interior designer doesn't decide things like door and window placement, plumbing, and where the bathrooms are. They don't really deal with stuctural design very much at all. Unless you were going to build a building from the ground up, you probably wouldn't ever need an actual architect. Most nightclubs go in an existing building by purchase or lease sometimes referred to as a "vanilla box". If that is the case, you do have to bulild things like bars, dance floors, DJ booths, etc. but you aren't going to have to drastically alter the building itself. Construction and remodeling companies can build those things for you but in some cases you might want an architect to design them if any of those items turn out to be really complicated. A dance floor for instance, isn't really much different than adding a deck to the back of your house. It doesn't take much more than a good carpenter for that. Now when it comes to a DJ booth you would want a sound and light company to design that because that's what they do. An architect may be very well versed in acoustics but they aren't DJ's. Leave that to a sound company. Same goes for lights. You might want an architect to design a ceiling to hold several thousand pounds but you don't want him to wire up your light show. When you get down to the basics, an architect is more of an engineer than anything else and an interior designer is an artist. I'm not saying that arcitecture is totally void of art. Some buildings are designed to BE a work of art. (Just look at the work of I.M. Pei or Frank Lloyd Wright and you can see that.) But an architect isn't going to be very good at picking out your decor or designing a themed environment. They don't create the feel of the room. That's the job of the interior designer. The Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas is a good example: An architect made it look like a pyramid. An interior designer made it look like you just walked into an egyptian tomb. As far as costs go, it can be all over the map. Sometimes flat rate and sometimes there are square footage prices. (in both fields) Some interior designers decide on a look and then go out and buy a boatload of decor items or antiques and just stuff it in the bar. I don't really like that approach although it's done all the time. Not really much "design" there. I prefer a custom look that doesn't look like just another Bennigan's or Applebee's. But that's just me.

[clubdesign]

nightclub designers will help you with your bottom line
A good designer will help with the placement of doors windows bathrooms etc. as this is a big part of the package and look. A designer should also help with the floor plan to help maximize the potential revenue from the space. Someone who just buys decor and splashes it around the room is not a designer but a decorator and there is a huge difference.
As far as fees go it does depend on the project and the involvement of the design team. Percentage wise budget 9-15%
of the project costs. Hourly fee route budget $ 150 hr
how do you find us.....ask other successful bar owners, read nightclub and bar and other trade magazines. If you want to see some of our work go to www.nightclubdesign.com
Dave
Hospitality Design Group

[advancemellc]

Nightclub,

I think my business services of providing working capital to bar/restaurant owners may be fit wel with your business as far as forming a referral program. Let me know if interested. Thanks.

Edward
advancemellc@aol.com

www.advanceme.com