my teen nightclub/dance hall

[raypatel]

I am planning on opening up a teen nightclub/dance hall. I have a name picked out. I am going to call it.. NightSkool and so the website nightskool.com. I need to know how do I go about doing market research. I am thinking about setting up a website just to get teens comments and suggestions. I want to get the word out about this nighclub. Put professionally produced flyers on people's cars at walmart and other shopping centers. I want to put flyers on cars at local high schools. I have sent two e-mails - one to the principal and the other to the school board about doing this flyer thing, but they haven't responded. I have contacted my city's outdoor advertising department and though I haven't talked with him yet, I am thinking about placing a sign on streets about my club. But I don't know how to word it. I would also like to ask teens to put my bumper sitcker on their cars just to advertise. Do I need to pay them to put this sticker on their cars or do I give them a free entrance to the club. I am going to advertise at local movie theaters as in slide show before the movie starts.
I don't have a location for my club yet. I want to do market research first. I would like to know how you feel about the above matters. I would really appreciate your help.
Ray

[The Event Guy]

please, take some time to read all previous posts regarding teen clubs - especially the post started by crax.

It sounds to me like you have the heart and desire to put this together, however, it also sounds as if you are very new within the industry. Opening a club (especially a teen club) is ricky business.

I would suggest taking on the promotion and marketing aspects as you have listed. Most likely, the school board will not get back to you unless you create a cleaver plan that will incorporate the well being of the school department somehow.

Legally, you cannot flyer Walmart or any other facility because it's private property - so be careful.

You should NOT pay teens to place bumper stickers on their cars, pass them out in order to get a buzz going about what your doing.

If I were you I would save a few bucks (or find someone to invest) and rent a decent space once a month and call these parties "Nightskool." Start your promoting NOW because the summer months are here. Make sure you're music is what teens are listening to in your area. Get a couple detail police officers and then you're on your way...

Good luck !;)

[raypatel]

Great advice!! This post is to all those interested in opening up a teens club.

I am currently working on marketing. I have contacted several direct mail companies and have come up with several mailing lists of parents that have teens at home in my area. I am currently viewing several printers for my flyers. I think instead of having my flyers printed and then buy a list and mail them, I woud just hire a company that does all of this. That's where I am now.

Another great idea that hit me was to advertise in our local movie theaters. I still have to call them and ask about pricing, but I think this would be a great advertising for my club. I also have to make sure that I only advertise on those movies that are rated for teens.

I have a pretty goofy website up. www.nightskool.com. For all those of you who aren't webmasters (like myself) you can buy ready made flash and non-flash web sites for anound 60 dollars and just change the name and content. I am going to leave my website the way it is. At this point I am only interested in creating a buzz for my club and to get feedback.

I woud also like to hire some local teens (with their parent's permission) and get their pictures for my web site. This will also help spread the buzz. Though, it may be expensive, but I am just thinking about it for now. No action taken for now on this.

Another way to advertise is to put flyers on doors of houses in your local market. Print up a bunch of flyers and hire some teens to up them up or get professional company to do this.

One of the most important thing to do for advertising your club is to get a windows sign make for your own cars. One in the front and one in the back. Just the website is enought. Make the people who read your website address want to go home and look up your address. For mine, I use www.nightskool.com - A different king of skool.

This post is getting big, if anybody want more help with their nightclub, you can contact me on these posts.

So, Mr. Event Guy, what do you think so far........

Ray Patel

[The Event Guy]

I think you're on the right track...I definitely think you're green to this business, but on the right track.

Why are you looking for a marketing company to do your leg work? You need to get out there and do it yourself in order to keep your finger on the pulse of what these teens are doing, seeing, hearing, etc.

Also, you really need to watch yourself with the website because there's too many pervs looking to contact teens. If I were you I would NOT have a message board.

I have other thoughts, but will hold off for now.

[Cheek]

For teen clubs alot of times all you need is a little buzz and it will turn into an inferno. Kid's today are fully immersed in the information age. You would be surprised how fast information gets from kid to kid. Unlike most of the older people on these forums, kids today have been raised on email, text-messaging and cell-phones.
The flyering and all that sounds good, but don't expect too much help from school principals. I would think it is against their policy to allow businesses to solicate on school property.

I personally think radio is the way to go to reach that age group. Just pick the one that is directed at that demographic and pound it for a couple weeks. That and the flyering will work wonders.

Probably the most risky thing about teen clubs is that alot of them are victims of their own success. You will be surprised how fast and furious a teen night will take off. I have seen places be very unprepared and overwhelmed and this can turn into a dangerous situation. If a parent finds out that there are 600 kids and 4 staff members, you're gonna have alot of explaining to do.

Also, don't be afraid to lay down some rules and stick to them. Realize that kids don't want to feel like they are at school or being restricted, but at the same time parents will have some expectations from you that you will need to meet and/or exceed (after all, it's their money and they drop them off)

Most of the questions I get from parents are, How many staff members are on duty? How many kids are you planning on having? Do you regularly have trouble, problem kids? Is there any alcohol on the premises? Do you allow smoking? Are kids allowed to come and go as they please?

That is some general info for you. I didn't talk to much about marketing, but honestly I think that's pretty simple. Are there any other teen clubs in your area? If not and there are alot of kids around, do it.

[raypatel]

Thank you! The Event Guy! Your posts keeps on encourging me. Different things works for different people. I can't imagine myself going out into the public and handing out flyers to people. It's just not my thing. I was thinking about hiring some people, give them some flyers and let them hand it out.

I don't have a problem with money to open my club, or the promotions afterwards. It's just getting it all started. I know there is a demand for it in my area. I was woundering if you guys wouldn't mind looking at my simple flyer layout and see how it is. I have decided that my first step is to see how much of a demand there is for my club. I would be doing a postcard 4X6 flyer mailings to teens. Also at the same time, school is opening, and I am going to advertise their newspaper in my area schools.

I could write a book on marketing and research on teen club. I have read many articles on this subject, talked with many current nightclub and teen club owners. I am going to drop this subject and move on to Building vs Renting, interior designer, and working up some idea on the expense list.

As you may know, when I first came with this idea, I was looking for a rental space, but most of the closed shopping centers and old movie theaters that I contacted, they told me that they didn't want to rent it out for nightclub or teen club even though I explained to them that there was no smoking and alcohol. So, I guess my only choice is to build one.

I am going to stop my post here. I don't want to get ahead of my self. I will let you know how my marketing is going. Again, thank you The Event guy and cheeks for your help.

Ray

[The Event Guy]

If you have an opportunity to build, then do it if the property has the potential to transform into something else-an be profitable- later on.

Good luck!

Yeah, I would like to see the flyer if you wouldn't mind a critique`