Club Ideas (AL) sales and many other things

[Got_Money]

Well I am in Huntsville AL currently. I have been looking at opening a night dance club here. I am from Houston and compared to there this place really really sucks.

I plan to change that. There was 2 dance/night clubs here and both were busted for underage drinking and drugs which will be a big step to stop.

I have funding already just trying to get everything lined up as far as a location.

Location: where is the best places to get? What are some good things to look for?

Music: Plan to do a little mix up. No country will be played sorry not my thing:p

Dress code: There will be somewhat of a dress code. I do not want some thugged out punk in my club at all.

Drink deals and Nights:

Wedsday:
21 and over $5.00 cover
Under 21 $10.00 cover
$1.00 beers all night
$.75cent you call its till 11pm
$2.00 Ice block shots
Thong contest. Cash going to first and 2nd winner.

Thursday.
21 and over $5.00 cover
Under 21 $10.00 cover
$10.00 Big ass beer night. ($10.00 buys you the cup and $1.00 refills)
$2.50 beers all night.
$1.50 you call its till 11pm
$2.00 Ice block shots all night
Wet Tee Shirt contest , Cash to 1st and 2nd place winners

Friday
21 and over $5.00 cover
Under 21 $10.00 cover
$1.00 beers all night
$.75cent you call its till 11pm
$2.00 Ice block shots
Thong contest. Cash to 1st and 2nd place winners.

Sat
21 and over $5.00 cover
Under 21 $10.00 cover
$2.50 beers all night.
$1.50 you call its till 11pm
$2.00 Ice block shots all night
Miss Swim suit contest , Cash to 1st and 2nd place winners

I am setting it something like a club I go to quit alot. www.thehurricanehut.com

There is no clubs like this around here. If they want those type of clubs they have to drive over a hr to get there.

[The Event Guy]

:rolleyes:

[bob656]

"I plan to change that. There was 2 dance/night clubs here and both were busted for underage drinking and drugs which will be a big step to stop. "

Obviously, the local law enforcement / govrnment has a problem with letting under 21 into the bars in the area. Knowing this, why would you go after the exact market that will get you busted for the exact same things?

[Cheek]

clearly the clubs that were busted for underage drinking and drugs were poorly managed. Someone with a good plan of attack can avoid those kinds of issues.

[steffen]

I'm actually kinda curious to what your plan of attack is, when presenting to the city for the liquor permits... on how to deter and distinguish underage patrons and drinking... Keep in mind, the city has the authority to not issue you a business permit, if it feels that you maybe derelict in any way shape or form.

[Got_Money]

For the most part make sure my staff is trained and well aware of what is going on around them. Instead of the typical Black X's everyone uses for the underage people I plan on using a florest semi perment Ink such and the Black marker. Underage people will be easily spotted and the fact that the dye is hard to remove and good bathroom staff will also keep a good watch as for people trying to remove the ink. 21 and older will get the typical bands:D

[steffen]

Ok, I understand that mentality. But is that cost effective... a dye, marker, and wrist bands? What about the amount of labor you have to put into all that.... to make that effective, you'd need 5 people at the door... 1 for ID'ing, 1 for cover, 1 for X's, 1 for UV, and 1 for Wristbanding. I worked at a venue that "tagged" all of their customers for one type of promo... and to have one person check ID, and simply tag, then another person to take money (we're talking over 1000 patrons a night!)... that's a handfull!

Not to mention, is it going to be worth it to the underage crowd to have both a (and I'm assuming you meant a UV/floresent dye) dye and a marker? What if they have class or must work the next day? I know that's not your problem, but it could be a revenue deterent...

Just food for thought... Best of Luck!

[Visual Magic]

Just for the record, you don't see a UV/fluorescent marker at all unless it is under a UV light (aka blacklight).
I would just use two different color armbands.
Green - over 21
Red - under 21
And everyone has an armband on at all times.

[Got_Money]

UV/floresent dye as was stated can not be seen without a black light. Not sure how some clubs are set up but the ones I go to most are set up like:

2 lines. The ID checkers are the person who mark the X's and give wrist bands and have that come into one line where they pay to get in.


And I had a question come up about would I be offering some sort of food. I have never heard anything like this in a "Dance Club" is this done at all? If so is it worth the effort?

[Visual Magic]

If you stick to frozen/microwave pizza and hot dogs it is. Just have a few items in a snack-bar type of area.
The popular thing in Texas is an outside concession trailer on weekends. You split the profits with a private vendor and you don't have to deal with any food service at all.

[Got_Money]

Come to speak of it there was a little grill they had outside. Thats not a bad idea at all.

[davhas]

Listen up Got Money we all know that 1+1=+2, so now let me school ya about clubs under 21 + cheap alcohol= trouble and thugs. Think about it.:

[ralo]

hey this ideal has worked here in birmingham i was a bartender at a 18 to party and 21 to get crunk (to drink that is ) club and the owner had it under control with good security and bartenders let me know if u would like any help operating such and club also there is a club that is for lease here more info contact me at anderson167@bellsouth.net

[hakujin]

Opening an 18+ club in a venue that was previously shut down for underage drinking and drugs?

Isn't that kind of just daring the local licensing board to shut you down? It wouldn't surprise me if they look at it like you're flipping them the bird.

If you're going to have an 18+ club, they can shut you down anytime they want. Anytime they walk into your club, they will be able to find an underage person who has been drinking or who is on drugs.

You're really going to have to show them that you're trying to do the right thing. Especially if you're an out of towner.

You may want to start out at 21+ for a while as a show of good faith. If you can, get in contact with members of the board, fire marshals, etc and ASK FOR THIER OPINIONS ABOUT STUFF. Just make contact with them so they become familiar with you. Make them feel like their experts and you're asking their expert opinions. City officials are constantly dealing with confrontational club managers and owners who are trying sleaze stuff by them (at least that's how they see it).

Don't ask their opinions about 18+ because you already know what their going to say and if you eventually switch to 18+, they'll take it as an insult. Keep questions focused on safety and stuff like that. You may get lucky and find they have a harder time hassling someone they know.

Of course, on the other hand, they may just be dicks and there's nothing you can do to impress them. They're going to try to shut you down regardless of what you do.

If that's the case, all you can do is be on your best behavior and donate lots of money to the mayor's next campaign :)

[jaybez]

I have to agree with some the previous posts.....

18 and up = trouble....

I work in a place that is 18+ and we are constantly having problems. I think that if you are well established enough, maybe you can deal with these problems. But ask yourself this...What are the 18+ customers bringing to your business? They don't spend money on drinks, so it's just the cover charge.

I know some might say that younger girls attract older guys who can spend money, but the reality is they are probably buying drinks for the girls..

By the way, we have a pizza shop in our bar...right at the front door. It gives the 18+ crowd something to spend their money on, and anyone who wants something to eat to sober up a little can have it.

jaybez

:p

[Got_Money]

Thanks for all the pointers. I am still looking at a location as I do not want to take over a old club. I want something closer to the other clubs cause it is down town and closer to parking garages and what not

[Kansas City]

Word of caution, as a landlord and a club owner. It is easy to get excited about owning a club and not taking the time to negoctiate yoru very best lease. If you are not a skilled negotioator(sp) it woudl be to your advantage to hire soemone who is. To me it is a big red flag that 2 clubs have allready went bust in the same location. remember teh landlord is under the gun to get the space elased and may be willing to give a ton of consestions.

[Securitygeek]

Ok just from a security point of view, any establishment that serves alcohol and allows minors inside the building is asking for trouble. Underage drinking will occur regardless of how well trained your staff is. One trick that I personally have seen was for an older man to order a shot, take the shot, and kiss his underage girl friend, slipping her the shot that way. Sneaky. 18 + is also going to result in more fights or at least more confrontations. On the dollar side of it, you may well lose money because, minors don't spend much money since they can't drink, and in a lot of markets clubbers won't go to a "kiddie" bar because they want to get away from teenie boppers. Personally I will not work in a nightclub that is 18+ and serves alcohol, because when something goes down, and it always does... Security gets blamed regardless. Good luck on your new venture, sorry if this post seems too negative, but I have a strong opinion on this subject. Just my 2 cents.

[ca. club owner]

I understand you are very excitied to open a night club, an most people who want to. All ways have the idea of. " I can just take a lil of what someone else did an make it work. " I know what they did wrong.. Wrong!!! way to go about it. If 2 places have shut down all ready for problems. No matter what they were, thats the wrong ave. to take. I see your set up of days of the week. Which is fine, but you have got to remember one thing. Cheap drinks cause major problems!!!! Not saying over price your stuff, but the price of drinks in a club sets the tone of the place. One other food for thought. I really dont know you age, got to be in the 20's. Because thats the only reason why I see you haveing 18 plus. To save your self alot of headache an problems. Go with 21 an over an work with that. There is plenty of money in this biz. you dont need to try to get everybody in town.. Hope it works out for you. Dont take anything anyone says the wrong way. its all good advice. I am here in California where its a zoo in this biz. but I love it all the way to the bank!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Got_Money]

Yeah I am leaning toward the 21 and up setting. I am still getting everything down to the T before I make a move and of course I will get input with everything once I have it all on paper :D

[ca. club owner]

Thats the best way to go about it. To be very honest 18 an over all ways will give you problems. When you have them in the same place as 21 an over. I dont even think of attending places like that.. To much headache... Yea get everything down to a T. An then proceed... If you need some help with something. Look me up...

[8ohm]

Here is some info that might help people outside of Alabama understand a little more clearly...

Alabama has a stiff ABC (alcohol and beverage control) board. When I say stiff, I mean, they go out of there way to find a way to shut you down. In other states, the ABC, or the like, take their fees and come check stuff out and then leave you alone for the most part. In AL, they come in guns blazing, keep anyone from leaving, turn on the house lights and start checking IDs at random; in the middle of the night with no provocation. That being said, if you do things right, and the ABC barges in and can’t find anything, they will leave you alone for a while. But they don’t play! And they are nothing to take lightly. The licensing process can be ridiculous to say the least.

The Alabama club scene is messed. In some areas, like Birmingham, you can get a private club license. Clubs can stay open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is one place in Birmingham that has been open non-stop for like 10 years. Through snow storms and tornadoes, there has been a bartender serving. And Birmingham is 18 and up. Mobile is the same way.

Some areas are not that way. Tuscaloosa (University of Alabama), for instance, has to be closed by 1:45 every night except Friday. It is 19 and up.

The last time I did business in Huntsville the 2 strip clubs had private, or semi-private, licenses, but everybody else has to be closed by 2:00.

Now Huntsville has a serious need for a good club. The two that got shut down were closed abruptly. One weekend they were going strong, the next they didn’t exist anymore. It didn’t have everything do with underage drinking either. It was a plethora of "situations" that ultimately led to the owner closing the doors before other actions were taken.

I have a client in Birmingham that is banking big on the fact that there is nothing to do in Huntsville. It is an hour and a half drive to Birmingham. And people make it every weekend to party. Huntsville NEEDS a phat club. But there are a lot of hurdles.

The whole 18 and up thing is a touchy issue. The market isn’t really strong enough to support a real 21 and up nightclub. With that idea, you are fighting against the grain in a relatively small marketplace. It can work, if your overhead is low enough. But, in most cases, you can’t get to where you want to be if you can’t collect the money from the minors. If you are serious about being 21 and up, scale your operation back some. Think smaller square footage, and larger drink selections. A large scale 21 and up nightclub is a little beyond what that market will support.

Hit me up, we will talk some more if you like.

205-792-0938

[Got_Money]

I will be contacting you both very soon....I been doing research and the market looks really good :D

[8ohm]

Now is the time if you have the capital. May never be another opportunity as ripe as this in Hunstville. The market is primed for something done right. If you have the money, and the time and will power, you could corner the market; atleast for the near future.

[Got_Money]

I do not have 100% funding but I do have some close people I trust and work with daily that are willing partners.

[PhatTalent]

Okay all,

I am interested in opening a small venue in Louisiana. The venue will tailor towards the 25 plus crowd. It will be located in the suburbs of the Shreveport/Bossier area. Any one familiar with the area?


Phat Talent Productions
phattalentproductions@yahoo.com