Entrepreneur in training! (Hopefully :0)

[clubchaz]

I am currently in the process of developing my business plan for a teen club in a rural town where no other entertainment is provided for teens. What i need is a mentor with experience to partner with because i have none. i really have a passion for this club i just need a person with experience to help me with the problems i don't even know about yet. i have educated myself enough to know that teen clubs have lots of problems and issues. i know what i am choosing to do is not as easy as finding a place to rent and throwing a CD player out and taking kids money. i have read quite a few posts on here and i really liked the ones that teenclub responded to but i've only been able to find a few posts by him. I suppose my question is where to find a mentor. i only know of two teen clubs in Oklahoma and one of the owners has only been open for six months. the other place, last i heard, was overrun by drugs (definitely not the mentor i need). any and all advice will be greatly appreciated. thank you.

[casabar]

I think Teenclub was suspended as a moderator and is now the CEO of a multi-national billion dollar company specializing in the spiritual development of Third World Youth and the revitalization of Break dancing.

Teen Clubs = Problems = Short eyes = Controlled substances = under age drinking = The PO leece

[clubchaz]

yeah i know i am getting into a mess with teen clubs and i EXPECT to have those problems and many more that only teens have the creativeness to create. that is why most of my budget is going to be towards overpaid babysitters (ie bouncers, off duty police, ect.) this will not completely prevent problems i realize but hopefully it will help. thank you any advice at this point helps tremendously.

[BarBoy]

I guess the first question to ask yourself is WHY do you want to open a teen club?

Let's say for example that everything goes well. The first 6 months the place is busy. What happens when the "teens" get bored? What then? will your crowds dwindle? Or will you have a competitor open up down the road because he sees you are doing well?

What happens when one of them sneaks in his dad's flask and a 16 year old girl drives home tanked and kills someone? What then?

what happens when some little baggy pants thug brings daddies gun to the club and shoots someone?

What happens when some young thugs show up and stomp a 14 year old boy in the parking lot, leaving him with brain injuries? What then?

You won't find sympathetic police, juries, insurance companies, or landlord if any of the above happens. These are some heavyweight risk factors you are taking on. It seems to me that a fickle crowd of teenagers in the boondocks isn't exactly the customer base you should be going after.

Why not move to a college town area and open a beer/wine place if you are on a budget? or finance a liquor license and do full 4COP? Get your feet wet in a small spot first, and do a teen night on a sunday off night or something. Think realistically. This is an awfully big risk you are taking with many liabilities involved, putting all your eggs into one basket.