Staffing ratios?

[markchr]

I could see how it could be easy to abuse this forum with too many questions, so I'll try not too :) But...

With regards to staffing ratio's... Can some of you wise ones please share your formulas? My club will have a 300 person occupancy and will be a dance club with different themed nights (e.g., goth, salsa, etc.).

Suggestions about the number of bartenders, servers, and security personnel pers 'x' number of people?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Estefon]

Start with the beginning and build it from there. How many customers are you expecting per day and at what times? How many drinks do you expect to serve to each customer? Is it full service dining or coctailing. A strong server can handle 4 tables full service at one time and up to 10 with ****tailing. An Exceptional server can hand twice that amount. A strong bartender can handle 100 customers an exceptional one can handle about 175. These are just my numbers and opinions based on my experience and level of expectations from my staff. I'm also their at all times helping greet, ring in orders, and bartend. But that's what I do as a manager. I fill in where and when help is needed.

[Securitygeek]

The number of security staff is fairly generic... 1 guard for every 50 patrons not including door, parking lot, and/or bathroom. Hire a good security manager/director/head of security (what ever you call it) give him/her a budget and let them run your security for ya. Thats how I usually operate. When the sec staff works for me its easier on me to call in or send home staff that is not needed due to volume. Get your security staff trained in non aggressive crowd control techniques such as CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) or some thing similiar and you will have fewer problems. Avoid the mistake of most new owners and don't hire the biggest meanest guys around. I have better luck with average looking people and yes I use female guards when ever I can. They can calm down a guy a hell of lot faster than I can. Especially if they are attractive women. :) And one of the most difficult jobs is working the door, that guy hears it all. Gets called everyname in the book and finding the right personallity to work the door is difficult. I try to get a preppy looking kid, some body the females would be attracted to, but who knows how to handle himself. I then pair him up with a "Bruiser" a big mean nasty looking s.o.b. who looks like he would rip off your head and spit down your throat if ya pissed him off. I prefer to keep him inside the club to avoid scaring anyone off though. :) Any other questions about security, feel free to holla at me. Or I'm sure some of the other guys on here will chime in. :) Good luck!

[markchr]

Thanks Estefon & SecurityGeek!