Finally Opening Teen CLub - Suggestions WANTED!

[teenclub]

Finally found a venue to start a teen club.

It's actually - believe it or not - a church!

They have a fellowship/reception hall that has a patio/lanai with kitchen. It should get 150-300 teens inside and out comfortably. It will have a smoothie/coffee shop feel on the outside and a Video Dance Club Feel on the inside.

I am getting security cameras and a video projector and screen using Dell Business Financing.

I am also getting computers with thumb print readers (possibly even touch screen/cash drawer for pos)

I was wondering if anyone knew of affordable membership management software.

The idea is that kids will register the first time they come, or in advance with parents.

We will get emergency contact info, parents contact info and maintain this in a database.

They will need to "sign in and out" when they come to the club. This way we have an accounting of what kids were in and when they left. Also, for those on the younger end of high schools, parents can give an "authorized pickup"

I know it sounds like daycare, But I am in Florida, and kids get snatched often it seems. This is optional for parents to say who they allowed to check out with.

We are particulary concerned about some 19 year old - taking home some 14 year old.

So I need something that will keep photos, contact info and some customized fields. I would use ACT, But more important a log of each time they come in/exit.

This will give us a great mailing list for specials etc too.

Any other recommendations are great.

I am placing an order for hardware in the next couple days

Launch date is May 26th unless the city tells us something different.

[thehaunting]

good luck! it seems like the opening is coming a little to soon, but if you feel ready then by all means. Me personally i would do something in june if not early July and allow for ample promotion time. that string of promo would also include the calender of events to come to keep people interested and coming back.

[teenclub]

Thanks for the good wishes!

actually Im sad i couldnt start 2 weeks earlier. Teens today are very connected in school, and the in-school word of mouth/flyers is a vehicle we WONT have.

In FL This School Year is out Mid May. So they will have been out of school almost 2 weeks by the time this first one hits.

I've got a ton of promotional ideas to carry us until the end of the year (this will still be open during school sessions :) ) I will keep you all updated once we open.

[Cmcmillan]

good luck with that. Teens are a hard market.

1. They don't buy beer - so money is made on food or coffee and soda.
2. Rent is not cheep and teen's fight way more then a normal 21+ night. keep staff on guard one knife fight or gun waved and your joint is done.

This is my best advise from someone who has worked for a teen nightclub that did 800 every weekend for 4 years. Book bands - build a stage and get in good with agents. Get Hot-Topic style music and venders in your club. Forget dance music. Teens today want Hip-hop and Punk or Nu Metal. You don't want hip hop in your club because you will thug it out. You mark my words on that one. Punk bands - over changer the food and drinks and get a good promoter in the high-school. (Girls - Cute - Young) always do the best job on teen boys. Pay her a good amount and get her to get her girlfriends to help out. tell them you will build a guest list at the door and for every person who comes on her guest list she gets the door fee. So lets she she turns in 50 person list you charge 5 bucks at the door she makes 250 bucks. This is not a loss - because for 50 people in the club they come with another 50 eat your club clean and drink away all your soda - coffee- RED BULL "GET IT"

[teenclub]

I appreciate your input - -sounds like you have a bad taste in your mouth for teens. Sorry about that.

Here are some things about me you guys may or may not be aware of.

I have worked with youth in concerts/events/clubs and ministry/outreach for about 10 years or more now.

Both my wife and I are kids at heart and LOVE teenagers. Can't get enough of them. I am not intimidated by them, and as a whole know that if they are respected and given boundaries there are only a few bad apples in each bunch.

This venue is being sponsored, so the cost of venue is not an issue.

We have 100,000 kids in 44 high schools in the two main counties in this area. (2.5- 3mill population, depending on which cities you include)

In THIS area -teens are a hot market, and totally underserved. I will be able to gross over 100k in 8 nights just off the door once i get my dream venue with a 1000+ capacity.

Teens will come from miles around to go to a teen club (especially open on a friday and/or sat night) because there isnt anywhere else

One club that is about an hours drive from where i am gets 2000 kids, and they have another 400 waiting outside after the fire marshall makes them stop taking kids. They charge 10 admission. 20k off the door, is good in my opinion.

This club I am doing is in a part of the city with a lot of urban and sociaeconimically depressed families -- so it will get "thugged" out as you say, regardless by virtue of its location - no matter the music. Not sure if that comment has any racial bearing for you or not. I am not afraid of this "crowd" because they are TEENAGERS, ie young adults, not thugs and I treat them as such, therefore they act as such.

Its a safe place for them to have fun and be themselves, without getting hassled as they do at one spot they frequent called "baywalk"

I don't care about alcohol sales as this is not an adult club, so its irrelavent to this group and I know of over a dozen other profit centers outside the door and bar for ANY club to make money.

I have a music business background and can get any artist at "direct" prices -- In other words I don't need to pay william morris agency :)

Good point on the live ent, thats always apart of any plan I make. The night will have live entertainment as a staple of the club, as well as some other features that make it not just "dance", including talent shows (with real record deals given), Video rather than audio Djs, and major contests and events.

There is a 1000 sq ft patio outside the club, with a tent covering that is next to the kitchen/concessions so they can get iced cappachino, soda, energy, snacks etc <<<<one of the profit centers :)

At any teen night I do, we have a licensed state security guard use the wand, and have 1 or 2 police officers on location. Knives and guns are rare when you put precautions in place, and have properly trained security.

Evacuation plans, Emergency procedures, preventative measures - all put in place :) and for the record -

ATTENTION ANYONE WORKING WITH TEENS -- 99% of the time, there is no such thing as a fight that is not telegraphed. It seems everyone knows about the fight ABOUT to happen, except the adults --if you pay attention, you can stop most problems before they start. Yes its stupid to fight because someone looked at or danced with a girl your not even dating, or because someone stepped on your shoes on the dancefloor, but thats what kids do. its just something that has to be dealt with. You can stop most problems BEFORE they start with teens - they talk to much, so u just have to keep your ear to the ground and keep up with whats going on.

Giving the kids a sense of ownership helps, let them know its THEIR Place and THEIR night, let them WORK there -- they will help you keep the knuckleheads in line - matter of fact, they know the trouble makers before you do.

Teen clubs are unique, and most that attempt them, do not know the intricacies necessary to do them successfully. Its not a "dry" night. Its not just the same as a club, minus alchohol. Its a distinct group, and requires a different mentality from the time you open to the time you close. You have different concerns. I recognize that, and Thank God, to date, have not had any major incidents occur.

I do like the guest list idea! I may institute something very similar to that.

I have done similar with flyers that have a blank at the bottom for the promoter to put their name in, and it gives a discount to the bearer. The person whose name is on the bottom gets a kickback.

Thanks for your comments so far - -guys keep em comin :)

[Cmcmillan]

I understand what your saying. It might just be that the New England area, and the style of venue we had got more bad eggs then yours.

The hip hop thing has little to do with race, you can be in super white upstate cail, and a hip hop night draws a thug factor. Our venue had to hire 5 on duty cops and pay 1g each weekend to outside guards to watch your easy going teenage kids. The kind of kids who would walk up on stage and steel our CDJ's. The kind of kids selling drugs to people inside the venue. 2000 kids are not that easy to watch over one by one and stop each person who trys to dance with some kids girls. I did it for 5 years.

[teenclub]

I cant wait to have a live ent venue that holds 2000 kids :)

[Cmcmillan]

watch out for what you wish for. IT SUCKS OUT YOUR SOUL!

[teenclub]

watch out for what you wish for. IT SUCKS OUT YOUR SOUL!


hahahahahaha

make it 5000 then :p