Where to start?

[Wondering]

Been thinking for years about starting a nightclub/bar. Never worked in one. Been thinking about starting one of these multi-theme, divided clubs with nightclub, pub and sports bars all under one roof. Would be serving limited, hot food from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

I would be starting from the ground floor including building and designing to building through managing to place once the doors are open.

I am looking for any and all information on start-ups including layouts, proceedures, paperwork, promotions...etc.

Any books, information guides that might assist me in finding out if I want to go forward with this idea?

Thanks,

Wondering

[Baudtender]

What experience do you have with the nightclub business?

Baudtender

[Wondering]

None, Zilch, Zero - starting at square one.

Wondering

[Music Man]

I would suggest working at a club for a while first, no experience is not a good place to start with opening a club. I've seen 2 clubs here locally opened by owners with no experience, the first one closed very quickly never having made any money. The second one will be closed soon.

[clubdesign]

for club start ups you need a good business plan! Do you have financial backing yet?
Hire a design company that specializes in nightclubs.

[Wondering]

Obtaining money is not a problem - at least I hope!. This is probobly very differant than what most if you see - I suspect. This proposed club (Country music based) would be placed in a small town of about 10,000 people and a county popul. of about 35,000. People are currently driving 1 to 2 hours to go out and thats 65 mph highway driving. I would have one competitor about 30 min. away in a town of 2000 people - he is packed every night (approx. 200 people) and the place is not all that special. People around my location have no other place to go. 'State of the art design' is not an issue - people will come and dance in a barn if the barn is the 'place to be' and fun - at least around here.

I might be heading off into the unknown - blind, by not having any past history in the club business. And I could very well find out that this is not for me. But, I'm just trying to do some research into the idea and see how everything pans out. I have been heading up multi-million dollar construction projects for many years. Managing people and resources - I know. It's the club business details I'm looking for.

Looking at approx. 6000 SF country music dance, 3000 SF pub and 4000 SF. How much beer, how many mixed drinks can I expect per person, are bartenders paid hourly or salary, who pays the bands - the club or the door or both? What range can a person expect to pay for sound? tables? glassware? - Where does a person turn to purchase these items. What type of liab. insurance should be carried, and much etc...

These are the things I'm trying to find out to see if I want to go forward with this. I didn't expect any one book or website to tell me everything. But, maybe someone knows where I can turn to answer some of my questions.

Thank you very much for any assistance you might be able to offer.

RebarBox

[themusicman]

I think the answers to your questions are literally at your fingertips. The internet is the best place to start your research espeically in terms of furniture, sound, etc. Any search engine will yield hundreds of results.

[Andrew]

Yeah but discussions are much more fun and definitely more interesting. I know it's a business but information exchanges such as this (thank you NCB) gives it's members a sense of, well, community and belonging.

These forums are also searchable; remember that forum data is not picked up by any other external search engine (not that I know of)

To wondering: as TeenClubOwner says, working in the environment must be the best exposure (you are going to end up working in one anyway, after-all, right?!).

Else be the charming patron that you expect at your proposed establishment AND talk to as many staff as possible in your favorite clubs, pub, lounges, and bars. They too hold the answers to your questions.

[beachbar]

That also seems like a huge amount of space...have you considered doing it in stages, growing as your clientele does as opposed to staring too big and getting in over your head? It would also give you a bit of experience and a learning curve for mistakes...For example, start out with the pub, incorperate live music and dancing, then when you get a feel for your customers,employees, and the business, expand the space to a club area...just a thought.
Good Luck!
Beachbar