Will it work?

[ALLorNOTHING]

I have been thinking about opening a nightclub/bar that targets couples. Two main reasons are:
If I open a regular club/bar, I will be in competition with about 10 other established places. AND...
I think people want a place they can go to and party with a little more relaxed atmosphere with their girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse than all the other clubs that are like meatmarkets. A place where you can go to the bathroom and not come back to 5 people trying to take your date out to dance, or worse!
I thought of a pretty original name too..."COUPLES" =)
I have thought of alot of pro's and con's to this idea. Let me know what you guys think, good and bad, and if you have seen something like this where your from. Thanks!

[Andrew]

Personally, the idea does not appeal. It would be socially tricky policy to enforce, should you choose to limit patronage to just couples.

Clubbing (to me, anyway) has a certain fantasy about it where it seems that anything is possible...your idea may stifle this.

I am not really sure what sort of crowd you would attract...It certainly is food for thought, tho'!

[happybaboon]

Nah - People, from what I've seen, don't go to clubs with serious partners - a date, or people in a casual relationship do - but they want to have fun, not be the upright couples you'd see in a bar that only caters for them. Both of them want to check out whats on offer at the clubs (even if it isn't seriously) and have a good time. You can't do that at a venue where everyone is involved with someone.

And the point has been made - how the hell are you going to enforce it? It might even be a bit of a rights issue if someone who isn't in a 'couple' wants to come into your club.

About as close to this as I've seen is a strip joint in Wellington with a sign outside stating that they let male/female couples in free :p :cool:

[ZEN]

too specialized. it's hard enough to fill the room in a club without putting up barriers. moreover, the majority of people are going out to meat...errrr.....meet the opposite sex. there was a club here that had a similar concept as well as not letting anyone under 25 in. well that club is gone and replaced by another. it's cool to have an original idea and a niche in the market but if you specialize too much, you're not that special to everyone.
zen
shepherds nite club

[JustinCase]

As has been stated by previous posters, the concept you suggest may not consistently attract enough of the type of customers you are looking for to be financially feasable.

There are however, other options that will attract the type of customer you are looking for.

If you are interested please contact me via e-mail at
JustinCase132@HotMail.com

[ALLorNOTHING]

Yeah, I like what was said about it being hard enough to keep the place filled without restrictions. I was just trying to figure out a way to offer something else to them. I know even married people like to check out whats out there, and the single drunk guys are probably the ones that are gonna keep me in business, not jealous wives!:D

[happybaboon]

If it's the relaxed atmosphere you're after, how aboue one of the "Press the buzzer, we'll look at you through a camera and if we don't like the look of you and you aren't a regular you can sod off" lounge? - Personally, I hate them... But they have that morality thing going for them, and the respectability too... And somehow, they seem to survive, even though no one ever knows who goes to them...

[ALLorNOTHING]

They buzz at the door, and you decide if you wanna let them in? I have never heard of that. If you dont open, they just have to walk away...HAHAHA! That would be funny. Sounds kinda dangerous though. Someone might be drunk, dissed, then come back and mess with the club or other people in line. Or get sued?

I have thought of having an invatational only, once or twice monthly. You have employees hand out invitations to the people you want, like all the good looking girls, and the guys spending alot of money at the bar. Then whatever night you are gonna have it on, make the hours for the "invatation only" from like 7-10 and have no cover and drink specials, or something to make them really want to come. That would have you making money earlier in the night, and other people would know that the club would be packed pretty early with good looking girls! After 10 start letting everyone in like normal.

[happybaboon]

Heh, must be an NZ thing?

I don't think it's ever caused problems... Most people just ignore the places :D

[ALLorNOTHING]

It must be a NZ thing, because I think alot of Americans, especially the young ones, are very materialistic. The feeling of being part of the "crew" is too much to ignore. Also when you take something away from someone, it makes them want it that much more.