Starting at Ground Zero

[BabyDoll]

Okay - at the risk of being torn to pieces, I entrusting myself to your opinions. I am a student looking for information on where to start. I've looked at business plans, read the threads and all of this is for a class. Okay, maybe 95% for class, 5% for myself.
I live in a rural area where the bars outnumber the churches. The bars are all the same so what it comes down to is: something new to do. There isn't much to do but there are college students willing to drink. But I myself as a college student am looking for something else other than drinking and bowling. So where do I start? Again, all of this is for a class but I would also like to see what the possibilities of starting something here are.
I am looking forward to suggestions and of course, comments!

Please - be gentle - this is my first time!!

[The Event Guy]

Not too sure if I understand what you're looking for here, babydoll... are you looking for insight as "what" are new and exciting things to do besides drink and bowl? or are you looking for research for school?

I think in either case you've got to look at your enviornment - supply & demand. Then you've got to look at the types of people. How do you classify them? You've got to break it all down, it'll take lots of research & development...what do they watch, eat, wear, etc. etc.

Where are you from?

[BabyDoll]

Well, its mostly for a business plan for school with submssion into a business plan competition at a larger university. And we're a college town with mostly bars. The student body consists of your country type folks with some implants from different states who are into the hip-hop, R&B vibe. There are few if any "club" clubs here, which is MT, and I'm wondering where to start. I have an outline of a business plan, but I'm wondering where to look for dj's, club manager, bar manager, (which is more important?), waitresses, etc. I have in mind a plan for a club with a bouncer(s), maybe even a list at the door, dress code, whatever but something more than just a barstool racing contest. I've been out of state and realize that there is life out there and if its feasible, I'd like to bring a little excitement to this town.

So - again, where do I start? I've got a survey outlined that will try to get a feel for the interest in that type of club, but being that I've done the whole bar scene, most of it was from my own experiences. People that I've talked to are interested in that kind of nite out but thats my circle of friends. I guess I'm wondering what type of club succeeds more than others: club w/ drinks, dancing, and food or just club w/ drinks and dancing. I'd like it to be more of the hip-hop vibe or even a duel sided-club with country on one side and r&b on the other, catering to both types of crowds. I'm also wondering how much of an investment something like that would be, how much to ask for at the bank and costs in general. Like whats the average costs for glasses, pitchers, alcohol, non-alcoholic supplies, tables, chairs, etc. WHat do bigger cities charge for drinks, here on average, $2.00 a beer, $3.75 for a mixed drink, how much are cover charges?

[BCreten]

Hello,

You may want to check the following websites for pricing information for bar products:

www.libbey.com (glasses)

http://www.servu-online.com (bar equipment)

www.barproducts.com (various bar items)

But, the most costly part of the whole bar business is the lease/purchase of the building and the liquor licenses. This information you will need to get from your local ABC and real estate agent.

Hope this helps.
Brian

[The Event Guy]

Again, it's about supply & demand. You can't base your plan on what you think is cool. It must be geared toward what the immediate surrounding demographics want. Don't force something that people don't want.

ex. just because big city prices are what they are, it doesn't mean you can charge that price in your location by trying to open up a big city club, ya know what I mean?

You've got to hit the pavement and research this project. Interview people with simple questionaires (1-5 multiple choice answer questions), surf the web to checkout what similar small towns and cities are doing. In order to figure this out, you MUST know your market and how to cater to it specifically. That also means you MUST be knowledgeable with bar/club format - so surf the web. Start where you think people would like in your area. This includes wholesale distributors for your inventory needs. Personnel is a little different. For proposal purposes you can just fill in as you establish what you aim to do.

[BabyDoll]

Thank you for your input, I will keep you posted as to how things are working out!!

:D

[BabyDoll]

New question: I've talked to a bartender and he said that he usually gets $50 bucks a nite, then a $20 or so increase if the till is over a certain amount, so on and so forth. Is that the usual way or are they paid on an hourly basis? Which is better??

[Securitygeek]

Ok purely from a security point of view any venue that is going to have country and R&B/hip hop in the same location is just asking for trouble. Those two sets don't usually mix very well. I have seen it countless times with a couple of the local clubs. A country western honky tonk in the same shopping center as a hip hop club... fights every night. I would suggest a high energy dance/techno type of format. with a retro night during the week. but that is my own personal preference. Those crowds are usually easier to control. Of course your goth crowd is the easisest to control, scary looking folks but they are as a group one of the most passive I have ever encountered as a nightclub security professional. Just my two cents.

[imusic]

Here's a couple of links for nightclub resources and supplies. It'll give you pricing and links to other nightclub information, such as booking bands.

iWMCE Entertainment Resource (http://www.iwmce.com) Nightclub Pro Audio and Lighting Supplies (http://crossroads-music.org/catalog)

[BigMo_Atlanta]

Originally posted by Securitygeek
Ok purely from a security point of view any venue that is going to have country and R&B/hip hop in the same location is just asking for trouble. Those two sets don't usually mix very well. I have seen it countless times with a couple of the local clubs. A country western honky tonk in the same shopping center as a hip hop club... fights every night. I would suggest a high energy dance/techno type of format. with a retro night during the week. but that is my own personal preference. Those crowds are usually easier to control. Of course your goth crowd is the easisest to control, scary looking folks but they are as a group one of the most passive I have ever encountered as a nightclub security professional. Just my two cents.


I'm not sure if I agree with you completely on this one. True, these two don't mix well at all, but it can be done. It all depends on training and how people handle that type of situation.

I've done some work with two large clubs out here that mix the hip/hop and country themes. We haven't had any major altercations so far. The crowds have been well behaved and everybody enjoys the night.

I helped plan out and train the securuty staff. All I've seen so far in the average problems (overly intoxicated, minor arguments and fights) nothing racial.

[snow]

You should go to the local college and ask to use a class room for maybe 10 min tops. Then just get some refreshments and like two food items and then ask maybe like 10 students if they have just 10 min. or less to spare to offer some of their ideas in the matter of what is the area lacking for local entertainment. Tell them we some refreshments and it will be an open discussion. Make it as relaxed as possible not to profressional of a set up in the class room even if you can get a room with couches and/or comfortable chairs that would be better. Because when people are relaxed that just start to open up more and give more ideas. You will even find out that you probably won't even have to ask all of your questions because they will just start pouring out their needs and pain (sort of speaking ) of what they want. Then work with that and use it as a marketing plan and part of your business plan. GOOD LUCK!

[BabyDoll]

Originally posted by Securitygeek
I would suggest a high energy dance/techno type of format. with a retro night during the week. but that is my own personal preference. Those crowds are usually easier to control. Of course your goth crowd is the easisest to control, scary looking folks but they are as a group one of the most passive I have ever encountered as a nightclub security professional. Just my two cents.

I appreciate your 2 cents but this club being in Montana - we don't have the 'goth' crowd or the 'techno' crowd. Not sure if your aware but the population is deer : people --> 2:1. As for there being fights between the two crowds, they both listen to the others music because theres really nothing else up this way. Not trying to make it sound boring but maybe this will give you an idea of why I want to start a dual-sided venue.

Thanks to ALL of you for your input and advice - we're almost done with the business plan part, just have to see if we can get any offers for funding! (Is CRAX still looking to invest in a club?? We do have 15 year olds in MT...............:rolleyes: )

[David]

Don't discount Montana.

There are a lot of really great clubs in the state.

One that comes to mind is the Carlin Martini Bar & Nightclub. Have you ever been there?