Advertisement
Many cities across the world have clubs where live music is played (Detroit is no exception), but so many owners are in the business only for the business. I don ’t blame anyone from wanting to eat but owners that take a real interest in catering to both of the clients (the paying ones and the bands) are rare. Does anyone have experience owning or working in a club? There ’s a few of us here thing of opening one in Detroit and we ’re interested in your feedback (good and bad).
posted by:
|
Detroit
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: Owning a club
Tue, October 7, 2003 - 4:03 PMThere's a couple of groups in Detroit interested in opening (or building from the ground up) a new club that not only caters to paying guests for an exciting evening out, but also to the muscians and artists who create the evening. Capacity would be in the 350-1000 range. We need your feedback:
1) What would you like to see in a club if you were going to one that would make an exceptional evening.
2) What would you like to see in a club from the musicians perspective. -
-
Re: Owning a club
Tue, August 9, 2005 - 4:42 AMTom,
A good friend of mine (he's also on Indiegrrl) named Mchael use to book for a club in San Jose. He now lives in Detroit. If you want, I can put you in contact with him.
A.C.
-
-
Re: Owning a club
Fri, October 17, 2003 - 11:14 AMI have never actually owned a club, but I have worked in a few , and was a creative director/booker / promo gal for a club several years back (and all I really wanted was to just have a regular place to perform)
It was terribly hard work and exausting. I think that if you are a creative person w/ artistic ambition,it would be very wise to have other people to take care of as much of the business and promo as possible , because it takes so much out of you , that eventually you will not have any energy or a clear head for playing music.
Not to sound like a complete bring down,but running a businees takes a different state of conciousness then writing and playng; and running a business is just that - business. I don't care how creative,cool,prolific , and / or fair of a person you are ,it's very easy to get carried away with the dream ,and let things slide. I'd say just really keep your head on your shoulders , and don't hire your friends.Good luck , Kitty -
-
Re: Owning a club
Sat, October 18, 2003 - 7:39 AMI hear you. I just got a taste of booking bands for a benefit show. They were all great to work with but even then, it was a lot of work. We'll hire the professional business folks to do that part. -
-
Re: Owning a club
Tue, October 28, 2003 - 5:28 PMWord, I have been a promoter for a couple places and 75% of the time it SUCKS booking and dealing with talent. And its a ton of work. -
-
Re: Owning a club
Wed, October 29, 2003 - 10:09 AMI hear you. The upside to my limited experience is that we know who is reliable and who is not.
If you were to hire a booking agent, what do you suggest are the best attributes to look for when first talking with them? -
-
Re: Owning a club
Wed, October 29, 2003 - 11:04 AMOrganization, cool-headedness and a somewhat charming personality. Someday who exudes a hell of a lot of confidence. -
-
Re: Owning a club
Wed, October 29, 2003 - 11:20 AMOk. Say I'm able to find that type of person, what would be a fair payment schedule for them (commission from the door, salary plus commission, salary only)? -
-
Re: Owning a club
Wed, October 29, 2003 - 11:52 AMI wouldnt do salary unless you are doing gigs 320 days a year and you could afford it. A percentage from the door is usually the best method, or bar if you get a percentage of the bar. -
-
Re: Owning a club
Wed, October 29, 2003 - 1:01 PMSay we pulled in 350 people on each Friday and Saturday, 50 weeks per year (500 person capacity club). It's been suggested that the door should be $5 per person. That's $1750 per night, twice a week. What percentage of this would you pay to a good booking agent?
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Owning a club
Fri, April 30, 2004 - 11:33 AMWould you pay $12 per person to attend a 700 seat venue, with reserved seating, to hear local and regional music? -
-
Re: Owning a club
Fri, April 30, 2004 - 11:54 AMNot likely... I would pay that much to see a known band that I really loved, if they had the "clout" that is were "big" enough to pull that sort of cash...
ie, I live in Seattle, and just paid that much to see Electric Six, and gladly, in fact, I would have paid more! But for me, they'd have to be THAT known for me to be willing to pay that much... or someone I just absolutley adored... most likely both...
I would not pay that much to see some local/regional band with little "press" probably no matter how much I liked them... $5 - $8 is pretty much the standard for the sort of band you seem to be talking about.... you'll get a better "head count" that way, trust me... most people don't want to pony up in the double digits unless the band is "biggish"
you also need to think about your alcohol consumption if you are running a club... you make more money there than at your door... the more you charge for tix, the less money they have to spend on drinks...
I have some thoughts for you on what a cool club would be like too... and have some know how for promotion, booking, rock writing, etc... if I lived in detroit, i'd be happy to pitch in... hell, it wouldn't take much to convince me to move out there... I'm due for a change lol
why don't you click on my avatar and send me a message and I'll run some more thoughts by you... I don't want to put them up in a public thread... you wouldn't want them "lifted" *laughs*
-
Re: Owning a club
Sun, May 2, 2004 - 7:32 AMI would pay $12 per person in order to support my local bands.
-
-
Re: Owning a club
Sun, August 7, 2005 - 4:24 PMThis project is moving forward thanks to all of the feedback we've received. The banker's have given it their initial thumbs up.
Right now we're talking with representatives for several national acts to gain their input into what amenities we'd need to provide at the venue to convince them to make our place a starting point or at least an intimate stop on their upcoming tours.
Next we're meeting with architects to get the first round of proposed designs completed and a building budget.
After that, we meet with the audio/video consultants to bring them into the project.
Our commercial property agent is scouting locations in Farmington Hills, Bloomfield, Novi & Royal Oak (Michigan) for us. We looked very carefully at Detroit and found 6 great buildings but sadly the taxes are too high for a profitable place and it's a challenge to work with the city.
After we have our business plan completed, it's back to the investors and banks.
If all goes well, we'll start selling season tickets in the spring of 2006 for a spring 2007 launch.
You're feedback is very welcome! -
-
Re: Owning a club
Sun, August 7, 2005 - 10:26 PMWow, how awesome, T. I will have a new hang out!
-
Re: Owning a club
Mon, August 8, 2005 - 6:45 AMI want to help with the web site :) -
-
Re: Owning a club
Mon, August 8, 2005 - 8:06 AMYou better do a good job on it. lol jk
-
-
-
Re: Owning a club
Wed, August 17, 2005 - 8:20 PMI've had both great and horrible experiences working in a variety of clubs.
The places that treat their talent and employees with caring and respect seemd to do better financially and with turn-over.
One thing to watch out for if you're opening a club, you have to keep an eye out for employee theft. Most bartenders and servewrs won't but there are a lot out there who will rob a business and the customers blind.
Hell, with David in your band, you have access to great club and bar owning advice! -
-
Re: Owning a club
Thu, August 18, 2005 - 9:28 AMI totally agree with treating everyone as part of your family. Thanks for the head's up on the theft issue.
-
-
Re: Owning a club
Thu, August 18, 2005 - 9:29 AMLooks like the music portion of the venue may be scaled up to seat 2000 people. It depends on what the final financial figures look like.
We met with several architects and have two more meetings scheduled. -
-
Re: Owning a club
Tue, November 1, 2005 - 11:08 AMUpdate:
We've settled on Van Tine|Guthrie Studio of architecture. They're the ones that designed the new Effigy Studio (recording studio) in Michigan.
Also met with 3 major banks who are interested in part of the financing and we're talking with venture capital folks as well as individual investors to finance the project.
The project is now a 500/2,000 seat venue (500 seats at 4 person tables for local and regional acts, 2,000 seats for large concerts) with a 100-200 seat restaurant.
Checked out a few more locations in Michigan, Chicago, and New York City to compare to our venue.
We have a sound consultant as part of the team representing the Harmon Group (JBL speakers, Crown amps, etc.).
Have a chef reviewing the restaurant portion of the plan.
Your feedback is welcome. -
-
Re: Owning a club
Sun, March 19, 2006 - 2:42 PMLocations: We've narrowed it down to two locations and have met with the city councils.
Next up: Letters of intent to perform from 4 major music acts (Class A level) and 6 Class B level act.
Then it's pre-selling the suites.
Then onto negotiating the land.
Next, final selection of one of the four sound consultants that we've been working with.
And the final step in phase 1, paying the archtect and sound consultant to complete the design work.
Then comes Phase 2. -
-
for your sake and your employees...
Thu, March 23, 2006 - 3:00 AMPLEASE have experienced bartenders involved in the design of the bar area. A poorly designed bar can be dangerous for bartenders and increase wait time on drinks substantially, costing you money.
Architects are really good at making a bar look cool but are crap at making it workable.
Dave and his dad could be very helpful but also get people who've worked behind multiple bartender bars. -
-
Re: for your sake and your employees...
Thu, March 23, 2006 - 2:57 PMVery good point. We'll make sure that a few of our favorite bartenders are involved with the archtect and sound crew during the design phase.
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Owning a club
Thu, March 23, 2006 - 2:55 AMI've worked in quite a variety of clubs. I don't know if I could be of help but feel free to ask me anything.
BTW, clubs/bars are a 24 hour a day job. You ould have to reeeeeeeeally want to be a clubowner (and a bit of a mistrustful bastard) to be a success at it. -
-
Re: Owning a club
Thu, March 23, 2006 - 2:58 PMWe hear you! We're putting together the team to run this place bit by bit based on who we trust and want to see everyday. -
-
Re: Owning a club
Fri, March 24, 2006 - 1:39 AMSounds like I'm really going to have to plan a Michigan trip in the near future, now.
And I don't even LIKE clubs!
-
-
