Nightclub GP: What Would You Do Differently If You Opened Your First Venue Again?

Question

If you could go back before opening your first nightclub or entertainment venue, what are the top 5–10 things you would do differently?

operational lessons rather than the real estate side—things like management structure, vendor relationships, compliance, or daily operations.

Henry Clark · Answer

OP, I'm definitely not a Night Club GP, but I'll give it a go from a Controller/CFO background.  Without knowing your operational experience.

1.  Cash management- make sure it's not walking out the back door.

2.  Inventory management- make sure it's not walking out the back door or with worker friends.  Have high/low price options.  Never run out.

3.  Bartenders, waiters and cooks need to be trained on how to make you money.

4.  After the main drinking hours, you need to make the people thirsty again.

5.  Market- Monthly or weekly set nights, people can plan on.  People love having calendar events.  Or around events.

6.  Market- scale to demand.  Looks like you're in Tampa.  Raise prices and "Spend" levels based on how busy the market is.  Work on Table Turnover with your staff. Get your fire occupancy higher and add expandable service areas.

6.  Market- out of 15 spots, why yours?

7.  Parking- manage your parking.  Your customers only.

8.  VIP service.  High Spender setting and access.

Michael K Gallagher · Answer

Was not personally in the nightclub world, but had a family member very active in the founding and running of a major nightclub in town.  And I'd say the biggest lesson was to really understand who you were getting into business with, and that regardless of how long the relationship has "good" through the years, they can always take a left turn for the worse, and you need to put you first and do what's right for you and your family in that instance.

personalities tend to intensify with success and money, not relax.

Rich Hupper · Answer

Ive always wanted to open a night club.

Lamont Ellis · Answer

Thank you so much for your expertise and guidance—that definitely helped me out a lot. I really appreciate it.

@Rich Hupper  @Henry Clark@Michael K Gallagher

Nightclub GP: What Would You Do Differently If You Opened Your First Venue Again?

Most Popular Reply