Starting a Club Night

i recommend reading through the articles Emma linked, and also check out this archive of DJTT blog posts that I put together a while back over on the DJTT forum http://www.djtechtools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24581

there’s a ton of really helpful and insightful information in the links from Emma and I

Here’s my thoughts:

jezalenko, post: 3791 wrote: The current resident DJ plays more commercial music than the most commercial radio station, and doesnt seem to know how to mix it either (just cuts from one to the other, radio style.)

First off, how does the crowd like this guy? He could be the worst DJ in the world but if the crowd loves him, shows up to support, dances, and thus he brings the party…then he’s still considered “gold” in the eyes of an owner or manager.

jezalenko, post: 3791 wrote: So as far a music policy goes, we will attempt to run with commercial remixes, to make the music smoother and more danceable, yet still give the punter something they know. However, we have also suggested we give the final hour or so over to the style of EDM the closeing DJ prefers, as Top40 dominates in my city. The plan is to give more or less time to that style of music depening on crowd response.

I like the idea, but I would try to word things in a way that doesn’t scare the owner. If he has a dead Friday night and nothing’s happening, then he’ll be open…but if he’s doing decently on Friday and now you’re looking to bring “new music” in, he’ll worry you’ll drive his crowd out.

I would probably word what you have in mind in terms of an event, a social thing, and find something that will set it out there, but don’t focus too much on the music. Most owners I’ve met could care less what’s playing as long as they have a crowd. Maybe you can market it as some kind of special event party or something.

jezalenko, post: 3791 wrote: However, as far as the business plan to present to the owner goes, I’m a bit stuck at some points. Firstly is expected attendance. I have honestly no idea how many people are going to be rolling up to an event. Does anyone have any tips on how to estimate this?

That’s tough. You could think you can bring out 500 people, then your night comes and no one shows. Way back I tried to do an underground music event when I thought there was a lacking of it, but a crowd wanting it. What I ran into were ravers who didn’t want to go to a club, and clubbers who didn’t want to go hear locals in what they deemed wasn’t a “proper venue”. We failed.

How many people you can muster is really down to who you know and if they would really come out to support you. I’ve had many colleagues who liked me in the scene, but not enough to break out of their typical habits to support. Family and friends even never really supported all that much and stayed in their own lives.

I’m not trying to knock your dreams, but forewarn you that with many people you know, you’ll see who are really “support” and who are not by if they’ll come out. Keep this in your mind and really think about how many people you can honestly bring out. If you think it’s not much, then seriously research and think about how you could market the event to the point it gets you those numbers.

jezalenko, post: 3791 wrote: Also the money side of things is where I’m not too confident. Probably the easiest way to pay for things would be to take a cover charge ($5-10) or a cut of the bar. Personally I hate cover charges, and I’m not confident of asking the owner for a cut of the bar (and I have no idea what percentage to ask for either!)

If the club normally charges cover, then try it. If not, then don’t. Even if you have to do a few nights as a “tryout” and get nothing, do it and prove yourself. Charging cover when the venue normally doesn’t can kill your chances, especially if other spots offer free entry.

So maybe do a trial run, and if you see success, then the man gives you a cut of the bar and you move forward.

jezalenko, post: 4114 wrote: Thanks D-Jam

I’ll clarify a few points for you.

Although the current DJ can’t mix, he has been the resident for 12 years and the owner likes him, for the fact that he ticks all the boxes – so we have to work with him, not against him. We have to try to get the owner to see us like he sees him, by bringing in the crowd.

The venue actually doesnt usually open on Fridays, so at least there is no regular crowd to drive away. For the owner, he stands to make a profit by opening in doors to the crowd we bring in. So the music policy will simply be keeping it similiar to what the current resident plays.

Our biggest challenge will be letting the punters know that the venue is open on a Friday, so we’re planning to get into the club on the nights it’s open and promote it then. This should allow us to get the regulars in the know about our night.

That sounds like good advice. The venue normally charges after 10, so we could do exactly the same.

Thanks for the advice, I’ll keep you all posted with whats happening.

This is Excellent my Friend 🙂
As I Believe that Everyone Loves Familiarity (Feeling Comfortable in a Recognised Environment); and if the Regulars from Wednesdays and Saturdays have to go Elsewhere on a Friday; to be able to Stay in their Favourite Place would be a Big Crowd Puller in itself; I Understand that it is Important to ‘Keep the ‘Main Nights Music within what the Owner and Regulars Expect’ from the DJ; but your idea of Introducing New Sounds (at the End Of The Night) is a Cool one; as it may go down a Storm 🙂
When we did the Only 2 Nights we Ever Did (before the Team Split Up); One of The Most Important things for us were Flyers; I worked in an Office of 500 people and 100 people took a Flyer; the others Members Of Our Team did the Same; and of course we also Fly Posted; but both nights were Packed and we made a Fortune 🙂