Thanks VP, hope all has been well, I've been off the Roosh grid for a bit. Data sheets on countries I got, on business not too sure about. I'll give a brief break down and anything else you need ask and I'll give more info. Despite my dire warning, I could probably open a club knowing what I know now, and losing what I lost, hard lessons are the best teachers, not that I really want to. If wanted, I wouldn't mind helping, mostly because I am bored and retired here in costa rica, but who knows for how long, I am looking at starting a few new businesses, just not sure what yet
Story starts like this....
I had a lot of friends that owned successful clubs/lounges/restaurants. I had a lot of connections in the community etc. I knew how it was done, found a perfect spot, I spent months hanging out at friends clubs watching learning. Finally decided to partner with someone who owned a "successful club". (story ends with him not being able to come up with his money, stealing 45k worth of sound and lighting equipment from me, and the property I had a lease on going into foreclosure due to the owner owing everyone money, this from a guy who owned 26 properties and just got in over his head so stopped paying on mine and ended up losing them all)
If you dont read any further.
- WATCH BAR RESCUE!! This guy is fucking knowledgeable, and gives away info that took me years to learn. I would seriously watch every single episode if you are serious about opening a club and take notes, listen to what he tells the owners and how they fucked up, because you will probably make the same mistakes.
I could literally write a book on this, but lets see if I can bullet a few thoughts as they come to me or this post will never end.
- opening a bar/restaurant is an ass load of work. I can not express this enough. I probably would have been successful had I not had the perfect storm of problems, but I spent nearly every spare moment of 18 months researching and working on it. Most people think its buy beer, sell beer. Nope. You have to work on promotions daily/weekly. Security, kitchen, cooks, dress code, waiters, website, music/DJ's, promoters, rentals agreements, local city and state laws (regardless if its international or not) work schedules, liquor, beer, logo design, club design(more later), there will always be problems. As I said before, sit down, analyze how much work you think it will be, really think on it. Then multiply that by 10. Seriously, its that much work.
Remember the reasons you like clubs and go to clubs are NOT why clubs are successful (ie dollar shots/beers) It is a BUSINESS and should be thought of as that, NOT fun. Also remember, one of my only friends who has opened multiple bars/strip clubs and is successful has a great saying of his, "I am here to sell drinks not buy drinks".
-Trust no one, everyone is your "friend" when you want to open a club, most of their "free" or "cheap" help is worthless, they just want in on some pussy, free drinks or money if you are successful, or just like most men like the "idea" of owning a club or being a friend of an owner.
-Logo design Very important, its what will be on your cards, advertisements, website (if applicable) inside outside club, colors are very important, its most peoples first impression. Something that calls attention and is bright. Maybe Ill post mine later.
-Club design, very important, height of bar, height of stools, height of high tops, etc... makes a huge difference, you have to look at flows of people, bathroom location, where the bars are (harder to get to = less sales) kitchen if/appl, liquor placement behind the bar, stations behind the bar, flow of dirty glasses (washed behind the bar or in kitchen) really a million things. There is a science to all of this, and I am just scratching the surface. Not to mention colors and how they affect people. Lighting and lack of lighting, music and music angles and volumes, temperature if/appl, and often all of these change throughout the night. Ever notice how clubs usually get a little hotter and darker as the night goes on and music gets louder???? sometimes its just bad a/c and lots of people, often its intentional. To make you dance more, sweat more and drink more. If you really get into the science of it a good DJ will have a down song to give "dancers" a chance to go to the bar to buy drinks, then amp it back up again. I spent 25k to have a professional club design, you think you can do it yourself? it will look like you did it yourself. (BTW I will sell my design cheap
including color scheme etc)
security- VERY important, if you get known to have fights you will get shut down or get a bad name quickly, women wont go(women are one of the most important things you want at min a 50-50 ideally more like 60-40, and the idea of just giving free drinks to women to get them in only works so well for so long, I can explain more on this later) I had a law enforcement background so I had this down. But you need rules for if they hit, can they hit when (i recommend no) enough to handle issues and ability to. You think your "friends" at the bar will help you? Most will think its fun to watch a fight and dont think about the business impact. I wrote a 4 page rule "book" for my security
Ok, I am tired of typing and have to get some other stuff done, this is just an idea of things. I will at least touch on theft.
EVERYONE will be stealing in one way or the other. You have to have numerous trackings in place. Everyone will want to eat for free. Kitchen staff with take food home. Waiters will take salt, ketchup straws, Bartenders will give or over pour drinks to everyone to get bigger tips. Bring their own bottles and sell drinks out of them, pocking the money, there are dozens of ways they steal, I studied numerous books just on this one subject because its adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
In the USA ABC regulations are mother fuckers and you can get shut down for anything. Other countries there are always bribes involved with half a dozen people, cops, inspectors, fire, mayors governor, local drug dealers with pay you and spend lots of money, but they will want to be able to sell out of your place.
-More on drugs, MOST clubs that I have experience ended up being a place to launder money or drug money funded etc... MOST just dont make good money. I would say open a club and do it for fun but remember you will be tied to the place.
The dream team of a club would be multiple owners. A local person who knows the area and people, a contractor (construction), a lawyer, an accountant and someone with experience in bars/restaurant... a manager type. I would also add someone with promotion ability, owner of a radio station, local newspaper etc... most successful owners I know spend nearly 30% of their profits to promote the business.
Maybe more later... gotta get stuff done, post any questions.