Managing a nightclub or restaurant: Why it’s not as easy as you think!

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Comment by BLU on July 22, 2009 at 8:54pm

I've thought about opening a club in my town and after all the research I've learned that it's alot more to it then I thought, from hiring keeping good trustworthy workers including a reliable dj. The liquor licensing and insurance process, security and cost alone are a mind blowing. I planned nightly events to get the people coming in but staffing and licensing put a money wreck in our plans.

Comment by Tim on July 22, 2009 at 8:33pm

Anytime your dealing with the public. You don't get many chances to get it wrong. The fact you mainly have to hire cheap labor lends itself to failure.

Comment by Kimara Lipscomb on July 22, 2009 at 1:05pm

My boyfriend and myself just recently opened a lounge and YES we are suffering right now. We have been opened for two months now and we still have no customer base like we need. Its a chance you have to take. You just have to leave it in Gods hands because he knows the plan.

Comment by Kris'Kisses on July 22, 2009 at 11:22am

I use to manager a restaurant and its not as easy as people think it is. Its a lot of work and requires a some patience. People are gonna people and if you cant deal with the public then working in that field is not for you. Ive seen a lot of managers come and go for that very reason. It looks easy but its not. I personally loved it. But i had oder in my restaurant. Meaning everyone knew their job and what they were suppose to be doing. Ofcorse not everyday will run room but running a club seems harder to me. Your dealing with drunk and sometimes disorderly people at times. The longer hours and dedication may be the same in each. To each is its own though!!!

Comment by Southern Girl on July 22, 2009 at 10:41am

I just left the Hotel/Hospitality/Event Planning profession this past December after 12 years in the field. While the events were exciting and my creativity was challenged to increase and improve and at times it provided great travel opportunities as well as person-to-person contacts; it is "the work" that I would not want to do at this age/stage of life.

L-O-N-G HOURS before the event begins, does the work begin! Things 'pop up', circumstances and situations change and you have to "think it forward" to make up the difference.

Bride-zillas, Mama-zillas, Get-Over-zillas and Champagne Taste w/Kool-Aid Money-zillas flood this field testing your customer service training to the max!

Then there are "l-o-n-g" hours after the event! The turn-arounds (for the next event), the clean up, the returns (third party goods/services w/people outside your supervision and four walls) and worst of all payments (oooooh please don't bounce nor stop payment Monday morning) etc! Whew...I'm getting a headache just writing about it!

I now give my time to a few close to my heart community/service programs and an ocassional anniversary, birthday, family reunion or wedding.

IT'S NOT AS EASY AS YOU THINK!

Comment by Monsieur Connaissance on July 22, 2009 at 10:06am

Managing a nightclub seems easier than managing a restaurant in my opinion. With restaurants, you have to make sure the food is excellent, the service is great, and the building is clean. You pretty much have to attempt to make sure every customer leaves satisfied whether things go good or bad.

With nightclubs, all you have to do is provide the liquor, security and eardrum popping music and you have a success. If I were to run a nighclub, one thing I would change from standard night clubs is the volume of the music. The music is often so loud you have to yell in the persons ear whos standing right beside you. If you want to talk to a young lady, you either have to use sign or body language because its near impossible to hear due to the noise. Nightclubs make a bulk of their money from the men that attend. There was a topic on here dealing with why single straight men werent at parties anymore. One reason is because of this economy. With the average night club, men will have to pay at least double what women pay to get in. Add the tradition of buying women overpriced waterdowned drinks as hindering those who dont have the funds to do it anymore. So another thing night clubs should also start doing is offering coupons. 1/2 off admission, bring 2 friends the 3rd gets in for free... or something of that nature

Comment by GROWNAZZMAN on July 22, 2009 at 9:02am

Security is the biggest problem in our night clubs letting in lil girls and thug wanna bees are why clubs fail.