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Jeff Romard

Jeff Romard

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Sep 4, 2006
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Sydney, Nova Scotia
We are sponsoring teen dances (grade 6 to 9 age group). I'm talking renting the hall, hiring Security, running the canteen, the whole deal. Our first one is Oct 26 and we have 2 more booked in Nov and Dec.

The whole idea came about a couple of weeks ago. I dropped our oldest 2 daughters off at a dance at a local hall. The sponsors of the dance just didn't see it fit to hire a DJ or security. There was a kid with a really bad home stereo and a computer running the music, and two other bigger kids working the door. Now this is a fair size hall and there are about 250 kids running around the place. At $5.00 per kid they surley could afford to do it right

So we put the plan in action. Joe, the guy that does any dances for that age group for us, will be doing the music. Lisa (my wife) will do the canteen and I will work the door. We have hired 2 guards to work the hall also. We are going with big sound and lights to see if we can draw them back for the next one
 
I wish more businesses (and I am not just talking DJ) would take the action to do this across the country.

It seems that the corporate world shies away from anything having to do with teenagers because of a perceived "it will only be trouble" attitude.

For years, I have tried to organize shows through the year in my hometown area, only to be turned away time after time by either the stuck in the 1800's city council, or complete lack of any corporate partner.

Good for you Jeff!!!!
 
Patrick you wouldn't believe the time we had getting venues. We had to put my credibility as a DJ and my wifes (she used to cater) on the line for a chance at them renting to us. I think alot of the problem is in some cases the sponsoring group does everything half-arsed and thats where the problems wind up thats why we are trying to do it right from the start
 
Good deal. :)

When I lived in VA, the local Parks & Recreation sponsored teen dances during the summer. It went over quite well once they finally figured out that they had to promote the heck out of it. If people don't know about it, they won't be there.

Promotion is the ticket. Get the word out. Also, it wouldn't hurt to enlist the help of local municipal agencies like the Parks & Rec, Chamber of Commerce or Jaycees, the YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs. These orgs live for this kind of thing and you may get a mention in the local fishwrapper. Besides, parents are more inclined to drop their pups off at an event that's sanctioned by a municipal organization.

Also, the orgs may have access to municipal space that you folks can use for the dances. I was in a HS auditorium in them days and it didn't cost anyone a dime.

Have plenty of glow necklaces on hand and do it up with a bang. :)
 
Thanks Fred

We are promoting it through our Facebook group and flyers in the local schools and popular hangouts. Our local Parks department don't really want anything to do with events that dont come with seniors attached. I am hoping that if we can get it to take off the service clubs will look for me rather than look for them. I'ts a really wierd mindset here everyone wants to do something but no one will take the first step.

We have the glow on order I am just hoping it makes it across the border on time :sqrolleyes:
 
That's great Jeff, good for you!

We had someone locally here try that. Unfortunately, there was a shooting and one teen was killed and two injured. From what I understand though there was not much security and a huge turnout of teenagers.

Sounds like you have it under control. Good luck!
 
I did something like this at a YMCA in Summit, NJ back in 2003 -2005. We had a party for the middle schoolers once a month on a friday. Saturdays from 8-12 for the high schoolers. Keeping the 2 groups seperated insured a great party for both groups. It was fun and secure. Just be prepared for a ton of request and shout outs.
 
Jeff - liaise with the local police as well.....let them know what's happening...Have them stop by..make sure they're cool with it.

Post the rules big time...enforce them.....

Don't rule out "frisking" them as they come in....Also ..once you're in, you're in for the night. Leave and you cannot come back in...

Keep us posted....

John...we don't have shoot outs in the Maritimes.......biggest concern...fighting
 
One of our accounts is a privately sponsored Teen Center (sponsored by Diana Ross, Tommy Hilfiger, Frank and Kathy Lee Gifford etc). We do at least two 7th & 8th grade dances a month as well as one or two HS functions a month.

At each function there is usually 350 to 500 kids. For these dances there are 8-10 in house security people as well as at least two town police (usually outside). This teen center enforces a "drug and alcohol free" center and really enforces it. Here's two pix from a 7th & 8th grade dance we did on Friday. Notice security on a platform in the center of the dancefloor as well as one on stage. They all wear special t-shirts and must be CPR trained.

afuudancefloor.gif


partypartyparty.gif


The 7th & 8th grade dances are usually not a problem, however, alcohol is a real problem at the HS dances. Here's a link to the 7th & 8th grade policies and procedures:

http://www.archstreet.org/7_8_grade_parents_letters.html

This link is for the general procedures which applies to the HS kids:

http://www.archstreet.org/policies_procedures.html

This center is very well run and the town really supports it. I am just finishing up designing their website that are at the links above. I am also being proposed for election to the Board of Directors in June, which will be great.

Make sure you have one huge liability policy as there is a good chance you will need it.
 
I recommend not hiring a security guard company as many kids view them as rent-a-cops and show less respect. Hire off-duty police which are more costly but they already know many of the trouble makers that may ruin the event and the real police badge carries mor authority.
 
Johnny,

I have been trying to get a return call or email from arch street forever and can not get any to respond.

Any suggestions?
 
thatmusicguy said:
Jeff - liaise with the local police as well.....let them know what's happening...Have them stop by..make sure they're cool with it.

Post the rules big time...enforce them.....

Don't rule out "frisking" them as they come in....Also ..once you're in, you're in for the night. Leave and you cannot come back in...

Keep us posted....

John...we don't have shoot outs in the Maritimes.......biggest concern...fighting
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No, no. It's shout outs not shoot outs. The kids like to send shout outs to their friends on the mic.
 
what do you think the overall cost of personell, overhead, and entertainment is for a typical 7,8 and HS night?
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The Teen Center charges $10. a head to get in for a regular dance. (Most dances have about 450 kids - 450 x 10=$4500. in ticket sales). I believe the fee for the Police is $60. per hour for each officer. My guess on in house security is $10. per hour for each security person. Our fee can run anywhere from $1000. to $4500., depending on what we are providing.

This center receives huge donations from the wealthy of Greenwich, CT. The center also rents it out for private parties (which is great for us as we pick up a good portion of this work...we have a Bar Mitzvah at the center on 10/20 and our fee for this to the client is $6000.)

The key to keeping the kids coming back is giving them something different each time. We're doing a 7th & 8th grade Halloween dance on 10/26 and we will be setting up a plasma video wall and showing Halloween music videos on the wall. Here's a pix from another theme night:

beachpartytheme.gif


The teen center built a giant sandbox and filled it with sand for this dance. The kids loved it.

They will also bring in name artists to do a show. Here's a pix of one with Fabolous...we did the sound and lighting for the show.

fabolous.gif
 
jtnichol said:
Jeff Romard, what is your budget for your area?
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Well nowhere near Johnnys :sqwink:

We are looking to pull it in for around $500.00. Thats Hall Rental, DJ, and Security

thatmusicguy said:
The reality - It's going to be a tough go to make money at this unless you have donations/sponsorship......
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I'm not looking to make a whole lot of money at this Steve.... It has to pay for itself for sure and beyond that what we make is what we make. If we do make money on the first three I plan on putting it back in to the project by way of more lights, added security, etc. Our business plan calls for us to be making 500 to 600 per event in the short term. If it works well here we plan to take the show on the road to the surrounding communities or different age groups.

I am really shying away from sponsorship for the time being. Around here any time I've seen sponsorship attached to an event it became a case of too many chiefs and not enough Indians. I figure over time if someone wants to come forward and sponsor then they jump through my hoops not me jump through thiers

We are also hoping that this could open up the school market a bit for us. Its hard to crack here because of price. If we are offering more for more we might crack it
 
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