Bar & Club thinkin of opening an "under 21" club...

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M

Matthew

New DJ
Mar 15, 2009
123
2
36
Chicago, IL
www.soundrayz.com
I'm thinking of opening a club focused on the ages of under 21 as one a good distance away is doing quite well. However I have a fewe questions for anyone who knows.

How does music playing go? Do I need a certain redistributor license or anything? I live in Illinois btw.
 
Being the promoter you would have to pay BMI and ASCAP fees
 
What I have seen of 21 and under clubs you need to make sure you keep short leases (3 months or less) because generally they will run hot for about 3 months and then they will fall rapidly to a level that is not profitable. I have seen three of them come and go in the last ten years.

You also have to consider what ages you are going to allow, I saw a major problem with the one that started in Charlottesville because of the sex scandals with 20 on 14 15 and 16 year olds. So really you have to set it up (to be safe) for 18 to 20 or 14 to 17, Either way it cuts into sustainability! If you allow 13 year olds then your sex scandal problem raises it's ugly head again!

Doing 18 and up is feasible but you run into underage drinking with that and your cost goes up with enforcement!
 
My Partner and I looked into doing a 'teen' club. After talking with a Lawyer, there are so many things that you don't really think of that can go wrong and so many liabilities that you are such a high risk of.

Like Thunder said, the age differences and the 20 year olds trying to pick up 15 year old kids. The licensing fees for the music companies. The underage drinking, drugs, fights, etc etc.
 
maestro said:
What if you had to show valid school ID to get in and you had it limited from say 15 to 18 years old? That way you wouldn't have any issues with older guys and younger girls...
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That doesn't always work, Younger girls can use their sister's ID's. And older guys can use their old ID's. It just like at Bar's now. People use other peoples ID's all the time to get in.

Plus that doesn't do anything about the drinking & drug problems associated with teen events.

Plus with limiting the event to just a 3 year age span you are cutting out quite a bit of market area. Unless you did different ages for different nights of the week.

Do the 13 - 15 or 16 on Thursdays. And then the 15 - 18 on Fridays and then 17 - 20 on Saturdays.

Still seems like quite a bit of work and hassle for something the profits are going to be limited on. The best thing to do is maybe get the local Church or YMCA to host an event. So they can carry the liability of the event while you just work it like a normal gig.
 
Yeah, I wanted to do something like that as a Christian hang out for a long time. But that limits your pool even more, and makes it even harder to turn a profit. The only place we have around here that is still in business is a place that is a "club" on Thursday and Friday and then has local Christian bands perform on Saturday and they charge it like a concert. They have been in business for 20 years and are still going strong.

Mike
 
teen nights are rather succesful in many places here in jersey, especially in the summer time. They hold em every sunday when there is no school on monday, and usually large clubs holding about 1000 people throw them. Its very hard to make a profit in smaller venues. They charge about 20 or 25 to get in, and of course they make some more at the bar with sodas/waters/nonalcoholic drinks. they do 13-18 with a valid middle school or high school id. By no means are these teen nights rated pg though, so if your looking for some clean fun for the kids... in a real club environment dont expect it. The way you're gonna be succesful is by bringing in local teen djs that are popular in schools/ or popular with sweet 16 girls, and try to bring in guest appearances. recently they brought in kim sozzi at one of the teen nights here and it was a huge success.
 
Thank you all for replys, i will be going to see a lawyer first thing this weekend to see about it. A plan i was having is exactly as stated with school id's and do different ages on different nights and such. I was also hoping to turn it into a skating rink as well eventually with banquets and such once profit comes in a little bit!

Would I be able to get away with a music subscription to prim cuts like I do for DJ'ing ant not have to pay the 3 fee's? Or is that more for respect?
 
the only real successful under-21 nites that work around here...
are ones run by local 21-and-over clubs on a Sunday nite
(only on Sundays before a day of from school, or in the summer)
They already have the venue, the music licensing, the insurance, the security, the sound and lights, etc..
they only have to lock up the alcohol, and switch to serving sodas.
they also have to charge a bundle for admission
since they make NO money on the drinks.

I have seen some guys do a VERY good job at all age dances
(I've posted some pics in the past)
but as the other have already said, the problem is making it last more than a few weeks.
 
If "You" are the promoter of the event....YOU have to pay the music licensing. Depending on what you charge at the door and how many people you "project" to attend, then you pay a scale based on those numbers. Each company, (BMI, ASCAP and SESAC) has different pay scales. And...if you get caught NOT paying....Your HOSED!!!!
The reason you can get away with your music service is...Weddings are considered "private" events and schools already have a district "blanket" license for music performance.
There is a WHOLE can of worms (and hoops to jump through) to set up an event.
Good Luck!
 
Scott McKinney said:
If "You" are the promoter of the event....YOU have to pay the music licensing. Depending on what you charge at the door and how many people you "project" to attend, then you pay a scale based on those numbers. Each company, (BMI, ASCAP and SESAC) has different pay scales. And...if you get caught NOT paying....Your HOSED!!!!
The reason you can get away with your music service is...Weddings are considered "private" events and schools already have a district "blanket" license for music performance.
There is a WHOLE can of worms (and hoops to jump through) to set up an event.
Good Luck!
Click to expand...


Not always my friend. I've been basically told, and know...you get a good warning to get things right.
 
DJMN, Respectfully disagree.
If you are at a county fair or some local street dance, they may give you a warning but if you are engaged in a full scale rave or a club.....you're hosed! In an environment such as an organized event or nightclub they figure you already have all the licensing figured out.
I visited a rep from the Nashville office of BMI a few years ago and had a nice chat. Maybe your rep said something different. Hard to say. :)
Although the rep that came to Vegas one year did say the same thing as the Nashville rep.
Best option for better answers than a DJ chatboard is to ask an entertainment lawyer.
Rock on!
 
In this day and age the biggest issue you would face is LIABILITY. You can be sued for the smallest thing and the blood hungry media in search of ratings will show no mercy.
 
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