What makes a good club?

I know this has been discussed a lot over the forums, but what with the 503 error and overall sluggishness, searching the forums is a pain.

anywho....

What makes a good club?

I have actually been considering bringing my club back into existence, and removing the arcade I built (gets little to no traffic and is a prim hog LOL)

but... what would bring ppl to a club, other than the lure of free money or free gifts?

I would like it to be a place that folks would come to because they enjoy the place, and like to hang out. I would DJ there from time to time, and of course if other DJ's wanted a place to get their feet wet, and understand I would not be able to pay them, that is an option as well.
Same goes for dancers and hosts, if anyone wanted a place to practice or get the hang of being a dancer, dj, or host, the club would be available at no charge.
(it would be up to them to promote their event, I would invite them to the land group, so they could post events)


(maybe this needs a new thread LOL)

Live music events! I have been at several live events this past week and it really draws a good crowd who stay a while.
Good hosts/dancers who keep the conversation and the atmosphere going. I don't tend to stay at a club where no one is talking.

MOST important: You need a THEME and base you club around said theme. There are HUNDREDS of 'general' clubs that try to be everything to everyone, SL does not need another. Seeing how most are empty 90% of the time should be a wonderful warning.

However it does need a dedicated metal bar or hip hop club or the like. Pick a theme and create events and find DJs around that theme. Expect the PR, DJ recruiting and staff training to take 3-6 weeks before you open. Anything sooner and your results will be poor.

Also need consistent (ie daily) live DJs or/and music is also key as well as WELL TRAINED staff.

Good luck

The people.
I have seen crappy built places that were full all the time because the people who run it are
there all the time and any staff that's there accually greet people and TALK to them.
If the dancers/hosts are busy IMing and not chattering people will not feel comfortable.

Live music events seem to be the best attended.

Events and contests are ok but the people who come are there for the prize and as soon as the money is awarded everyone drifts off to the next chance at getting money.

Getting a core group of regulars who are friendly to new comers and who are around alot helps.

Keep in mind that everything ebb and flows here and a popular club today may be empty tomorrow for no reason...

I'm not creative enough to say what makes a good club, but I have a list of things I dislike about the clubs I've been to:

- Things that serve no purpose other than to add lag - things falling from the ceiling, animations etc, whatever makes that happen. With some good artwork, these things aren't necessary.

- Brightly lit places, too-dark places Also places with so much moving, spinning, morphing, including the floor, that it's like being in a three-ring circus. When I dance, I want to see my partner and the other people there while enjoying the music, not some giant lava lamp pattern on the walls.

- Too much advertising or constantly being told to go buy stuff. Some clubs seem to be little more than a dance floor in the middle of the mall.

- Dancers up on platforms. What purpose do they actually serve, especially if the place is already packed?? Why am I being asked to give them money? If the place looks empty, hire people to look like guests, not staff. (Tip: hire male 'guests' - it's amazing how many places are full of women dancing by themselves)

- People who yell Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and other things that are only amusing the first time you hear them. I don't care who's spanking whose butt.

- Couple dances that don't sync properly

- Anything that makes part of my dress disappear

- LMs that TP guests right into the middle of the action without the ability to walk away a bit during rez without shoving people out of the way or being landed on by those who come in after me.

- Having theme days that don't suit the club. Nothing like spending time deciding on the perfect outfit only to find out it's Beach Day at your favorite formal club. What the HECK is happening with Cloud Nine??

Those a few of my least favourite things

B

I agree with Brann.
Although parts of her dresses dissapearing might not be a bad thing... /me winks

cool thanks, pretty much along the same lines I was thinking

and I have run a club before, it was popular in the beginning(when clubs were still kinda popular)

but been awhile, and got busy in other stuff so took it down

I guess all I can do is try

not like the arcade will be missed LOL
hell I might even have enough prims to put the club in the sky...

*shrug*

Since opening our club about..hm...16 or 17 days ago, we've done pretty well, but I believe that's primarily due to our live events. In those 16 or 17 days, we've had 3 live events, with 4 more already scheduled. We also have some top notch DJs. You don't want newbie hosts in there, I promise, unless you're willing to train them.

A resilient, well-seasoned piece of timber that isn't likely to splinter or crack. A balanced shape that's the right weight for the wielder, and a properly-sized handgrip with a non-slip, absorbent binding. Metal bands are thought to increase strength, but usually aren't necessary.

Seriously, though, I have to go with the opinion that it's the people involved that make the difference. Live events, either DJs or live performers. Greeters who greet and interact with guests. Personally, it helps a club's cred if I go there and I'm not outnumbered by staff. If you need to pay people to stay there, why should I bother? If I were employing people to round out numbers, I'd not have them wearing a tag that says 'Staff' (other than DJ and greeter).

I enjoy themed events; it's good to have a reason to dress up. A notice on the group channel 24hrs and 1 hour before an event is cool, but many more than that and it annoys me. No member IMs on the group channel, please! It might be a personal thing, but I'd rather not be asked to join the club's VIP group. Mention it now & then, and stick a poster or two up.

On the subject of annoying spam, it's bad enough when guests are Wooohooo-ing and Growlz-ing, but don't let the staff do it. I walked into a club last night into a solid wall of chatspam, from the greeter, repeated AND shouted by script. 20 or so lines at a time. Despite the good music I was out of there before the walls had rezzed.

Ohh, and unlike the other kind of club I mentioned, metal bands are something I like to see

I like the idea of having live artists at the club, as well as improv night, where ppl can do their own thing, like comedy kind of thing...

LOL I sure could use the other kind of club right now, SL decided it did not like me and would not let me rez anything else

and WOW, I did not realize I had enough room at ground level for my club and arcade and house and store... WOW

so now, I have the club, house store and arcade LOL

(I like playing skeeball and whack a mole LOL)

I was trying to rez some more dance balls and SL would not let me
and already had 2 ppl there dancing on the balls I managed to rez. LOL

weird but I am not complaining LOL

but, anywho,, how would I go about getting live entertainment, not something I have done before.
What is the average wage paid to live entertainers?

(I know post in the help wanted section when I am ready, but are there other places to check?)

I think some well placed effects can certainly add ambiance to a club. Especially one of a dedicated theme. However, I also think less is more. None is too bland, too much and lag (or your video card unable to keep up which many people confuse with true network latency vs. your hardware limitations) becomes a issue.

It's a tough balance to strike sometimes however I do not think the default position of 'none' is proper with the correct usage.




Generally I agree. However in a themed club sometimes said theme that goes with the turf. But as a whole I am not a fan either of such like yourself.



This is the case for at least 50% of the clubs in SL it seems. The reason for the clubs is to attract ppl to the mall not the other way around. Slick way to get traffic I admit. I personally don't have a mall attached to my club so I cant say much about it except I can understand the logic. May not agree 100% with it but I do understand.

Simply Clubs are a money pit. Period. There are FEW ways to make any money and the ways that one does you are lucky to come close to breaking even. Most just try to lessen the red ink as much as possible.

So yes it is annoying to have malls or stores attached to clubs. I agree. However, most clubs wouldn't exist with out such as the cost is too much to bear for most people. (rent, deco, DJ fees, staff, contests, etc)



This we part ways. There job is to give some eye candy and to schmooze with guests. Its great PR and helps keep people who come. A valid and useful job in the club industry RL or SL.

Why should you tip the hosts? Because a GOOD host directs traffic in the room and behind the scenes. If you have never worked as a host I invite you to try it. You will have a new found respect for them.

Dancers? If you have checked out a dancer for more then 3 sec or talked to them more then a 'hello' then they, as the host, have done their job at making you feel welcome.

The bottom line is you don't want to tip them, don't. No ones holding a gun to your head. However a polite reminder every 20mins or so shouldn't be that annoying to anyone. Use that mental skill of sensory filtering all humans have



This is sounding like I am talking to one of the old nun's at my catholic school growing up. 'No loud decoration, no yelling, no dancing, no having fun!' LOL

I agree repeated usage x5 or x10 a sec or/and spamming such is not good. However someone showing they are having a good time like this every now and then isn't a bad thing. In fact is a good sign. The fact is you are not going to get solemn non-stop discussion about quantum physics, history or politics all the time. Sometimes people just want to be silly and have fun and want to use their emotes. Nothing wrong with that.



We club owners would like it if you reported broken dance balls to us rather then say nothing and then come to the forums and complain about it. As we would, you know, fix them. But thats just me. Also I have seen where the CLIENT not the dance balls gets out of sync with the server. So one person in the club sees the dances out of sync but in reality they are fine and everyone else. Something to keep in mind.



Sorry don't follow?



I don't understand this either. LM should be at the club entrance IMO.



Indeed a club needs to stick with its theme!

I think the dress disappear thing happens when one stands on a dance floor that is alpha
(semi transparent, or gridwork, mesh kind of thing to show something on the lower floor)

I have seen it make my hair disappear somewhat.

annoying but part of SL it seems heh

yeah

I am with you on the constant howls yells etc in chat, what the hell is up with that anyway?????

I can understand having a good time and such, but really is it necessary to scream out the same gesture 5 times or more, every 10 seconds???

blech

oh and what do you all think of voice being turned on, in clubs?

should it be a small section partioned off for voice users, or all or not at all?

( I am finding that less ppl turn on the stream when voice is available)

and I am pro voice, I like voice.

When people mention dancers, am I correct in assuming they are nude, or semi-dressed? If not, then what exactly is the difference between them and dancing customers? If they are making an effort in welcoming everyone and moving the conversation along, then dancing is secondary... Personally, not much eye candy for me, but appreciated if they make me feel like I am part of the group, especially if they say more than just 'hello'.

@Rhaorth, I think a club should be all Voice or no Voice, not half-half.
In another thread, some had mentioned that it was difficult to find places to use Voice - that they enjoyed using it but didn't know where to go to find others to meet and talk with. Maybe an all Voice club would be fun...

isabeau never thought of that
I guess I just see voice being used in so many places I do not think about it LOL

so yeah voice could be an attraction I guess

anywho off to play city of heroes

I think what many people are looking for in a club is a place to dress up and show off a little. My favorite clubs (that are now mostly gone) featured:

-An outdoor dance arena. This felt a bit less crowded but is far more comforting for someone suffering with severe lag. You're less likely to trample other people just trying to get into the fray if you can circle around and approach it from different directions.

-Few if any disorienting blinky lights that distract from focusing on the people.

-Allowed people to use their own dances and or particles within reason -- part of the showing off mentioned above too.

-And they often eased off the constant 80's pop overkill of typical clubs. Please no more Mike and the Mechanics for a while, however good they may have been. I can't dance to that.

A place to interact with and enjoy other people without the meat market feel. I don't know how you achieve this last one though.

Just my take on it --KC

it should be moderately heavy with a easy grip, and not break under stress or deceleration impacts =X