Focus on Nightlife

Getting more customers in the door usually requires entertainment in one form or another. Whether you’re the owner or a promotions manager, you need to find tasteful talent that will compliment your club and drive revenues. Hiring entertainment is a great way to bring energy to a venue and introduce new faces to your business. Depending on your club, there are many different options available to mix-up your nightly events.

Many venues prefer to hire DJs to add ambiance to a small space or a pulsing beat to a club with a larger dancefloor. Hiring a DJ is great for several reasons. For one, their setup is usually very compact so space is never a problem. Also, costs are relatively low because you’re often just dealing with them one-on-one. Another reason is that you’re not only paying the DJ for entertainment, you’re also getting free promotion. DJs come with a built-in fanbase that you get free access to. Online resources like The DJ List can give you an idea of what artists live in your area and how to get in touch with them.

Some owners reap the benefits of hiring celebrities to come in and, well, be celebrated. Depending on your talent budget, their are a variety of different personalities that clubs can bring in a few times a year. The financial benefits of these events are huge. Companies like RealityRox organize celebrity events with reality television stars, while other entertainment groups have no problem finding Hollywood talent if you’re willing to spend the money. It’s also a good idea to hire local celebrities (athletes, public figures, etc.) to bring in a crowd.

Musicians tend to fall in the same category as DJs but usually the logistics are a little trickier because you end up dealing with more people. One of the things an owner can always count on is that bands are constantly touring through their city and looking for a space to play. This works in the owner’s favor because it gives them the ability to negotiate a fair cost that will benefit both sides. Depending on the popularity of a given band, it’s often up to the owner or promoter to make sure customers get to the door.

Talented new visual artists can also pull people out to a small to medium sized venue. Leveraging the art or photography exhibit trends is an inexpensive way to draw people to your club. Most new artists are just happy to have a place to display their work and that means no cost to the venue owner. Press for these shows can usually be obtained in local weeklies and daily newspapers.