Any club managers who can offer advice?

[Paris]

For a long time I've wished to open a club. I'm currently in school pursuing a degree in economics, and plan on graduating in 2012. I was hoping I could get some hep in developing the skills I'll need to be a successful strip club owner and would like advice on which classes would help me gain those skills.

Probably a lot of what I'm required for my degree is going to be helpful, but was hoping for some more direction in areas that you wish you had more experience in when becoming a strip club manager/ owner.

Thanks!

[mysteryman]

If you want to have a degree that will acutally help run a nightclub, strip club, or just a plain old bar, then hospitality management specializing in food and beverage management.

This gives you insight to how things are done at hotels, restaurants, casinos bars, etc...

The "godfather" of Gentlemen's Clubs, MJ Peters, had a Hospitality Degree.

[Phil-W]

I can only give you my experience from industry, but the most important skill you can have is 'people skills' - the ability to manage people.

For all the classes you can take in business skills, all organizations stand or fall on how well employees perform - and that in turn depends on how well they think they're being 'people-managed'.

You can have the best business model in the world, and it can still go tits up if you can't manage the people in your club and they're not cooperative.

Conversely, if you get your business model wrong, but your employees are motivated to help you, you could still pull out of the muck and the mire.

So I'd look for courses in people skills and the psychology of the workplace.

Phil.

[mysteryman]

From my experience when managing clubs you have two types of management skills which usually only oneskill type per manager is the norm. The skill types in the most basic form is front of the house and back of the house.

Front of the house is the people skills managers able to shake hands, shmooze the customers, make everyone feel like a VIP. Also able to manage the staff and entertainers with no problems.

Back of the house manager is usually the type that can handle all aspectes of ordering supplies, managing food and beverage, dealing with PL statments, accounting, book keeping, etc...

What I have always seen is these skills usually done by seperate managers, never really one manager doing it all unless it was a small club and the owner himself was doing it all.

Another thing to mention would be having the ability to do all jobs of the club. I have done every job from doormen, floormen, barback, bartender, day shift manager, night shift manager, VIP manager, General manager, and DJ. Housemom, and dancer of course I could not do, LOL but hey as long as you can take over any job at a drop of the hat to keep the club running when someone is sick, or does not show up then you are doing great!

[Kellydancer]

I've never run a club, but I did run an agency. One class I'd highly recommend is marketing. You are probably going to take that anyways, but I learned so much from taking it. Because in the long run, starting a business involved marketing the brand.

[threlayer]

In addition you'll need skills in: defending your club from unscrupulous,competing stripclub and bar owners; managing out-of-control and know-it-all strippers and loudmouthed drunks; detecting and exiting drug dealers and dealing with the consequences; accommodating police officers (straight and corrupt); landing a liquor permit from the state board and local politicians; managing self-righteous politicians, nearby residents and church members; plus experience in managing a building that no one ever intended to be put to such use. It's gotta be a tough business.

[Paris]

I actually have an operating club in mind. I know that the owner would like to sell, but is such a jerk that any offers he may get are quickly withdrawn. The offers are coming from out of state and don't take into consideration the value of the liquor license alone, much less the value of owning the real estate along with the business.

I definately want the deed to any strip club business I open. Real estate is the key to McDonald's success, and owning the land is a huge advantage for adult businesses, too. I plan on having all my ducks in a row by 2012. I'll make an offer then. That seems like such a short period of time considering how large of an undertaking this is going to be!

I have a friendly relationship with the strip club owner in the area, and can likely recruit that owner as an ally. The other strip club owner wields a lot of power in their city, so this is an absolute MUST for success in business.

[Kylea2]

I want it noted that I want to come see your club when you get it!

[Lucifer911]

For a long time I've wished to open a club. I'm currently in school pursuing a degree in economics, and plan on graduating in 2012. I was hoping I could get some hep in developing the skills I'll need to be a successful strip club owner and would like advice on which classes would help me gain those skills.

Probably a lot of what I'm required for my degree is going to be helpful, but was hoping for some more direction in areas that you wish you had more experience in when becoming a strip club manager/ owner.

Thanks!

Hi Paris,

Have you thought about applying for floor manager jobs at SCs? you have worked in the industry for a long time yeah? probably the most essential skills you need are marketing, marketing and more marketing to attract custies and good employees.

There are books by Stephen Covey (7 habits of success?) which help you develop people skills, team building, and leadership exercises.

There might be several MBA programs which would be of benefit...


I have seen questions like this before... are you sure you want to bypass becoming a floor manager just to be an owner of an SC? from my perspective thats what it seems like.

Best to be a floor manager first before considering running an SC.
Good news is you are light years ahead of 99% of people considering owning an SC.

Hope my message has been sort of helpful.

Luci

edit - try Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People book