How to keep a salsa club happy?

[Ron Obvious]

You've propably all experienced the same thing, salsa clubs have a short life-expectancy because salsa people don't spend enough money buying drinks and/or don't want to pay high cover charges.

But how does the equation go from the point of view from the clubholders side? How many drinks should each person buy and how many people are needed to make the salsa place go around? And is the image benefit from having hot and sexy salsa people in one's club enough to justify their lesser drinking habits, maybe by them attracting heavy-drinking civilians to the club? Any thoughts?

[sweavo]

Venues are always looking for ways to increase numbers, so will take on a salsa promoter on their quietest night without too much of a thought... but if after a month or two that's still their quietest night, the promoter can expect to lose it! Unless the venue has built its whole image around a latin concept then there's no other reason to keep the salsa folk.

[tangotime]

have been in the position of club owner , on 2 separate occasions.

The financial success ( or failure ) is contingent on many factors, some controlable, others not. Operating expenses, can be the death knell, if you allow yourself to be lulled into believing, that you have a bigger and better " mouse trap " .

Things I learned-- Its true-- location is everything !-- staff are very unreliable--the public are fickle and everything will finish up costing more than you anticipated.

The " door " money, is a very important part of revenue . How much to charge is very dependant on the area you are in (one of mine was Fla--other Ga. ).
Its a known fact, that many dancers, are not inclined to buy more than 1 maybe 2 drinks, and some, none .
Drink specials are only as good as those that partake .

The capacity of a large venue, can be one of 2 things-- a gold mine or a nitemare. Paying for space that isnt used to capacity, can be the beginning of a quick demise.
Patrons should realise, that door fees, are sometimes, the only thing that is keeping the doors open .


There are no definitive answers to a successful club, if there were, all would be using the same format .

It also depends, if only salsa, that a fairly large demographic of Latinos, are within a reasonable driving distance . Even then-- no guarantees .

English clubs, I,m guessing , suffer from the same or similar problems--- but - most do not rely solely on 1 nites takings .

[Ron Obvious]

There are no definitive answers to a successful club, if there were, all would be using the same format .


Well sort of, they are. Maybe relocation is the answer. Maybe it's like those forest fires that destroy everything, but are still necessary for the natural environment.

[tj]

Well, regular clubs are constantly shutting down and re-emerging a few weeks later with a facelift. Therefore, I think it's normal for salsa clubs to go thru phases of shutting down with another place opening elsewhere.

The key to keeping places open is by increasing the size of the scene, IMHO. Not by insisting that us (cheapskate) salser@s spend more individually.

[sweavo]

Well, regular clubs are constantly shutting down and re-emerging a few weeks later with a facelift. Therefore, I think it's normal for salsa clubs to go thru phases of shutting down with another place opening elsewhere.

The key to keeping places open is by increasing the size of the scene, IMHO. Not by insisting that us (cheapskate) salser@s spend more individually.

Size of scene is nice, but 300 dancers spending $10 each is still worth less than 100 drunks spending $50. Any venue that wants to stay in business must constantly cut the weakest night and try something new.

[tj]

Size of scene is nice, but 300 dancers spending $10 each is still worth less than 100 drunks spending $50. Any venue that wants to stay in business must constantly cut the weakest night and try something new.
Definitely agree - usually the promoters seem to be able to find venues that are getting <30 drunks on a weeknight. It just likely won't be downtown.

[Ron Obvious]

So the corollary is to not make the salsa night at an existing place better, but to constantly sabotage one of their other nights ;).

[etp777]

One of most popular salsa places here (least among dancers I hang out with), is actually a very nice upscale restaurant too in the same location. Sure the diners are helping pay to keep the floor open.

[sweavo]

So the corollary is to not make the salsa night at an existing place better, but to constantly sabotage one of their other nights ;).

I like the way you think :)

One of most popular salsa places here (least among dancers I hang out with), is actually a very nice upscale restaurant too in the same location. Sure the diners are helping pay to keep the floor open.

That's very cool. Then it's up to the DJ and dancers not to put people off. Most of my town is very old buildings (16th-19th centuries) and the rooms are too small to get diners and dancers beside one another. There must be some places though!

[etp777]

Actually not even DJ (well, is part of night of course), but live music. To be honest, i still ahvent' been there yet. :D So not exactly sure how it's laid out. First time I tried to find their website to find their hours (was working late, thinking about stopping by for a bit of dancing on way home), thought I was on wrong site, because it was talking about fine dining, etc. here's a review actually, sounds liike there are dining options away from dance floor too:

The glitz and glamour of pre-revolutionary Havana come alive at Rumba, a lively dinner and dance destination in the old Hubbard Street Grill spot that would make Celia Cruz proud. Inside, an airy private room reminiscent of a Cuban mansion’s tearoom sits next to a cozy, discreet chef room, where parties of up to six can witness chef Israel Calderon in culinary action. The main room hosts a bevy of plush maroon booths along its parameter, tables peppered throughout in the middle and a dark-wood full bar islanded in an intimate corner. An in-house humidor by the entrance offers a wide array of cigars and adds to the very rico, very suave ambiance.



Rumba specializes in Latin American fusion dishes, which include remixes of traditional faves like Cuban "ropa vieja," Peruvian-inspired "ceviche trio" and Puerto Rican "arroz con pollo corona." More contemporary offerings include the Argentine "churrasco rumbero," beef tenderloin with sun-dried tomato chimichurri, and the "el pescador," an ocean-heavy combination of Spanish rice, mussels, shrimp, scallops and lobster flambéed in brandy.

But the meal is only part of the appeal. Wednesdays through Saturdays on the main room stage, Rumba makes good on its name by hosting live music running the gamut of Latin sounds, from cha-cha and salsa to Afro-Cuban and jazz. Friday and Saturday at 11 p.m., the main room doubles as a dance floor, where salsa and merengue lovers cut a rug until the wee hours and servers gladly dance with you if requested. Plagued by two left feet? Then take Rumba's complimentary salsa lessons on Friday night from 9-10 p.m.

[tangotime]

That's very cool. Then it's up to the DJ and dancers not to put people off. Most of my town is very old buildings (16th-19th centuries) and the rooms are too small to get diners and dancers beside one another. There must be some places though![/quote]

On the tables ?? :confused: :rolleyes:

[Catarina]

I do like Rumba....but they are the most vicious clearers of drinks and it's soooooooooo hot there that you cannot not buy more to drink when they swipe your half-full water/glass! So they are still getting plenty of money from dancers...even if it's "only" a $3.50 profit for every bottle of water they sell...plus the $10 cover.

[etp777]

Heh, not exactly most resounding review there, catarina. :)

How's excalibur? Think you said you were there for one night of salsa festival. i've been there, but never when they had salsa going, went for a benefit thing with dancing with the stars a couple months ago. Have one of those cards hand out to get in with no cover sitting here on my desk since then.

Hrmm, actually, have one for salsa tuesdays at 720 sitting next to it too. I really should use these sometime.

[Catarina]

Yeah. I know that wasn't the best review of Rumba. I do like it there, but am a bit burned out for various reasons on Rumba right now :(

I do like Excalibur: it is very well-AC'd. They give you free cups of ice water. Great space (two rooms--1 for salsa/cha cha cha & 1 for Bachata/merengue). because it's on Thursdays, there is generally free street parking within a couple of blocks.
haven't been to 720 on a tuesday. went one saturday & it was okay.

[etp777]

Free water is definitely good, and yeah, ac was definitely up high last time I was there. Since we were only dancing at start, rest of event was watching the season finale, was actually a bit overly cold. :)

Definitely understand being burned out on a place. Rumba always comes to my mind first on salsa in town (even though i've never beent here, or to any other salsa club), just becfuase it's one my teacher suggests most, to me and to other people. That's actually part of reason I probably wouldn't go, as while my teacher is great, don't want to see her outside of studio. Actually, BECAUSE she is. I don't need to fall for my teacher, so avoid seeing her more than I have to. :)