I've always wondered what the life span or cycle of the average night is in most cities. Here in Tampa I see plenty of nights come and go, most don't even last 3 months, but others burn brightly for a short period of time only to be shuttered out of the blue. Physical clubs can follow the same pattern but tend to last at least 6 months, while coming to a halt by year 3.

Of course venues can go on and on, sometimes under different names as they switch from being a night club to a live venue and vice versa.

I ask this because I just passed my 6th anniversary of doing a video night at a club here in Tampa. I see a lot of start ups, especially for Rap/Top 40/Electronic that don't last long. Is it similar elsewhere or do you guys have LONG running nights that dominate the scene?

In August, I'll have been working at the same venue for twenty years - and I've done the night I'm doing now for about eighteen of those. The only change we've made along the way was moving it from Friday to Saturday.

And it's still fun!

WOW, 20 years is unheard of out here in the West... San Diego is about 4 years from open to close.

quote:

Originally posted by djjay:
WOW, 20 years is unheard of out here in the West... San Diego is about 4 years from open to close.

20 years is just the time I've put in - The venue itself has been open since the 1940's. It's had a few name changes (and different owners) along the way, but it's been a late night music venue from the Swing era to the present day ...and, despite whatever renovations it's needed (there are some underway right now, as a matter of fact), legend has it that it has NEVER been shut on a Saturday night since the day it first opened its doors.

Not a bad record.

A club in Scottsdale, AZ that I used to play regularly, Anderson's Fifth Estate, has been in business for at least a good twenty years or so, operating under the same name until just this past winter (it's now called Forbidden). That's a bit of a rarity for the Phoenix area; it was "come as you are" club in a rather upscale/trendy area that's normally dominated by whatever the flavor-of-the-month happened to be.

- M

quote:

Originally posted by Marcus McBride:
A club in Scottsdale, AZ that I used to play regularly, Anderson's Fifth Estate, has been in business for at least a good twenty years or so, operating under the same name until just this past winter (it's now called Forbidden). That's a bit of a rarity for the Phoenix area; it was "come as you are" club in a rather upscale/trendy area that's normally dominated by whatever the flavor-of-the-month happened to be.

- M

Yeah I think that holds true here as well.. Although the club my night is out is known best for it's goth/industrial weekends, there is no dress code and you see everything from business types in suits to "infamous" d-list net celebs like Peter Pan (hehe).

quote:

Originally posted by Marcus McBride:
A club in Scottsdale, AZ that I used to play regularly, Anderson's Fifth Estate, has been in business for at least a good twenty years or so, operating under the same name until just this past winter (it's now called Forbidden). That's a bit of a rarity for the Phoenix area; it was "come as you are" club in a rather upscale/trendy area that's normally dominated by whatever the flavor-of-the-month happened to be.

This might be the secret to long-term success then. We've never had a dress code either.

Here in Pittsburgh, I have heard of the 1000 day rule...typically if a nightclub makes it, after 1000 days, they either redo the club, or continue on. Or usually by the 1000th day, the club fails and shuts its doors.

As for nights, my particular venue has 4 rooms, 4 different music styles, so we can cover a broad range of nights. So instead of changing the music up, we try and change themes up, or come up with things for the public to do...like foam parties, even though they went out many years ago in our area. The general age group we handle is 21-25 on any given night, so most of the people coming were too young to remember this theme. So its new to them.

But we have a club owner that lets us hand out ideas to him and he finds ones he likes. Some clubs dont do that. But its one of the reasons why we have been around for 7 years in pittsburgh. We try our best to keep things goin for everyone no matter what it takes.

My observance here in the Seattle area is 5yrs average and they shut down or change names/themes for some reason. One of my favorites closed about 10 yrs ago and still have'nt found one similar. The little places or sports bar tend to survive longer probably because the mid-week business helps generate the money. I play for a local sports bar that I hope will last. We broke a year last august. And we're getting popular. I try hard on my part because it is my only dj residency. I have been filling in in other places now and then so I can get known in the loop. If in case I have to jump ship, I hope I'll get a lot of popularity by then. Last but not least, I like the smaller places better because the crowds don't get too out of control. Even as a dj.

Very popular club in county Cork {Freakscene} 14 years and running. 2 floors, 2 DJs playing mostly alternative music. Going as strong now as it ever was!

I got sent home recently for the first time in my career b/c business was slow. WTF is going on with the economy? I don't know where you live but i've seen a steady decline in attendance figures at some of the places that i spin at. I had another night not too long ago that maybe 50 people showed up to the entire evening.

At the end of the night I was like super depressed b/c I am starting to doubt myself as a DJ. The manager was like, dude its not you..times are tough for everyone now.

Well the weather is getting colder once again so at least for the next six months business will pick up. Gas prices are going down but for how long?

Going back to the real topic here----clubs around here will be jam packed for the first couple of months. After the newness fades away they will have a college id night in conjunction with cheap beer. Sale, remodel, rename, and the cycle continues....all of about 3 years.

local bars and irish pubs never die

Don't let it get you down Bam. I too take basically everything when it comes to attendance and such.

As far as this basic topic and some of the replies, we are after all talking about a basic human need which has been here since cave men started gathering around the first "venues" looking for an appropriate cave girl to whack over the head with a club and drag home for mating. Nothing has changed except our civility.

There will always be a demand for the club / pub / bar / watering hole. I would really question any statement that no club can survive, even in certain competitive markets without changing their names, management, or decor after 1 year or any such mischief. The Copacabana is still open in one of the most competitive markets on earth. Not quite the happenin' night spot, but an icon in the business since the 40's, and still making serious money.

I think it's about the product being provided and how well it caters to the locals and what kind of staying power it has. This issue is fundamentally related to the music issue, no? top 40 based dance is extremely "hot" but has no staying power, musically speaking. And that is a part of the overall product provided, but a main part.

My question here is, how much stock does the music have in this life span equation?

Quote: "Local bars and Irish pubs never die"
A few of them have died quite tragically over here in the last couple of months!

I do understand what you are saying about the need to re-model every 3 years or so. I've never been clubbing in America so I don't know the setup but over here clubs change every night of the week and repeat this week after week. I don't mean they re-model but they change their target audience from night to night. To give you an example, a nightclub in Cork has two dancefloors. They can open both to make it all one club or operate them separately to have two clubs in the one building. Monday nights are quiet so they offer really cheap vodka. Same goes for Tuesday. Music here is generally main stream top 40/dance etc. Wednesday is Freakscene night {14 years and running}. Music here is generally indie/alternative/old classics {Most refer to downstairs as the gay bar}.
Thursdays is Student Night where the place is normally packed.
Friday - Over 21's {for those of us who don't want the 18 year old kids around}
Saturday - Over 21's... 80s 90s 00s music
Sunday - Ladies night {ladies get in free.... the men follow}.

By varying the market each night the club has sustained growth and continues to be one of the most popular clubs in Cork.

Is there anything like this in America or Canada?

Our week is divided thus;

Mondays: Rock/Metal/Goth/Emo night aimed at the student age group.

Tuesdays: Available for live band hire.

Wednesdays: Available for live band hire.

Thursdays: 80's retro night aimed at the students who don't like Metal.

Fridays: We have four or five monthly residencies on rotation. There's a cutting-edge Electrohouse night, a Garage/Dubstep night, a fantastically popular Classic Rock night, a D&B night and a 90's retro night.

Saturdays: Me ...and I play a contemporary, but not mainstream, night of music from every genre that appeals to me. The sort of stuff that graces the Top 40 rather than smashes it. Everything from Noah & The Whale to Pendulum.

Yes, it is fun!