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Just finished a five year stint in New York. Was introduced to jazz by a friend and absolutely fell in love with the music and the jazz clubs in NYC.
I want to begin the process of planning to open my own in the next 5 years. Does anyone have any idea on where I can start.
I envision a nice hole in the wall, comfy, super relaxed spot where people can come..have a drink....and enjoy some good music.
Don't really expect to get rich from this. Would be very happy to pay myself $50 or $60k a year.
I think a jazz spot is the only job that I could legitimately go to and not feel like I am working.
Its a tough racket, get a job in an existing joint and see all what there is to it.
Jazz is a particular hard choice, it appeals to an older crowd which doesn't like to go out to bars that often. Getting enough of them to come out to make it profitable is one thing in New York with 15 million people, in a smaller city, its a lot harder.
I think you'd do better to open a punk rock club or a strip joint. Dames taking their clothes off is always popular.
Start with a job bartending ...then managing ...then booking acts.
After you've proven you can actually succeed... see if you still want to do it.
Thanks for commenting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam
Its a tough racket, get a job in an existing joint and see all what there is to it.
Jazz is a particular hard choice, it appeals to an older crowd which doesn't like to go out to bars that often. Getting enough of them to come out to make it profitable is one thing in New York with 15 million people, in a smaller city, its a lot harder.
I think you'd do better to open a punk rock club or a strip joint. Dames taking their clothes off is always popular.
Strip joint.... hahahaha. Thanks for suggestion.
Totally agree with comment about location. Still not sure where I would like to open the club.
Funny that you mention the age gap.
I wonder what would happen if I actually dude a jazz/rock fusion type of setup. Maybe do jazz during the week and open up to other types of music on weekends??
Partner with a upscale bistro restaurant where jazz is played at a low key during dinner but around 9:30 it switches over to bar/club full time. This way you can maximize building costs. The ambiance of the live music adds to the prestige of the place.
The biggest thing is to learn the bar business inside and out. Manage a few bars before you open your own so you can fail on someone else's dime, also spend some time working at both a small bar and then huge club. This way you learn the business, running a small neighbor bar will teach you some things, but you need to learn the whole business.
I think I am going to go ahead and look into getting my bartenders certification.
Will possibly open the door for me to obtain a gig at an already established club.
Save your money.
Get an actual JOB in a busy place.
Barback is the usual first step
I think too often people want to turn their hobbies into a business. I get the whole argment about do something your passionat about however running a jazzz club is not sitting around listening to jazz music, its running a hospitality business. Are you passionate about managing food service employees, running a payroll, keeping an eye on your cash business to make sure people aren't stealing. The business has very little to do with jazz and very much to do with managing a restaurant/bar. If you don't have a background in the industry chance are very high you will fail. LIke other posters have suggested go work in a bar for a year before even attempting to do this.
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