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How to throw a good party....?
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| zizack |
I've been thinking a lot lately about trying to get together with some friends and throw a one-off type of party and bring in a moderately well-known DJ to spin the main time slot. We were gonna take a loan out to try and get it all together. But it occured to me...I really don't have any real clue about what it takes....like in terms of selecting a venue and workign with them to get it off the ground.
Obviously you need to contact the DJ's manager and get it worked out, but what exactly has to be done in terms of getting the space to do it all worked out. I'm looking for a a guideline for the general process...including some general costs.
We're looking to do it in NYC, at a smaller place, but not too small...
Some of the names we were throwing around were...
Noel Sanger, Thomas Penton, Nathan Fake, Ozgur Can, Chris Micali, Chris Fortier...etc..
Thanks |
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| Soliman |
first of all look for a place that suits your needs (space, equipment... etc).
insted of taking a loan try to get a sponcer...
print flyers with the name of the dj on it..
Don't over do it because if it has a bad outcome you won't be able to return the money.
as they say expect the worst but hope for the best |
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| Mr. Tippy |
| My advice is not to take out a loan. If you lose money - and that's a possibility - it's much better to not owe for it. |
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| rturn214 |
Loans = Real bad news...
A guy I went to high school with brought in George Acosta for a set at one of the worst clubs I've ever seen, took out a loan that was basically all on him, and when he didn't come close to making his money back he was close to $10,000 in the hole for the night after all was said and done.
This was, however, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, so take that into consideration :D ...
Cheers,
RJT |
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| Eric Siefer |
I've been looking to do the same thing, sans the well-known DJ. Start scoping out some clubs, and talking with various club managers. You'll probably get a cut at the door.
Have a good timeline setup, because if it's too soon, you'll risk the chance of it not being promoted enough(be it flyers/word of mouth, etc).
And ditch the loan idea, it's just bad news. |
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| Inertia |
1) pick a venue. preferably a club that already has the furniture/security/staff/system/lights sorted out. you'll have to rent the club, there are normally two ways to go. a, where you only "rent the door", you get all the money from the cover price, and the club keeps the bar's winnings, or b, where you get the bar as well. here is where the real money is at. you have to provide the drinksof course, so you should check with the bartenders what the levels of consumption are on a normal night.
otherwise, if you pick some outdoor space, or a place normally not a club (lke a warehouse or whatnot), you can probably get it for a lot cheaper, but you're probably gonna have to deal with permits, setting up the soundsystem, getting a security force, setting up a bar, etc. it may end up being a lot more trouble than the little money you can save is worth. or perhaps even more costly.
2) book a dj. you should do this as far in advance as possible. try to get a date where he is close to the area, otherwise, the plane ticket may get you in the ass. unless he's on tour, in which case you may get a standard fee for transport (they calculate the costs of all the tours dates, and divide it in equal parts by promoters sometimes). you can get a tentative booking, which is a good idea, so that no one elses snatches the date you have in mind up. bear in mind you'll have to supply said DJ with food and shelter for the duration of his stay. if he's in town for a few extra days, show him around or something.
3) get sponsored. well. in large quantities. get as much money as you possibly can. your immediate goal is to be able to cover ALL your costs, so that everything made on the night is profit. here's a secret: throwing a GOOD GOOD party does not necessarily make money. it normally costs more than it makes. even if you can make 50grand from a party, you're nowhere if it cost you 47K. so get sponsored. ideally, make a profit out of it, so you're already one hand up before the night. target companies whos' target market are the people who might attend. common ones would be: Red Bull, Puma, etc. cellphone companies, alcohol manufacturers, hip clothes companies, bla bla. you basically take anything you can get.
4) advertise. possibly make a website. a dot com costs about 10 bucks for a name, and the server won't run you much if you'll just be hosting a couple of graphics and some text. display your sponsors' brands on the site. make flyers. many. get someone with talent to design it. put sponsors on it. offer these options to the sponsors during the meetings. take flyers to colleges, clubs, anywhere anyone might be interested.
thats basically what should do. if you have good vision, and know how to party yourself, you should be able to make a good night. it may be hard to get sponsors lined up on your first try, so you may even want to do this as a long term thing - do one night, and secure, under all circumstances that you at LEAST break even, and invite some people from each sponsor company, to show them what you can do. this will grease the wheels for next time, as they see you can haul a crowd.
don't expect to get rich on your first try. i basically invented the concept of a commercial afterparty here in my country, and at my first one, there were 350 people (not bad, considering the main event had about 1000, and we were in the middle of a tropical rainstorm), it went great, and i didn't even make 100 dollars.
good luck bro. |
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| Mike123 |
| Contact clubplanet.com |
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| zizack |
| hey, thanks for a lot of great advice. I have a question abotu actually booking the DJ....this is what I where I was thinking about putting a loan to use. You're saying it makes more sense to go out and find sponsors to put money down for that? |
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| zizack |
| another question...I know exact figures can only be had by talking to the DJs manager, but I was wondering what ballpark figures would be for some of the guys I mentioned...I have a much bigger list here, but I tried to stay with DJs that were American as to cut down on the plane costs. And I take it you have to set them up with a hotel etc... |
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| JakeC |
firstly you should budget.
write down everything your gonna need.
present that to the manager of the club adn he can tell you what you wont need i.e. security, bar staff, drinks, equipment etc.
make sure that you put the ticket prices at a price that even if a few people come (100+) you wont be completley ed by not being able to pay the dj or manager.
drinks promos are a good way to get people in (buy 2shots get 1 free) |
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| Inertia |
| quote: | Originally posted by zizack
hey, thanks for a lot of great advice. I have a question abotu actually booking the DJ....this is what I where I was thinking about putting a loan to use. You're saying it makes more sense to go out and find sponsors to put money down for that? |
loands = bad idea. don't play with your own money. and since the money is borrowed, and you're gonna have to pay it back, it technically is your own money. get sponsors to give you their money, and play with that. it depends on what DJ you get, but many times you can book them in advance without having to put the money down as soon.
yes, you'll have to set the DJ up in a hotel, pay for his food, and whatnot.
what you can do is make a budget of your absolute necessities. this is your real budget, the one you HAVE to cover. it is for your eyes only. then make another budget, but as bulked up as possible, without going overboard of course. this is what you present to sponsors. i'm not telling you to go in and lie to them, but you have to know what figures you NEED to cover, whilst trying to take advantage of as much money as they're willing to give to you.
talk with a large drink company, one that manages various brands. in this country, we have 3 groups, that compete with eachother. each manages a vodka, whisky, soft dirnk, rum and bottled water brand. we would normally meet with each, and take the best offer. many times, one group will better their offer just to make sure no other group gets you. they may be able to set you up with an open bar. if they do this, you may jack up the ticket price. or, maybe you could do an "open bar till 1AM" thing, so that way, the initial open bar lures people in, and you still make winnings from the bar afterwards.
that or maybe a welcome drink or shot or something. or drinks half off before 12. you figure out what's best for you. |
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| Psiweaver |
| Promotion Promotion Promotion that and looking for a venue that suits your needs. |
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