(no subject)

[inaki]

Okay folks! Its time to give feedback on one of Inaki's hypothetical projects!

I'm looking for input specifically from folks in the music and media scene on this one. SO!

If a new dance club were to open, whereabouts would you like to see it, geographically, what sorts of things that you've seen done wrong in other clubs be fixed, and what ideas do you have that you'd think would be really cool? Anything is on the table and no idea is to absurd at this point!

We are all given chances to take leaps in our lives, and try something potentially dangerous and potentially awesome. Its up to us to leave our mark on the world.

Okay enough zen. Get posting!

Comments

[fareme.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.. I've only ever been to one dance club, so I can't say I'm terribly familiar with them.
However~ in any place of entertainment, I want my eyes to be busy and amused. I'm going for a good time, true, but I like to soak in the atmosphere. Think: Rainforest Cafe - I love that place, because you're just totally emersed in the theme - complete with fish tanks full of exotic fish, fake rainstorms, and all sorts of animals. I like an experience like that, and I think at a club it would be even funner.

What not to do..

[tehrasha.livejournal.com]

I have -not- been in alot of dance clubs, but a few of them seem to have been designed for visuals performance fisrt and audio quality second. They made extra effort to get all the strobes, neon, black lights, chasers etc. to look really nice, then realized they still had to put some speakers in somewhere, almost as an afterthought.

The resulting sound systems ended up sounding like several bone crushing subwoofers in the floor, and a few laser sharp piezo tweeters in the corners. The mids and midbass were just muddy background by comparison.

[jonasbagel.livejournal.com]

Well, you've heard some of my ideas already, but I'll list 'em here. ^_^

If you're planning to be in the Bay Area long-term, the best place for the club (IMHO) would be near or in San Jose or San Francisco, preferably near major transit lines like BART, Caltrain or the VTA. A second choice would be somewhere along the Bay side of the peninsula, but those are quieter, more out-of-the-way communities. Another choice might be the north/east bay, like Oakland, but that's not such a nice area. If you want the club set, go with SJ or SF.

As for the club itself, LOTS OF AIR CONDITIONING PLS is the first thing that springs to mind. Enough that if you had the max occupancy dancing and sweating their asses off, it'd still be below 75 degrees.

Firm rules (especially about substances and such) are important, but security that aren't assholes is also important. The club should definitely have standards, but the security shouldn't be interfering with anyone's enjoyment of the experience unless there are troublemakers.

Doorways should be nice and wide, like wider than normal. The overall architecture should be centralized around the DJ's position, to create a visual sense of unity. I'd personally go for rounded edges whenever possible, to give it a somewhat futuristic, organic feel. I like the idea of a club as an almost womb-like haven from the outside world, visually.

If you can afford it, a computer-controlled, complex lighting system would be great -- one that could change the mood of the room just with the correct combination/positioning of lasers and lighting. There are paints out there that are opaque white under normal light and various colors under UV -- it'd be neat if there was a whole separate environment under blacklight.

That's all I can think of for now. Oh, and you need to have Japanese rice screens with subtle circuit-board designs in them. ;)

[jonasbagel.livejournal.com]

Oh, and you also need to sell glowsticks at the bar. ;)

[vanst.livejournal.com]

Totally agreeing with the air conditioning. The more the better, and preferably an entire room dedicated to Not Sweating Thine Ass Off. Also: Water fountains, at least one in each bathroom. You don't want anyone getting dehydrated, passing out, and suing your ass.

And continuing along the lines of environmental control: Maybe a dedicated smoking room, with exhaust fans to pull the fumes of godknowswhat out of the club? 'Cause, well, going somewhere and getting a contact high when you aren't expecting to just isn't fun.

I'd personally prefer that the sound quality take priority over visuals, like Teh mentioned above, but not by a whole lot. I want to be able to hear what the DJ is hearing, but also have Das Blinkenlights to be distracted by.

And yes, glowstick sales at the bar.

[my-pet-rhino.livejournal.com]

GEOGRAPHICALLY: I agree with Jonas, the location should be central to public transit and preferably in the San Jose/San Francisco area. Good, lit parking is always good.

BAD THINGS IN CLUBS: Lighting (bad lighting is almost as bad as bad music). You have to be able to see who you're talking to or bumping into. Pretty visuals keep the eyes entertained as well as the ears. Lots of dance clubs I've been to have nothing in the way of visuals. Stuffy clubs are horrid, air conditioning or air flow is a must. If you're going to be serving alcohol, friendly and knowledgeable bartenders are a must. Bad ones ruin the atmosphere. Dirty and/or small cramped bathrooms get to smell like a sewer within a few hours. Bathrooms should be roomy and cleaned every once in awhile.

GOOD THINGS IN CLUBS: Pool tables are always a hit with clubs. Happy, pleasant lighting. Plenty of room on the dance floor. Security that is friendly but also firm with the rules. I agree that the dancing area should either be centered on, or directed toward the DJ providing the music. Rounded edges, not sharp corners, as Jonas also said. Also, an outside area for smoking is also a must because people like to smoke when they're drinking, and having to be crammed in a corner somewhere when you want to smoke isn't very welcoming.

[my-pet-rhino.livejournal.com]

And oh yeah, computer-produced visuals! :D

Preferably synched to the music playing.

[higginsdragon.livejournal.com]

I agree about location. SF would be the coolest, but south of there might be more practical.

All I can say is that I can think of plenty of neat things I haven't seen in many clubs, especially on the visual end, but too much to write out all here. We'll have to talk sometime. :)

[inaki.livejournal.com]

I'm definately up for that!

[kadyg.livejournal.com]

This sounds obvious but no one ever does it: A fookin' coat check!

I mean, how hard is it? Maybe it's because I'm a girl, but if you go out to hit the clubs during the inclement weather time of year, your choices are 1) clubwear+no coat=freeze and/or be wet or 2) clubwear+coat=something you have to drag around all night when you're not actually wearing it outside. A secure place to leave your purse and jacket will automatically put you above the other clubs you'll be competing against.

You also might want to consider making it a true club and selling memberships that get you into the occasional special event. A nightclub in New York (Life) did this. I know for a while having a Life members bracelette was a hot thing.

Good luck!

[inaki.livejournal.com]

Oooh.. Good ideas! I like these.

[smashwolf.livejournal.com]

Add to that LOTS of secure parking, LOCAL parking, proximity to transit lines, and a freeway.

Also having places to change clothes helps for people like me who want to wear stuff to clubs that is impractical to travel in. Changing rooms, and big lockers you can rent to store stuff in...

[smashwolf.livejournal.com]

A place to set up the technical shinies...

Oh, and for once, I would like to find a club that has FREE F-ING WATER, ALL YOu CAN DRINK.

[ksilebo.livejournal.com]

Chill room you can actually chill out in, temperature as well as psychologically.

Bathrooms that aren't meant for under 2 people.

Um...I think I'll spout more at you when I see you again.

[3catsjackson.livejournal.com]

What I wish every club did: turn the friggin' bass down! Doesn't have to be quiet per se, just eq'd a bit better, and not quite so loud overall. I'd go to clubs more often if I had the ability to converse somewhere inside, and didn't have to wear earplugs simply to walk by the building, but so many are convinced they have to crank their shitty sound system to 11 for a fun environment that it makes them totally unbearable and painful. Lower bass would more easily give you the bonus of a rare not-quite-so-thumpy chillout room, and would enable longer stays and better odds of meeting people without requiring sign language.

And a ginormous, interestingly decorated, frequently refilled ice water urn would be brilliant.

[asrinmoore.livejournal.com]

A real floor plan. The place might have to be custom built, but a profesionally produced floor plan giving space enough for the clubbing, the back room, the bar, and other assorted interest. All designed so the accoustics don't interfere with the bar-talk, and the moving/groving areas are laid out in an accesable orderly manner. I hate coming into a club, and seeing about 10 inches travel space between the few chairs/tables there, not being able to talk to the bartender over the music, and not being able to get around the dance floor, for lack of design space.

A few really simple roof-design tricks can make sound travel and stop where you want it to.