[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
Ditching the live music for a DJ? No way. DJ’s suck. [/quote]
No.
Good DJ’s fill clubs.
[quote]therajraj wrote:
[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
Ditching the live music for a DJ? No way. DJ’s suck. [/quote]
No.
Good DJ’s fill clubs.[/quote]
You want a bar or a dance club??
Dance clubs draw a younger crowd that spends a little money on a few fancy drinks.
Bars with good live music draw the beer and bourbon crowd and friends of the band that spend money all night and close the place down in the wee hours.
Yo, Lanky, good luck. I wish you lots of good business. I’d come down to slap my bass, mon, even though I hate Philadelphia.
[quote]Yo Momma wrote:
[quote]therajraj wrote:
[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
Ditching the live music for a DJ? No way. DJ’s suck. [/quote]
No.
Good DJ’s fill clubs.[/quote]
You want a bar or a dance club??
Dance clubs draw a younger crowd that spends a little money on a few fancy drinks.
Bars with good live music draw the beer and bourbon crowd and friends of the band that spend money all night and close the place down in the wee hours.
Yo, Lanky, good luck. I wish you lots of good business. I’d come down to slap my bass, mon, even though I hate Philadelphia.[/quote]
My point is they don’t suck and can draw a crowd in the right place.
You’re out of touch if you think the younger crowd only buys a few fancy drinks.
Thanks everyone for the replies and best wishes. I’m rethinking the whole DJ idea as it may not make sense to have a live band on Friday and a DJ on Saturday. I think most people would like to know what is going to be at the bar before going out instead of wondering it it’s going to be a DJ or live band.
One thing I want to clear up - this is in no way a night club. It’s currently a dive bar that I’m trying to attract a younger crowd because they spend more money. I know a bunch of bars in Philly that I wouldn’t classify as clubs that have DJs on the weekends, so it was an idea I was flirting with but after the responses here I’m reconsidering.
[quote]MementoMori wrote:
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
This is one of our biggest problems. The current bartenders don’t bring anyone in at all. They’ve all been there for so long it almost feels like they just gave up on trying to make a crowd. We’re speaking with them and going over the new agenda with them so if they don’t at least start trying again we’ll have to get some new bartenders in there.
[/quote]
Fire them. Bartenders have a very short shelf life. A comfortable bartender is one who doesn’t bring in people and steals (a whole 'nother issue no one has addressed yet).
[/quote]
I think (and have been given the idea from the owner) that the bartenders currently there are pretty damn honest. Given the amount of business this place is doing I don’t think there is a lot of opportunity for theft. That being said, there are a couple toxic bartenders that already have 1 foot out the door. The only thing stopping the majority owner from firing them is they know a couple secrets that could fuck up the owner’s marriage…I’m trying not to get involved in that area…
[quote]Cimmerian wrote:
Am I misunderstanding, or do people really go to bars for the bartenders? I don’t get this. I go out to have a drink with friends, I couldn’t give a fuck how or by whom the drink gets made.[/quote]
A good bartender can make your entire groups night a lot more fun.
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
[quote]MementoMori wrote:
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
This is one of our biggest problems. The current bartenders don’t bring anyone in at all. They’ve all been there for so long it almost feels like they just gave up on trying to make a crowd. We’re speaking with them and going over the new agenda with them so if they don’t at least start trying again we’ll have to get some new bartenders in there.
[/quote]
Fire them. Bartenders have a very short shelf life. A comfortable bartender is one who doesn’t bring in people and steals (a whole 'nother issue no one has addressed yet).
[/quote]
I think (and have been given the idea from the owner) that the bartenders currently there are pretty damn honest. Given the amount of business this place is doing I don’t think there is a lot of opportunity for theft. That being said, there are a couple toxic bartenders that already have 1 foot out the door. The only thing stopping the majority owner from firing them is they know a couple secrets that could fuck up the owner’s marriage…I’m trying not to get involved in that area…[/quote]
Seems to me that if you’re supposed to be turning the place around but don’t have the authority to fire the bad bartenders you’re going to be pushing a very heavy rock up a very steep hill. I don’t have specific suggestions about how to fix the place, but if it were my money/life I would have asked these questions before I bought into the place, not after.
Best of luck.
As stated before, a nice patio area outdoors is pretty crucial. People go out more with nice weather in PA, and love a spot where we can get out (after the 5 months of winter BS here).
There was a local 6pack shop here that used to sell to underage people all the time, they redid the place, added an outdoor patio, brought in a ridculous craft beer selection and partnered with the local chefs at the community college. That place makes money hand over fist.
I know in Pittsburgh, everywhere you go are dive bars serving Iron Shitty and cheap well liqour. The few places that started specializing in craft brews and spirits are really cornering the market. I know theres good beer out in Philly. Monks Cafe in downtown is the creme de la creme.
I would say get a large amount of craft beers, have some weeknight specials on it for the younger kids and working professional crowds (of 25-30 year olds).
Do get some nice pool tables and darts.
Perhaps partner with a local culinary institute, let their students come in and cook for a limited bar food/ appetizer type menu and watch the money come in.
This is my favorite bar. Reasons:
- Smoking outdoors (always in Colorado, but ICK the idea of it indoors)
- Excellent outdoor patio, great for spring/summer weekends
- Awesome food - Amazing burgers, chili, and everything else I’ve tried
- Not a huge beer selection, but they have good beer, not just the typical “accessible” shit
- $1 mimosas and $3 bloody mary bar, with great brunch
- Plenty of televisions if you want to watch the game, but not a “sports” bar.
- Clientele includes young professionals and biker dudes. Not any college type kids. Never seen fights or stupidity, very relaxed and positive vibe.
The inside is comfortable, clean, and not overly fancy. The bartenders are cool. It gets busy enough at times that you can’t get a seat at the bar. It is in a fairly industrial part of town, but it is well-renovated and kind of a “secret” type place you tell your friends about. They have everything in terms of entertainment - pub quiz, karaoke, live music, and probably DJs (but I don’t like DJs at a bar, unless there’s a dance floor).
The place used to be a biker bar, and was renovated/newly managed about 2-3 years ago.
I go to this bar because I love it. I go to other bars around me because they are within walking distance. I’d rather own a destination bar than a place for people to get bombed.
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
[quote]Cimmerian wrote:
Am I misunderstanding, or do people really go to bars for the bartenders? I don’t get this. I go out to have a drink with friends, I couldn’t give a fuck how or by whom the drink gets made.[/quote]
A good bartender can make your entire groups night a lot more fun. [/quote]
x2. I’m 34 and from age 18-32 spent 3 nights a week at bars or clubs for those 14 years.
Bartenders make a big difference. If we’re going out to play darts and have beers on a Tuesday night, we’ll go to a place with a hot, friendly bartender. If the place has an ugly or old bartender and a bunch of old fucks watching the news, I’m not going there. We’ll drink and play darts in my basement instead. I don’t care how cheap your beer is. I have a dive bar right across the street that sounds exactly like yours. I don’t go because I don’t want to drink with old people.
Hot bartenders have hot friends. I agree if she has a good energy she can definitely affect your night in a positive way. Just like a shitty mopey bartender will bring down the energy of a small bar. Also, if I tip good, I expect buy backs.
I also agree with the smaller menu. Big menu’s are retarded in small bars. Make a few things very good and be done with it. Good burgers, wings, nachos, tenders, fries and a few other should be enough. 1 page front and back.
It sounds like you already have the right ideas and are going to get the bar back on track. Good luck.
[quote]Yo Momma wrote:
Dance clubs draw a younger crowd that spends a little money on a few fancy drinks.
Bars with good live music draw the beer and bourbon crowd and friends of the band that spend money all night and close the place down in the wee hours.
[/quote]
Not my experience at all. When I was in my early 20’s I’d go to local bars during the week for darts, wings, and beer specials. On weekends, I’d go to nightclubs. We spent ALOT more at night clubs and drank just as much. In NJ and NYC young kids don’t spend a few bucks on fancy drinks at night clubs. Young girls do, but that’s a whole different story.
[quote]sam_sneed wrote:
[quote]Yo Momma wrote:
Dance clubs draw a younger crowd that spends a little money on a few fancy drinks.
Bars with good live music draw the beer and bourbon crowd and friends of the band that spend money all night and close the place down in the wee hours.
[/quote]
Not my experience at all. When I was in my early 20’s I’d go to local bars during the week for darts, wings, and beer specials. On weekends, I’d go to nightclubs. We spent ALOT more at night clubs and drank just as much. In NJ and NYC young kids don’t spend a few bucks on fancy drinks at night clubs. Young girls do, but that’s a whole different story.[/quote]
I live in a world of aging rockers and drunks. 70’s were a helluva time.
[quote]Yo Momma wrote:
[quote]sam_sneed wrote:
[quote]Yo Momma wrote:
Dance clubs draw a younger crowd that spends a little money on a few fancy drinks.
Bars with good live music draw the beer and bourbon crowd and friends of the band that spend money all night and close the place down in the wee hours.
[/quote]
Not my experience at all. When I was in my early 20’s I’d go to local bars during the week for darts, wings, and beer specials. On weekends, I’d go to nightclubs. We spent ALOT more at night clubs and drank just as much. In NJ and NYC young kids don’t spend a few bucks on fancy drinks at night clubs. Young girls do, but that’s a whole different story.[/quote]
I live in a world of aging rockers and drunks. 70’s were a helluva time.
[/quote]
Haha. I bet they were. My boss used to tell me about it when I worked at his restaurant. You didn’t even have DWI laws back then. I’m jealous of that era.
[quote]ag918w35 wrote:
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
[quote]MementoMori wrote:
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
This is one of our biggest problems. The current bartenders don’t bring anyone in at all. They’ve all been there for so long it almost feels like they just gave up on trying to make a crowd. We’re speaking with them and going over the new agenda with them so if they don’t at least start trying again we’ll have to get some new bartenders in there.
[/quote]
Fire them. Bartenders have a very short shelf life. A comfortable bartender is one who doesn’t bring in people and steals (a whole 'nother issue no one has addressed yet).
[/quote]
I think (and have been given the idea from the owner) that the bartenders currently there are pretty damn honest. Given the amount of business this place is doing I don’t think there is a lot of opportunity for theft. That being said, there are a couple toxic bartenders that already have 1 foot out the door. The only thing stopping the majority owner from firing them is they know a couple secrets that could fuck up the owner’s marriage…I’m trying not to get involved in that area…[/quote]
Seems to me that if you’re supposed to be turning the place around but don’t have the authority to fire the bad bartenders you’re going to be pushing a very heavy rock up a very steep hill. I don’t have specific suggestions about how to fix the place, but if it were my money/life I would have asked these questions before I bought into the place, not after.
Best of luck.[/quote]
Many of these questions were addressed before I bought into the place, but now that it’s coming down to it the owners are pushing back a little. I’m not too worried, I think at the end of the day I’ll be able to make the changes I want to make.
The main area I may not have too much authority in is food. The owner right now is pretty tight with the head cook and the head cook thinks he’s a real chef but he’s not. He cooks standard bar food and claims it’s better than Chickie’s and Pete’s (people from this area will know what a crock of shit that is - C&P has the best bar food around).
Edit - and I was able to buy into the place at what I believe to be a bargain considering the potential this place has.
[quote]Cimmerian wrote:
Am I misunderstanding, or do people really go to bars for the bartenders? I don’t get this. I go out to have a drink with friends, I couldn’t give a fuck how or by whom the drink gets made.[/quote]
Barstaff is a tight knit well connected group that support each other. If bartenders see me at their bar every wednesday they’ll come party at my bar on sundays. We give our money back and forth and drink and tip way too much. Good bartenders will build that reciprocity.
As for tits behind the bar. Obviously they look good BUT men are better bartenders (as a rule of thumb, sorry to any female bartenders reading!). I say this for two reasons,
- Male bartenders bring in men and women on their guestlists, women mainly bring just men. (generally speaking)
- Male bartenders are faster and better MOST of the time, I find they’re better at making the drinks, doing the math, getting the cash back , everything. As well, generally a guy does not go right to bartender, he busses and barbacks first. Therefore, he knows the workings of the bar, appreciates the need for cleanliness and he doesn’t think it is his God (or Boob) given right to bartend.
Because of this I would keep no more than 1 woman per bartop. You still get the boobs but you minimize the negatives.
Of course maximum efficiency may not be an issue for you right now since you aren’t a volume bar, which is what I’m used to.
If you can’t fire those bartenders phase them out. Give them non starter shifts (2nd or 3rd on’s). Tell them the poor shifts are due to bad guestlists. They’ll quit, they’re looking for a free ride and probably hate the world guestlist.
PS. Every bartender in every bar has the power to ruin an owner’s/Manager’s marriage. That’s life!
I have to agree about the bartenders as well. Women spend too much time bullshitting and fucking around and flirting with guys.
The best bars I’ve ever been in are staffed with all guys, and all guys who have been bartenders for a long time.
Although, of course, there are some exceptions… but few of them.
[quote]FightinIrish26 wrote:
I have to agree about the bartenders as well. Women spend too much time bullshitting and fucking around and flirting with guys.
The best bars I’ve ever been in are staffed with all guys, and all guys who have been bartenders for a long time.
Although, of course, there are some exceptions… but few of them.[/quote]
I agree. Hot girls may make for a crowd at first, but soon the patrons realize, no, they’re not interested in being picked up. Plus, women generally aren’t as funny as guys which is a huge plus in bartending.
Sorry, ladies, I’m somewhat of a misogynist. 
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
[quote]FightinIrish26 wrote:
I have to agree about the bartenders as well. Women spend too much time bullshitting and fucking around and flirting with guys.
The best bars I’ve ever been in are staffed with all guys, and all guys who have been bartenders for a long time.
Although, of course, there are some exceptions… but few of them.[/quote]
I agree. Hot girls may make for a crowd at first, but soon the patrons realize, no, they’re not interested in being picked up. Plus, women generally aren’t as funny as guys which is a huge plus in bartending.
Sorry, ladies, I’m somewhat of a misogynist. :)[/quote]
The best spots are the ones filled with attractive ladies not working. Unfortunately, not a whole lot of hot women hang out in dive bars in general.
I didn’t read through all the drink special ideas in this thread but one that I’ve heard of that was awesome was “Flip It Fridays” (or whatever day of the week you choose…
Basically you order your drink/round and then call heads or tails. The bartender flips a coin. If you guess right your drink/round is free… If not you gotta pay. It works out well cause people usually buy big rounds or drinks hoping to get it free instead of buying just one beer. My buddy said that bar is packed out on flip night.
Also… Girls. Get girls there and thn guys will come. Have your chick bring her friends in and then spread the word.
Like I said, I haven’t read though this whole thread yet so if this has already been stated ignore it… Once you get your bar renovated you need to hit up the social media outlests. Start a FB page for your bar and also start a twitter account. If you’re going for the 20something crowd this will help you get more exposure. You can advertise specials and upcoming events on there and it will be free.
Lanky, where is this place? Center City?
Sorry if you posted it. I didn’t read the whole thread.