New gig

So i was approached last week at the car show that i have been doing (only 1 week left of that)about doing a club across the street. It is only one nite a week (sat.) and basically it would be to feed the drunks from about 12-2. Any comments, suggestions or anything from those who know???? I am looking forward to it. (i have nothing else at this pt.) and i am hoping it will work out for all of us involved.

As a drunk, I would say most of the business may come as people are forced out. If the club closes at 2, you will be selling until 2:30. No green ketchup, I can not understand that at that time of morning.

I am too old to stay up that late shelly, but I have heard of several people that had good luck at that kind of setup before.


dw

I am usually in bed by 10pm!!! But i NEED to make this work. So i will adjust and hopefully this will work for me. I at least have to try it.

Do you have anything that lights up to draw the tipsy over? Large hot dog lamp, holiday light strings, spotlight?

Bring someone to watch your back in case of trouble. Preferabe someone big and scary looking and/or who carries a badge. A woman alone with cash is a target even in the best of neighborhoods.

Me and my money will be locked in and along with a bat i will count on the security they have at the club. (i will have to see where they are opposed to where i am. Hubby is a bit worried but i think i will be fine. I will have some type of lighting besides my inside lites and the cooler lites.

one of the other posters had good luck working the l8 nite bar scene, hop eit works for you as well

Thanks Dream. me too.
nothing ventures, nothing gained.

Good luck Shelly, I have learned to love drunk, hungry people, with money. They will love you too I'm sure. I bought my cart from a guy in Boise and all he did was work Friday and Saturday nights at a local club there. He made out fine. I don't work too many late night gigs at my location but New Years eve is always really fun, and really good. I bet you get all the energy you need when you start burning food and taking cash, have fun.

quote:

Originally posted by efuery

Bring someone to watch your back in case of trouble. Preferabe someone big and scary looking and/or who carries a badge. A woman alone with cash is a target even in the best of neighborhoods.

I fit the big and scary part, but run when I see a badge... :)~
But as much of a pain in the arse it may be, after bar crowds will drop serious cash for munchies.. There was another thread here about this not too long ago, and the vendor was not happy at all about the night gig.. (Think it may have been locked due to varying differences)..

Hi Shelly,

I wish I could send you personal words of wisdom. I send my sincerest best wishes for you success, and continue to have your positive attitude. You have a lot of wise advise from seasoned professionals here, and for that, you are lucky. Stay safe, and keep us posted on how you are doing.

Thanks all. As always i appreciate all the wisdom. Hoefully it will be a profitable venture. It will have to be to get me to stay up past 10pm. (It has been a loooong time since i have done the club scene. (actually, i have NEVER been a "club" person) A neighborhood gin mill has always been my weakness
Anyway, i am hoping it all goes well and i will post the outcome. Have a grreat one folks.

Shelly best of luck and please stay safe. I remember when I was in College there was a Gyro vendor outside of a popular hangout and we couldn't wait to devour one of his gryo's with the sauce dripping everywhere. The memory is making my mouth water. Rickmalek does the bar scene and he has done really well.
Keep us updated

here's one. I am looking for suggestions for what i should sell. I have some ideas but want some input for those who know. So if you would please give me some suggestions. Easy, fast and a real $$$$ maker.

what about the Gyro with tzatziki sauce? It's easy with a warm pita and sauce. I think that would be a huge money maker. Maybe tacos or a taco bowl.

gyro i don't know much about, but will look into that. Tacos i have been seriously considering. Love them and they are easy!! Thanks.

Shelly, if you have a griddle or grill sausage and peppers and burgers and dogs are the way to go. Slap onions and peppers on the grill and u'll pull them in. I don't understand it but a drunk at 2 in the morning cant walk past a grill with onions and peppers cooking. Go this weekend and watch the traffic in and out and see if its worth it. No sense setting up if the place caters to the older crowd and only gets 20-30 patrons a night. Good luck.

My son, who is a Karaoke DJ at 2 different bars as a second job, is usually hungry when he gets off work there at about 2:15 am. He usually wants a cheeseburger, a grilled chicken breast sandwich or chicken nuggets (honey mustard + mayo for the nuggets, mayo on the sandwiches). I mention this (especially the mayo) since I am not sure whether the spiciness of a taco would be welcomed by the "drunks", while a menu like Hotdoggintheus suggested might be more their style. Also, in addition to ordinary toppings, you may very well get requests for mayo, which supposedly has a soothing effect on an upset stomach.

Every time I go by a Taco Bell at 2AM the drive thru line is around the building. If that is an idication then Tacos are probably a good bet.

thanks all.
Yes i could do the sausage & peppers that are usually on my menu. Cheesesteak, burgers. I have on fryer so fried is out. I was gonna do a more authentic type taco. (with shredded pork in a corn tort. with just min. maybe onion and cilantro.)more a easy on the stomach version.
As for the crowd. it is a woman 21 men 23 crowd. i looked over the web site and it looked like a kick'n place. But i will check it out with most of the items i mentioned and i will see what the crowd is. Oh and of course i will do the hot dogs.

I would recommend a double push button trigger and remote key fob, autodialer call system to call police. Not only for holdups, but your playing Russian roulette on which person is very nasty when drunk. (another part of this system is to put some billings into a trigger switch, when your held up you completely cooperate and pull the money and give it to them, this triggers the call system). Another recommendation is having a locksmith install a cash drop box and don't have the key with you. I would also recommend having a camera and recorder, (This records any problem with perfect recall, These systems are getting very cheap and worth the safety investment. If you have any questions on this I'll be happy to email you, I worked this type of field, (Free advise for you, I'm more concerned about a lone women out late at night, with cash on hand, just click on my name and click to send email) RJF

I think you'll do terrific! Seen this type of success in Pittsburgh where all the young people, most having a few too many, get out of the clubs and are hungry. Just understand that a few may mess around some so go with the flow. Tie down the gallon mustard and relish jars and you'll be fine.

Getting really excited about this gig. I have a good feeling that it will work out good for me. As i said there is NO food any where close by and so after they have danced thier butts off and did what ever they do in them places i have a feeling it will be good. (at least i hope) I was a bartender so i can deal with the drunks. (although i was a day time bartender with my most favorite type of customer. (older folks ) oh well i am a pretty friendly person so i see it to be okay. I will let everyone know next week. But please don't stop with the comments and suggestions. Always appreciated.

BIG tip jar with a bright flashing bicycle light.

There are some nights I get 50-60 bucks in the tip jar alone.

Really. being owner operator i would have never thought to put out a tip jar. But if you think i should i will. Thanks for the "tip"

Try throwing the Club's security(bouncers) team a little grub each night providing they keep an eye out for your safety. I don't think the early 20 somethings are the least bit concerned about an upset stomach at 2ish am.

I figured i would give the staff a SMALL discount. I am raising my pricing due to the time i will be out. Nothing outrageous but a small increase. I think it is certainly reasonable considering everything. Yeah, i am kinda counting on these "kids" to be hungry and not concerned for what they are doing to their stomachs. Looking forward to my first nite. (which is Sat. nite) My hubby said he will come with me. He is not gonna do anything other then scope out the crowd. This way i can get the hang of it myself (serving,money,watching) He will only be there if need be.

I probably sound out this with my security post, but if you look up the FBI site on crime stats, 7-11 store workers tops the list of dangerous professions because of the night holdup/murder factor. On the subject of late night eating, ever notice the Taco Bells, McDonalds lock out the walk ins and only have drive through, this isn't for the customer, its the holdup factor and safety factor for the employee and even at that there are plenty of these resturants that kids have lost their lives for the min. wage their working for.
An isolated food trailer is even more of a stand out. Most gas stations and all night stores have to put in bullet proof glass, cameras, holdup alarms purely from this fact. No matter the size of the town or how safe the area feels, the stats show a high danger factor for this type of setup. If your going to do this, please go into it with as much preventive safety as possible, after the fact of a hold up or attack isn't going to be worth what ever you make.) This will be my last post on this topic, I hate to see good people walk into these situations without a strong warning. Even in the security field its very dangerous, a locksmith in TX was killed for $20 in his pocket by going out to a car lockout late at night in an empty parking lot. Some 7-11 have the police or security agency do a hourly check in. I would wonder if the bar bouncers would even bother with you since they are employed by the club and have their hands full at the club, walking away from the club is a liability risk for the club owner. I wish you the best, though think very carefully if this opportunity is worth it. There are times its better to walk away with your life. RJF

That was the edited wersion?