An Event Organiser's Guide To Organising A Club Night

Organising a club night can be a thrilling experience, but it can also be a challenging one if you don't know where to start.

Hosting a club night can be a great way to bring more visitors to your venue, whatever type of venue you’re running, or whether you’re a PR trying to drum up support for a business or non-profit. The entertainment industry has been hit hard in recent years, and for those who are looking to reignite interest, a club night can really help to raise the profile of those who are looking to steal the limelight. Here is a guide to help you organise a successful club night. 

What is a Club Night?

A club night is generally a late-night event with music or attraction designed to showcase your venue or event. You may offer a specific musical genre, have a live band, or cheap drinks or discounts intended to appeal to customers. It's a chance to give people an opportunity they will be afraid to miss. 

Club Night Essentials

There are some key things that every good club night must have, so let's take a look at the essentials for a great night.

• Budget -  It is going to cost. The better idea you have of the costs involved before you get carried away with ideas, the more likely you are to succeed.

• Be original - Pretty much anything goes, so be creative and go for something unique that no one close by has already done - within budget, of course.

• Book early – You need to book the essentials, such as DJ, live bands and PA and sound system hire, once you have the date and venue set. Whether you are looking to buy or hire equipment, you need to know everything will be up and running for the event. Hiring equipment such as that available from companies such as Sound Services will ensure you have sound equipment and staging and sound engineering experts for all occasions at hand.

• Set expectations – You will likely need help, so working with people and businesses you trust will make life less stressful. However, it’s essential to set out precisely what you expect from them before the event. Make a clear task list for anyone you have working with you, and ensure that you choose equipment suppliers you can be sure will have the capacity and experience to cope with the event size.

• Advertising – People need to know what, when and how, so ensure you reach out where your target audience will see it. Social media is a quick cheap way to advertise, but leafleting is still a tried and tested method that can draw people in from the local area. 

• Pricing – This can be tricky to set, so it's worth checking out local expectations. Charge too much, and people may not want to pay. Too cheap, and people may feel it will be too rowdy, so learning about the market is essential. Remember you want to ensure people spend at the event, not just get into it.

• Insurance – hopefully, nothing will go wrong, but letting insurers know about your plans or taking out event-specific insurance is vital.

• VIPs – It may be worth considering a VIP area set aside for the special guests that can help you share the news of your event on social media or at their other events. Invite them personally, and ensure they bring the same voice as your target audience to get the best exposure.

• Be happy – if you and your staff are enthusiastic about the event, and what you are trying to achieve, this will catch on to the guests.

After the Event

Finally, if you plan and execute your event successfully, don't let that hard work go to waste. Have an opt-in email list to keep guests informed of your subsequent events and ask for their feedback. If you make them feel valued, they are more likely to return and support your future endeavours.