Let’s Start At The Beginning
Hi there! Welcome to my first blog post and thanks for joining me along my journey towards having my own nightclub. I figured that for my first post, I’d just start at the beginning. So here we go.
Back when I was a kid – I must’ve been 6 or 7 – one of my favorite things to do was to play in my bedroom and pretend it was a nightclub. I’d close the curtains, turn off the lights, take my parent’s old record player and play Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration” on repeat (not really the latest hit at that time, but the only record I could find). I’d invite my friends and sell them “drinks”. They’d pay for it with plastic coins and I would feel like the best bartender in town. Over the years I upgraded my “club” with a mirror ball and moving disco lights I’d get from Santa, and would host even cooler parties. I think at that time, I already had that passion for nightlife in me.
But the parties made place for high-school. I grew up, my interest turned to tech and gadgets, like the other boys of my age. I wanted a new TV, an X-Box, a new laptop, so I needed to make some money. Being a paper boy wasn’t gonna do the trick; I wanted to make big bucks. So I had to find a “real” job.
I figured that working in hospitality would be fun. Serving people, shouldn’t be that difficult, right? So I went by every restaurant and bar in town to ask if they were hiring. I’d leave my name and phone number here and there, hoping that someone would call me back. And then it happened. A couple of days later I got a call.
*Hi, are you still available?*
Yeah, I am.
*Great, you can start tonight. Alright?*
Ehm, I guess…
*Ok, be here at half past ten. We’ll show you around and then it’s show time!*
Hurray! I just landed my first job. So, that night I went to the local Irish Pub, put on my new working clothes, and learned what I was supposed to do; “Collect all the empty glasses. Bring them back to the bar. Clean them. And repeat.”.
That night marked the start of my career in hospitality. I started as a runner and from that night, every Saturday night I’d be the king of the dance floor, balancing my serving tray filled with empty glasses over, under and in-between the dancing guests. After a year of running I got my first promotion. I was now a bartender, and working there became even better. We’d have so much fun behind the bar, sometimes even more than the guests on the dance floor. I won’t share every crazy story with you, but I can tell you those were the good times…
I worked at the pub for a couple of years until I got a new job at the local nightclub. I realized that I loved working in hospitality, I loved it so much that that little sparkle deep within me – that was already there when I was a kid- turned into a flame, and I realized that it would be pretty damn cool to own my own club one day. I decided to dedicate my studies to this plan and started a study in Hospitality Management. Now, four years later, I almost have my BBA diploma in the pocket. I gained so much experience and learned so much during these years. I worked in all kinds of hospitality businesses, in my hometown, in Amsterdam, even in Paris.
A couple of months ago a job offer crossed my path for a manager’s position in a supermarket. I thought this could be my chance to develop my managing skills – which I would definitely need if I were to manage my own club in the future –, so I took it. I love it and I learn and grow a bit each day. My vision however is still pointed towards my ultimate goal; the nightclub.
I decided to dedicate a blog to it, as I’d like to take you along on my journey and share all of my experiences with you. I’ll write about hospitality and financing in general and share my opinions, tools, blueprints, research results etc. with you. Basically I’ll tell you everything I did, do or am going to do to achieve my life goal!
I hope you’ll enjoy reading my posts and invite you to share your ideas with me (leave a comment!) so we can all learn from each other. And don’t forget to subscribe!
Thierry
