Would you want to own a swing club?

[JustAskJulie]

Some of the discussions going on regarding the changes some have seen in their local swinger clubs and I wonder.... how many would actually be willing to own/run a swinger club if they had the opportunity. Whether on-premise or off-premise. If you would or would not, what are your reasons and thoughts on the subject?

[des1re06]

Funny, I had a dream recently that we opened a club. It was like a ranch, where people could spend the weekend.

The politics involved would be a nightmare. I've seen what our favorite places are going through.

Mrs. D

[Nudesailing]

no, too much drama and it would take a hell of a lot of time.

[BiloxiCouple]

Nope. The thrill of swinging would be gone while I was working.

If I could own it and TRUST someone to run it, then I would do it.

[Chicup]

Yes but only if money was no longer an issue and it was a hobby.

[Thrax]

Absolutely not.

In the course of conversations with founders of two local clubs (one now defunct, and the other going strong) I learned how much work it is to get the businesses started, and how much work it is to keep them going on a week-to-week basis.

And these people have M-F jobs, too!

I'm not sure if I'd want to even own a club operated by a capable manager. In that case, except for the privileges of ownership of a lifestyle club (wink, wink), it seems to me the problems would outweigh the pleasures and (likely little) profit. (Hmmmm...sounds like the average professional sports team ownership. Sorta.)

If any of you are thinking of starting a club, I suggest that you talk to a LOT of club-founders and -owners in other areas when writing your business plan. Talk to folks in other states/territories that you would not directly compete with. There is an amazing amount of issues to consider. You might be surprised at all the potential problems, but you'll be fortunate to learn from the experiences of others.

Good luck to those of you who decide to do so. The rest of us appreciate your efforts to establish enjoyable and viable clubs!

Thrax

[widowerman]

It is like any other business and with those liabilities. Then there is the taxman. With most businesses, you have to balance the input with the output. In addition, you cannot have a bar, no liquor. You could make it a co-op. Sell shares only to those who can be swingers. Alternatively, in some cases, just to single women. I am not to sure how it would run with single men joining. However, let us assume that you could charge a flat fee of $600 per year per couple, or $450 per single. I would charge higher for all singles as a precautionary measure. If the single then becomes a couple with someone else outside the co-op, you could use a prorated formula to make up the difference in your fiscal year. Moreover, as any other business, you could have a pay by month fee. Make sure this fee is larger than that $600 per year fee. It gives incentive for the swinger, or client, if you prefer to call them that to be full time. Then of course you have to have days of operation. Saturday’s into Sunday’s is a good example. That seems to be the norm. Of course, my favorite hotel party is very classy. The hostess dreams up themes for their get together. She is in effect, a marketing genius. You get to play and you have a fantasy in place. You pay $70 and they even have food. Another hotel party I have been at charges a little less. However, theirs is not that fancy. You do in effect get what you pay for.
Regrettably, for me, due to this lousy economy, I have only been to four last year. I live way out in the woods so playtime for me is far and few in between, for now. Gas prices are a killer! YIKES!

However, as I was saying, swinger clubs like any other business or song or book, needs a hook. If you can find that special something, that hook, you are in. You can keep it going and you do not always have to treat it as a business. As the night grows older and your guests are well taken care of, as host and hostess, you can join in the merriment. They always do!

So in effect, yes, I would like to own, or more part own a swinger’s club. I would treat it as a socialist co-op. X amount of money goes in; X amount of money goes out to cover expenses. However, organized hotel parties are already like that. Therefore, to have a club as it were, is almost dead. Taking a cue from the two hotel parties I have been at and I say, why bother to run a swinger club. Now if those hotel parties would sell a yearly-reduced subscription I would feel better about it. It is that co-op idea. However, I know why they will not, what happens if partners split up during the year? Who gets the reduced rate? In addition, you now have the potential of the dreaded single man. He puts the universe out of conjoinment. He is now the loose cannon where there is one cannon too many and not enough battlefields.
However, at the parties I have been at, I have seen the off-balance wheel alignment first hand. The rouge male hardly ever effects the playtime. As always, there are doers and watchers. Some men like to watch their women have a good time, so the universe is well balanced.

[tittietwister]

Yes, we would like to but can't afford to buy our favorite on-premise club which is for sale. It's run by an elderly couple and he still mixes a little pleasure with business on party nights.

[two4youinswva]

Originally Posted by Chicup

Yes but only if money was no longer an issue and it was a hobby.

This was exactly my thoughts.

Then I was talking to Mrs two4you, and we decided that if money really wasn't an issue, we'd go a different route:

We would have a nice private country spread of 20 acres or more, complete with amenities, beds, and lots of play space. We would then invite our friends to spend weekends with us for free. No donations, no fees, no hassles.

New couples could be sponsored by our friends, thus expanding the group.

Now, this would only be every couple of months or so, but we think it would be a blast. Of course, since money isn't an issue, we would hire a clean up crew.



But, money is an issue. The world is a pain in the ass, and we would not be interested in running a traditional swingers' club.
- - Hey, I used the words "traditional" and "swingers" together. That's worth 2 bonus points by itself.

We are all about supporting and assisting our local club, even doing lots of volunteer work for them. We're just not interested in the hassles of having our name on the bottom line.

MrVan and I have talked about this often and is something that we would LOVE to do. We have in mind the perfect club with some ideas from the various clubs that we have been to in which some of what they had combined with another club would make such a great club in our area. However, the problem is that we just do not have the funds for doing something like this.

Our other concern right now is our children as we still have 3 children at home and would not want to do something like this while our children were young. Maybe things for us would change down the road when our kids are grown but we definitely talk about this often and our thoughts on wanting to start our own club.

MrsVan

[sweet_tna]

Not this chickadee. Even if money wasn't an issue, I have learned first hand that if you make a business out of something you love, it eventually becomes a JOB. At that point, it's no longer fun, and you start asking yourself why you do it.

Hats off to all the club owners out there!

=)

[Malachista]

No, I don't think so
Too much work, and no play

[driveajeepnaked]

A bit different than what you're discussing, but still on-topic...

Mr. Jeep and I have talked about a nekkid campground (not AANR, so swinger activity allowed) in the Upstate/Western NY area. I suppose this would be a bit different from a club atmosphere, more laid back... a weekend or more event, not just a 4 hour event, but a weekend in the buff in the trees...

We regularly frequent nudist campgrounds in NY and Canada, and we have had the chance to critique them all and what we'd do differently if we had one of our own...

Val
Vals-Pals

[BiloxiCouple]

You gotta get a lawyer and do it right of course. Then you have to ask the lawyer, "if I own/operate a club, can I still play". I bet the lawyer may say no play if you are running it. It will probably have something to do with taking money and having sex.

The legalities and expense can be quite overwhelming.

[notaswingeryet]

I was going to say no but then I read the post from widowerman concerning tax and such. Now my answer is HELL NO.