Re: Let\'s build a business.
1. I think you absolutely need at least one manager that knows the area (people) better. College kids go out to bars because they know their friends are there, drink specials (hear from friends working at places), and because places are the "cool" place to go. Places don't start out being cool, you have to make people believe that. You need staff that is well connected in the social scene, preferably a manager that has an incentive to get business at the bar (maybe manager gets a small cut of revenue on his shift).
I could be wrong, but I thought I read awhile ago that you hadn't talked to this English guy in months and when you last spoke with him on the phone it was hard to understand him. If this is true, imagine him trying to communicate with drunk people at a crowded bar with loud music.
All this means I think you should have one "Student manager" to go along with this Stu guy.
2. You are going to need to be putting SERIOUS hours into this business for the first year. First of all, you are going to get robbed blind if you aren't there that often. That's just the way it goes in the bar industry, especially on college campuses.
To avoid getting all of your drinks given away for free you need to create an incentive for employees to not give too much away (incentives or penalties) and you also need to have good enough specials that kids will actually come out even if they can't get drinks for free from their bartending friends. This isn't easy, and requires you to be there to make sure it works right.
After a year or two, then you might be able to only come in a couple nights a week, but I'd plan on being there 6-7 days a week for the first year.
tc
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