The Eater Guide To Nightclub Staff Hierarchy

Welcome to Eater University, a place for knowledge. Today's topic is the Nightclub Organizational Charts.

The emergence of Rachel Uchitel onto the national scene has also lifted the veil on some of the inner workings of nightclubs. Others have already exposed the sometimes seedy world of the VIP hostess, but what about everyone else? A restaurant has a relatively straightforward staff and hierarchy, but the nightclub has additional layers of staff and some unusual positions that help drive revenue in an industry where the top venues only have a short window to make some serious cash.

· The top of the charts. The big cheeses. The decision makers. You get it. The owners operate the club and only answer to the managing investors, usually no more than two or three people who provide the bulk of the start up capital, and get all of the fame and glory. For all of you dreamers out there, this is who you aspire to be.

· The non-managing investors come next. They have little to no say in the operations of the club, but since they have a bit of skin in the game, they get treated like royalty when they decide to make an appearance. They are also the first people to get stiffed when a club goes bust, but that's a different story.

· The GM is responsible for the day to day operations of the club and the staff, and usually has a small piece of the action. While the work can sometimes be glamorous and lucrative, it is still a demanding job with late hours. An excellent person to know if you are looking for those sweet, sweet comps.

· This next row is where the nightclub breaks off from a restaurant, and includes the team members that are responsible for bringing in revenue and a quality clientele on a consistent basis. The managers are the GM's eyes and ears, and help keep the place running. The VIP Hosts help bring in the big spending whales and celebrities that drive revenue and keep the place in the gossip columns, and the Head of the Door ensures that only the "right" people get inside. The doorman also helps sell bottles to the most desperate customers.

· One step below them are the bottle hosts, who work with the VIP Hosts to make sure the VIP customers are well treated, and the Door Staff, who assist the doorman in handling the crowd and attempting to sell bottles. This group has managed to secure a footing in the power hierarchy, but taking the next step can be tricky.

· The last two levels are certainly the least glamorous but are the front line for customer relations. The one unusual position in this row are the Promoters, whose job is to attract customers to a venue on a certain night, usually in exchange for a table with a refilled bottle of vodka and a payment determined by the number of customers they managed to bring in. Promoters usually step in once a venue is on the decline and needs help attracting customers, but like the rest of their row, help keep a venue full of people who buy drinks. It is assumed you recognize the rest of the group.

The only wild card in this whole shooting match is the landlord, who usually trumps everyone, especially if they haven't been paid. Hopefully this trip to Eater University was both informative and fun. Please remember to turn in your essays by the end of the week.
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