Originally written for my LinkedIn on September 25th, 2023
The night was vibrant and exciting, with the promise of a memorable adventure. As I stood at the entrance, I knew that this moment marked the culmination of months of hard work and dedication. It was the first time I was running my very own club night.
The Road to Nightlife
But let me start at the beginning. I’ve always been fascinated by the nightlife industry since I took on a part-time job as a bartender after ‘deciding to leave’ my job in London. I quickly realised nightlife’s ability to bring people together, to create unforgettable experiences, and to foster a sense of community and being, and that has always intrigued me. Having been involved in various roles, from bartender to bar supervisor, to lighting and sound director, to security, to head doorman and pseudo-influencer of sorts, I had witnessed the magic of the nightlife firsthand.
Seizing the Opportunity
So, when the opportunity presented itself to run my own night, I jumped at it. I had the skills, the passion, and the drive to make it a success, (or so I thought).
A Night to Remember
The night was set to be vibrant and exciting. We had the best DJ in town, our promotional efforts on social media were in full swing, and the buzz was palpable. The stage was set for a night to remember.
Other promoters in town quickly started to stick their elbows out (literally at times) while we battled flyering on the streets. We handed out close to 2.5k flyers over the course of a week. My fingertips are still a bit purple.
Lessons Learned
But as the night unfolded, I quickly realised that running a club night was a whole different beast. While my day job involved social media marketing, I underestimated the power of in-person marketing, having a team of reps, and utilising the skills of my team. The bustling nightlife scene had a rhythm, energy and pulse, and I should have tapped into it more effectively.
Teamwork Matters
Where I was both grateful for and lacked in utilising was in the team structure. We have a great team here at Nightlife Cambridge: brilliant marketers, social media creators, event managers, and promo staff with unique ideas and things they could bring to the table.
I had assembled a fantastic group of individuals, each with their unique talents and skills, the best of the best. However, I should have spent more time utilising that gift, relying on them and trusting them to do the things they were so good at, which is why I hired them in the first place!
Instead of focusing on social media, I should have taken advantage of their skills and ideas for in-person marketing, such as flyers and reps, with a structured approach. My background in social media marketing skewed my reliance on digital platforms.
The Reward of Experience
Was the night a financial success? Haha, Not at all. But was it one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done? Absolutely.
Our night has come and gone, but the memories and experiences we created continue to resonate. That night epitomized the power of community, connection, music, and the joy of celebration, which is exactly why I’m involved in this industry.
This was the first event I’ve run, but it won’t be the last.
I’d like to thank the entire team here at NLC and all the people who helped and had a huge impact on the night.
