Han Qingpei
Put on your dancing shoes because these three nightspots are set to get you moving.
The air is buzzing with just that extra bit of electricity today, and some good thumping music is sorely needed.
You’re just not in the mood for “safe” today. “Different” definitely feels like the word of the day.
hype introduces three new establishments that are the very
epitome of anti-establishment – Rebel, Zirca and NANA.
There’s more to life than Zouk or St. James. Check out these new kids on the block.
Rebel
Rebel VIP Lounge – Lounge around like a hotshot VIP
Block 3C The Cannery
River Valley Road
#01-07-08
Clarke Quay
Dudes: 18 years & above
Dudettes: 18 years & above
Tue to Sat, 10pm till late
Cover Charges:
Weekdays – $ 20 men/ $15 ladies – Incl. 1 drink
Weekends – $ 25 men/ $ 20 ladies – Incl. 2 drinks
The rebel is in the house!
Finally, a hip-hop themed club for all you Jay-Z wannabes out there.
Housed in the former Smoove Arena of the now defunct Ministry of Sound (MoS), the theme is strictly street cool with wall – to – wall street art customised by renowned Australian graffiti artist Meggs.
Burn up the dance floor with DJs Tang, Scratch and Rattle as they spin their own brand of magic.
Formerly Smoove – Bust a groove on the Rebel dancefloor
Hip-hop junkies will not be disappointed with the club. It may be a tad small, but this actually works in its favour since it creates a very underground feel. Perfect for breaking, popping and locking.
Emo kids need not apply.
Zirca
The Zirca Bar – Order a glass of cosmopolitan to sip on amid the glitzy cosmopolitan affair
Block 3C The Cannery
River Valley Road
#01-02 to 05 & #02-01 to 08
Clarke Quay
Dudes: 18 years & above
Dudettes: 18 years & above
Wed & Thurs, 10pm till late
Cover charges:
$25 men / $10 ladies – Incl. 2 drink
When Ministry of Sound (MoS) shut down on us, the only two mega clubs left in town were Zouk and St James Powerhouse.
Enter Zirca Mega Club.
Zirca Light Show – Get branded on the dancefloor
Boasting European flair and a glitzy cosmopolitan vibe, the outfit has taken over the premises previously vacated by MoS and has brought a whole new dimension to the local nightclub scene.
Combining cabaret, circus and burlesque, Zirca will definitely appeal to everyone – especially with over 20,000 feet of space and with enough room for over 2,000 clubbers.
Arty Farty – Abstract columns make up part of the decor
This promises to be an awesome experience, where clubbers get treated to visual spectacles of performers while grooving on the dance floor.
NANA
The Nana long bar – Nana’s long bar promises more hotties to sidle up to
Central Mall
5 Magazine road,
#01-02/03
Mon to Sun, 8.30pm till 5am
Happy Hours:
8.30pm till 10.30pm
Step into NANA and you’ll find yourself smiling as you’re seemingly transported back to the Land of Smiles.
It’s GOGO time – Watch as Nana’s performers take the stage
Its luxurious 20,000 sq feet interior, inspired by the sexy glamour of the Moulin Rouge, draws you right in.
You’ll find geographical lines blurring as you approach the main stage, where all-Thai resident band “ABSOLUTE” is rocking out.
It is a feast for the senses. The flashing strobe lights prance around the girls, who belt out Thai pop songs with an explosive energy in their high-cut boots and miniskirts. They are backed by electric guitar-wielding guys who match the girls head-on in the looks department.
Resident Crowd Pleasers – The movers and shakers of Nana
Between songs, the singers chat and banter with the audience, many of whom are hip, young locals who love the Thai culture and can speak the language.
Secrets to Ruling the Night
additional reporting by Han Qingpei
For every new club opening in Singapore, many such nightspots are closing down too. The latest victim to fall prey to Singapore’s over saturated clubbing scene is the now defunct Ministry of Sound (MoS) – once a giant in the local clubbing scene; right alongside the likes of Zouk and St James PowerStation.
Many previously popular clubs such as Velvet Dragon, Club Momo and Mdm Wong have also suffered the same fate over the years, falling as quickly as they once flourished.
The clubbing business is often high risk and short lived, but despite its perils, many ambitious individuals still dream of running their own nightspots. As Caleb Tan, 23, an entrepreneur puts it, “ what’s not to like about having your own free flow of alcohol and entertainment all night, every day?”
If like Caleb, you’re an aspiring club owner, here are three tips to ensuring your club lives to see its 10th anniversary:
1) Customers come first
Customers can make or break your club. Hence, it is essential to find out what your customers are looking for and give it to them.
Identify your desired target market and find out their likes and dislikes. Different people visit clubs for various reasons, enjoying a varying range of food, beverages and entertainment.
According to Lloyd M. Gordon, one of the biggest difficulties aspiring club owners have is coming up with an effective club concept that can please both their target club-crowd and the occasional club goers.
Know your customers inside out. Do it right, and you may have a customer for life – or at least until he/she gets acquainted with the joys of being in bed before midnight.
2) Think Money
Huge costs can result from the Nightclub business, and owners should start planning the club’s finances from the start.
Some questions to ponder on include: amount of revenue you want spent on the entertainment, the décor, and the bar; amount you want to set aside for the staff, and should the main profitsof your club come from events or bar charges etc.
Smart financial planning is indispensable to a successful business. Sure, money may not be everything, but treating money like water means you end up with nothing.
3) Understand the clubbing business
The nightspot business is not an easy one to be in. Think late nights, early mornings, logistical nightmares and intensive planning, planning and more planning. PowerHomeBiz recommends immersing oneself into the scene and learning from others already in the industry. Some aspiring owners even end up apprenticing or working in a club for experience.
It is crucial to know what one is getting into and the demands of the business before plunging headfirst into the clubbing scene; after all, regret is a dish best served never.
Picture courtesy of Zirca
These are merely the tip of the iceberg to running a successful nightclub.
If like me, you’re already cringing at the thought of the amount of work and effort needed to be put in, perhaps it’s best to just remain a patron instead. After all, clubbing is always more fun when all you have to worry about is curing that massive ‘day-after’ hangover or not puking all over your mum’s favourite carpet in your drunken glory.