Chapter 105: Location

[Chapter 105: Straight to the Gut]

"The venue is nice. We could excavate the basement to create a nearly four-story open area, with private booths around the atrium. The only issue is, it's a bit too remote," a middle-aged man with a genuine London accent told Ryan. He was Sean, the manager of the Matter nightclub, who had arrived in Orlando three days earlier. He had been scouting suitable nightclub locations with Ryan and Diplo.

"That is indeed a problem; it's just too far from Church Street," Diplo said, brushing dust off his hands. Church Street was the hub of Orlando's nightlife, filled with numerous clubs and restaurants, often referred to as Orlando's mini version of Tokyo's nightlife district.

"And the surrounding area is predominantly a Latino community, with a sizable number of Colombians and Cubans, which raises some concerns about safety," Daddario added, looking troubled.

In America, Colombians, especially in Florida, were often associated with drug trafficking, especially since the 1980s. Much of the cocaine had flowed into the U.S. from Florida during that time. The TV show Miami Vice, the movie Scarface, and even the video game GTA: Vice City had depicted that era's challenges. Over time, crime had shifted westward, with the Mexico-U.S. border growing increasingly active. Fast forward, with GTA 6, loyal Rockstar had returned to Florida!

"Rest assured, my dear lady, your worries won't materialize. Fifteen years ago, this quaint area hosted the largest church in the entire parish! It was a massive fire that destroyed it. Locals wouldn't dare act up in God's territory," the real estate agent interjected.

Indeed, many South Americans were devout Catholics; after all, Selena, a pop star, flaunted her purity ring.

Ryan was silent, wandering the ruins. They had checked out many venues, but either they were too small or the rent was exorbitantly high...

"If we select this location, how much would it cost to achieve a sound effect comparable to the Sound Factory?" Ryan asked, gazing at the sunlight filtering through the stained glass.

"The Sound Factory's main hall can only accommodate up to 700 people, whereas this venue's capacity could be double that. I estimate the costs will be at least 3 million."

"How much?" Daddario appeared taken aback; it seemed too steep.

"Just to clarify, I'm referring to pounds," Sean reminded her.

"Isn't that a bit wasteful?" Diplo recalled how the nightclub he managed didn't even spend half that amount.

Ryan didn't respond; he was busy examining the surroundings. It was quite remote, and the surrounding Latino community appeared somewhat run down, with most houses abandoned, and scant traffic or pedestrians on the streets.

The next day, they scouted two more places. Ultimately, Ryan decided on this derelict suburban church as the location for both the nightclub and the record label.

...

"The sound design contractors for the Sound Factory and Fabric are a private studio in the UK called Martin Audio. From what I know, they are the best in the industry. The sound systems for Zouk in Singapore and LA's Exchange also come from this studio. Aside from the pricing, there aren't any other issues. There are cheaper options with slightly lesser effects, but once this opens, it's likely to be the largest nightclub in the entire Eastern U.S. You'll need to consider the cost carefully," Sean cautioned.

The leftover investment profits were enough to cover the costs, but it still came close to depleting their budget. After some thought, Ryan decided to go all in.

"Let's sign the lease agreement, complete the cleanup and basic renovations within a week. If we're aiming for Sound Factory's design style, interior renovations can be done quickly while we also work on the external facade. Then we'll have the Martin Audio engineering team come in, and the final step will be the soft furnishing and soundproofing. The first phase could be ready before Thanksgiving, while the upstairs record label and VIP booths can fall under the second phase, starting after the holiday..." Sean laid out plans.

"Besides the lease agreement, you'll need to assemble a team. I can check with contacts in London to see if anyone's interested in moving over. If not, we'll have to look locally."

"What positions do we need to fill?"

"Beverage staff, security, event planning, and waitstaff. Now, let's talk about women. I know how American nightclubs operate..."

"This time, we'll model it after London, aiming to attract young people instead of middle-aged patrons," Ryan interrupted.

"So, do we need some women to help with the ambiance? Initially, I'd suggest a few to get things started, and then we can see how things go," Sean pondered.

"I have some connections in that area," Ryan responded thoughtfully.

Sean nodded, "For beverages, if you're only targeting younger patrons, a standard bar supplier should cover all your needs... What about security? That holds paramount importance, especially in larger venues."

Ryan thought about Berwick and knew he was a fitting candidate, though it was uncertain whether he would be willing to join.

"That's about it; I'll handle the necessary permits and paperwork."

"There's one more overlooked aspect," Ryan considered.

"What is it?"

"Screens, massive ones that fill an entire wall," Ryan proposed.

If they were going to play big, they needed to ensure the visuals matched the top-notch audio setup.

"But current screen technology might not allow for that," Sean imagined.

"I know a supplier who can meet my requirements," Ryan replied.

...

"I want a raise if you're trying to steal me! You'll need to cover my health insurance too, plus the same for my team, and they expect a 50% pay bump," Berwick said, puffing out smoke, looking intimidating, with an appetite as big as his frame.

Ryan glanced at Diplo, who wore a resigned expression.

It was inevitable that they needed to raise salaries to lure talent, and Berwick was an elite in his field. He and his crew could jump in without any training, so considering that, the proposed pay increase was quite acceptable.

"That's still too high," Ryan frowned.

"Too high? You're just being stingy, kid," Berwick complained. "Or you could provide me with a house. This place is too far from where I currently live. I need a quieter area, a standalone house with a spacious living room and a garden."

Ryan asked Daddario to note down those requests.

"You've done well in just six months, have you? It seems like you hit the jackpot," Berwick joked, realizing that Ryan had come a long way from his days as a high school kid when Berwick was still a cop.

"By the way, how many people can our venue accommodate?"

"We estimate over 1,500," Diplo explained, saying that anything over 1,000 classified it as a large club, which was rare outside of Ibiza.

"How many?" Berwick was stunned.

Then it hit him that he had undersold his own fees.

"If everything goes smoothly, raises will follow after," Ryan nodded, making sure to keep the dialogue flowing.

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.