Club Hosts vs Independent Club Hosts

[RichardReborn]

This subject has been discussed before, so I ran a quick search to find more information. From what I understand is that an independent host sometimes has a side fee, which results in paying more for bottle/table service. Has this always been the case for everyone?

Lately I've built a side relationship with an independent host that consistently has been giving me a better price and seating than most club hosts, so I end up going with him as priority. I guess my question here is - Can this be negotiated between hosts for a better price/seating, or should you always just take the better price given?

[NoahRam]

Nothing wrong with taking the best deal possible especially if you already have an established relationship. Go with whatever option delivers more of what you prefer for the night. Some indys charge a side fee for their service on top of their tip or as their tip. Mainly this means they probably don't have a contract with the venue and either aren't getting paid by the club or aren't making very much for booking the table with the club. Of course some people are just greedy and know if you came to them it means you might be unaware of another route to book the reservation and get the minimum and location requested so they'll just see how much they can get out of you.

With that being said, any good trusted independent host already has contracts setup with each venue and receive a percentage (5%-20% depending on their contract, generally 10% is the standard) of your spend before tax etc. Due to this they will generally not have a side fee or demand a specific tip. These are obviously the preferred hosts to use if using independent since it shows each venue trusts and supports dealing with these hosts and cuts them checks directly for the business they bring.

Direct employees of the venue however should never demand a fee for their service or a specific tip for booking unless the tip/handshake is to guarantee a better location or buy one get one or a discounted minimum pre-discussed between you and that host.

[London1983]

How does the tip for a better location work? I always see this get mentioned on here but I just don't see how it works. Surely if a club wants a certain price for a table that is what you have to pay?

My last trip I had agreed an area with a host who told me my spot was 99% locked in (pretty good chance I'd say). We had agreed a min of 2500 with a tip of 400. On said ngt we turn up and we are not seated where we had talked about. When I ask why I get told that because its a fight wkend the min for that area is going for 4k. None of this was a problem for me the host was a top bloke who offered back the tip (I didn't take it back as I wanted him to have it) and hooked us up shots all ngt it was no problem for us what so ever as we had the best ngt of the trip and he made sure of it. My point is surely its the min spend that determines where you will be seated and not the tip? I could have tipped 1k that ngt and still not got my location as I could not meet the 4k min set by the club that ngt.

[Chuck]

Arriving early is KEY to tipping for location...as well as using a senior host. F tables are full by the time you get there then there's not much a host can do. If you get there early when more tables are available then they have more options as to where you are seated.

[RichardReborn]

That about explains it. Thanks Noah.


Now to book for NYE.

[London1983]

Arriving early is KEY to tipping for location...as well as using a senior host. F tables are full by the time you get there then there's not much a host can do. If you get there early when more tables are available then they have more options as to where you are seated.

We arrived at 10.15pm and from what I could tell when we walked in we was pretty much the first to be seated. I just can't see that the tip plays a part in it. If the club knows it can get more money for a location then they are not going to give it away cheaper because of a tip that doesn't go to the club. The club wants to make as much money as possible so surely minimums are set for areas and if you don't meet it then you are not sitting there.

Just for the record I am not saying I see no point in a tip. I always have and always will tip well. I tip because I appreciate the time and effort the host takes to set up my ngt. I just wouldn't pin my hopes on a location based on a good tip.

[ccc]

Fight weekends and holidays make tipping for location a moot point. It can work during a regular night.

[EricChine]

Noah is exactly correct in his explanation. Also to add on to his reasoning, not all nightclub hosts in Vegas make their money on commission actually some venues rely solely on their tips/tip-pool. Other then that it never hurts to find the best possible deal, however I do believe its better to go through the hosts that work directly for the venue, because ultimately the independent host has to contact the club host to book the reservation. But again to each is own, and if the deal is better, do what's best for your budget.

[EricChine]

Senior Host is just a title and in most venues priority doesn't go to the "title" it generally goes to the most deserving customer based on spend or even spend and tipping. So going through a host, senior host, junior host doesn't really make a difference.

Arriving early is KEY to tipping for location...as well as using a senior host. F tables are full by the time you get there then there's not much a host can do. If you get there early when more tables are available then they have more options as to where you are seated.