NEW YORK CITY, September 20, 2008
The End of Bottle Service in NYC
As you know, the newly renovated Prime re-opens this Saturday, September 20, 2008
The renovation focused on fixing the things that just don't work in the current version of the club. The new Prime will be a high energy dance club. Prime was originally created to be more of a lounge and the newly re-mastered Prime is certainly not a lounge. The latest renovation will introduce world class sound and lights and a revamped "fun" decor which will bring back the "fun". The entrance/exit situation has been fixed. This will eliminate the "drama" of getting in, and the "confusion" caused when leaving or during re-entry. The table/banquette situation has been modified. As we all know, one of the most common complaints in Prime/Myst has been the size of the table space given to customers. The amount of tables will be decreased, while the size of the tables will be increased. Customers that buy "real estate" will be made to be comfortable, a novel new idea. This brings me to the most important point, the renovation of the club's attitude. The new club will be built around a new and simple concept "to cater to the customer".
Quo, then Myst and finally Prime were one of the most successful "bottle" venues in NYC. We took full advantage of that era. But now, that era is over and its time for a new model. For the past few, maybe even ten, years, NYC clubs have come to treat the customer as the enemy. Aggressive door staffs push customers around. They are made to wait hours to try and get in and if they are lucky for the "privilege" of buying 6 bottles of grey goose to get in. Bottles that are then served with an attitude, by a detached bottle hostess.
With the new Prime comes a new attitude and a new goal creating pleasure for the customer and making the party a fun party. Admission will no longer be driven by bottle sales. If someone looks good enough to get in and comes with the right attitude, they will get in without bottles. Likewise, if someone doesn't fit the mold they wont get in no matter how many bottles they offer to buy; the days of catering to the assh*** who is willing to buy 6 bottles at the expense of the nice guy who wants to pay cover is over. The hassle and "bottle" rat race at the door is now over. Bottle minimums will be replaced with "real estate minimums", where each table (piece of real estate) will be for sale for a certain amount of money; whether bottles of grey goose or bottles of water. Prospective customers will be allowed to combine larger groups of friends to purchase a comfortable section of real estate for their group. Example: 15 girls could now go in on an $800 dollar table and spend $50 each to drink and have their section all night. In this depressed and recessed economy the goal is to create an environment where the customers can go out to a fun place on Saturday nights without getting raped or abused at the door while spending thousands on bottles they don't want. Of course we will still sell bottles and offer bottles to anyone who wants them but the business model will not be based solely on the idea of extorting bottles at the door. The business model will be based on creating a fun product where people are treated like human beings at the door and all throughout their club experience.
In terms of revenue, we think that the gross revenue (and as such payouts) will stay the same or go up with more staying power. The old model was based on a large % of the room spending 0 and a few tables spending a TON to make the night work. The new model will be making a smaller amount of money per head from a larger pool of customers. The goal of the new Prime will be fun and customer service and to create an outstanding club product at a reasonable cost.
In an era where NYC clubs treat customers like enemies and adversaries we feel this is a new and novel approach that will work extremely well.
Regards
JE Englebert
Co Owner Prime nightclub and Suzie Wong lounge
About John "JE" Englebert:
has over 14 years experience in the hospitality industry. The impresario started his career as a promoter at the extremely popular Tunnel and Twilo nightclubs in the early 1990's. Since then "JE" has served on promotional teams at many New York City venues. He is currently President of Parlay Entertainment Inc that was better known as "The Parlay list" in the 90's. In addition, "JE" Englebert has opened, owned and operated his own venues including Quo Nightclub, Myst nightclub, Retox rock bar, PrePost restaurant lounge, Suzie Wong Saki lounge and Prime nightclub. He has also done numerous celebrity and high profile events such as the famed "Kandyland" party at Hugh Hefner's Playboy mansion in Los Angeles, California. "JE" Englebert has been linked to numerous celebrities including Lindsay Lohan and Kim Kardashian and is a regular in the press and media such as gossip columns Page six who watch his every move.
Media Advisory, Media Alert
Contact: RJ ROMERO of Manhattan Media
Email:
manhattanmedia212@gmail.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media Event
Contact: Zachary David Palmer
Email:
zacharypalmer@gmail.comNEW YORK CITY, TONIGHT Tuesday Night September 16, 2008
L Magazine Nightlife Awards
Tuesday Night September 16, 2008
Zachary David Palmer and The L Magazine
Present
The Second Annual L Magazine Nightlife Awards
at Touch
240 W 52nd St, between Eighth Ave and Broadway
FREE
8pm doors
Sponsored By: KillShopKill and Shaw Promotion
Emcees: Michael T and Michael Formika Jones
Panelists: Michael Gogel, Rachelle J. Hruska, Steve Lewis, Gregory
Littley, Stephanie Wei
Presenters: Paul Johnson Calderon, Peter Davis, Rachelle J. Hruska,
Robbyne Kaamil, Sophia Lamar, Steve Lewis, Michael Musto, NickGQ,
Thomas Onorato, Peppermint Gummybear, Stephanie Wei
Performers: Bugs in the Dark (
myspace.com/bugsinthedark), Naked
Highway (
nakedhighway.com)
Awards Girls: Ariel (Burning Angel) and Baby Sinead (
babysinead.com)
After Party DJs: Sean MF'N Roberts and rekLES (Best DJ, The First
Annual L Magazine Nightlife Awards)
After Party Hosts: JE Englebert, Mae (Ill P.), One Night Stand's Jake
Destruction, Alex Christian and Chantilly Lace, Zachary David Palmer
DJ Performance at a park or festival:
Nominees: BEMF, McCarren Park, Paul Van Dyk, Santogold at Summer
Stage, Diplo and A-Trak at Summer Stage, Siren Music Festival, Kevin
Saunderson at The Yard
New Song:
Nominees: Kingdom, Dave Gahan; Kids, MGMT, L.E.S. Artistes, Santogold;
Shut up & Let Me Go, The Ting Tings; Paper Planes, MIA; I'm Not Gonna
Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You, Black Kids; Electric Feel,
MGMT
Record Label:
Nominees: DIY, Norton Records, iheartcomix, Interscope, DFA, Trouble &
Bass, "they all suck"
Last Year's Winner: Vacancy Records
Rock 'n' Roll DJ:
Nominees: Twig the Wonderkid, Michael T, Miss Guy, Theo Kogan
Female Hard Rock DJ:
Nominees: Theo Kogan, Lady Starlight, Carin Shock, Shar Gorgiiss, Lauren Flax
DJ:
Nominees: Jeremy (DJ Bastard), Jake Destroyer, VDRK, Dimitry!!!, DJ
Jess, Lauren Flax, Michael T, Twig the Wonderkid
Last Year's Winner: rekLES
New Party:
Nominees: Girls & Boys, Minou, Ether, Bottoms Up!, Stereo-Type, Disco
Down, Campout
Last Year's Winner: High Voltage
Party:
Nominees: TRASH!, High Voltage, Trouble & Bass, Rated X, Six Six Sick,
BYTE, Fixed, Unstoppable Perfect, Subway Soul Club, The Pull-Out
Method, Nacotheque, Stereo-Type, Cheeky Bastard, East Side Social
Clvb, The Panty Raid
Last Year's Winner: FUN
Gay Night:
Nominees: The Filthy Party at Metropolitan, Family, Sundays at Hiro,
Wednesdays at Metropolitan, The Look
Last Year's Winner: The Factory
Goth (Forgive the Catch-All) Night:
Nominees: Salvation, SMack!, BYTE, Weird at Home Sweet Home, Just One
Fix, Manic at Trophy, Contempt
Glam-Rock Night:
Nominees: Glamdammit
Underground Party:
Nominees: Copy Cat, Minou, Tingle Tangle, Famous Friends, Trouble &
Bass, Rubalad, BYTE
Party for Live Music (Drumming, Etc.) During and/or Between DJ Sets:
Nominees: Minou, Cheeky Bastard, SoulPusher
Party to be Abjectly Humiliated by the Emcee:
Nominees: Rated X, "Where's Formika?"
Outdoor Party:
Nominees: Sundays Best at The Yard, Sunday Funday at The Yard, BEMF,
Hope Lounge, High Bar, McCarren Pool, The Yard
After Work Party:
Nominees: A Rock and a Hard Place, High Voltage, The Hump at Blue Owl,
Danny Krivit at Water Taxi Beach
Party with Live Performances (Music, Otherwise):
Nominees: Minou, TRASH!, Cheeky Bastard, BYTE, RebelRebel, Rated X, The Rub
Greatest Living New Yorker:
Nominees: Jimmy from Trash & Vaudeville, Michael T, Andy Shaw, Woody
Allen, Anna Wintour, Twig the Wonderkid, Jayne Country
Last Year's Winner: Antonio
New Comer:
Nominees: Keyle, Lena Utin, Ashley the pirate, Glitter Kids, Jake D.,
Charlotte Rose of Luxe, Ruthie (Famous Friends)
Last Year's Winner: Jason Ultra
Nightlife Photographer:
Nominees: Nicky Digital, Jeff Meltz, Igor, Nikola Tamindzic, Jess,
Isabel Belfor, Mr. Photog
Last Year's Winner: Nikola Tamindzic
Nightlife Icon:
Nominees: Amber Star, Sophia Lamar, Michael T, Nick Zed, Georgie
Seville, Larry Tee, Mistress Formika, Amanda Lepore, Justine D.
Last Year's Winner: Michael T
Go Go Dancer:
Nominees: Amber Star, Ariel, Abby (Chantilly Lace),
Apathy Angel, Lady Starlight, Anna Copa Cabana
Last Year's Winner: Machine Sex
Burlesque Performer:
Nominees: Amber Star, Stormy Leather, Legs Malone, Peekaboo Pointe,
Janis DiMilo, Tali De'Mar
Promoter Most Likely to Coerce You into a Bathroom Stall:
Nominees: Everyone, Michael T
Promoter:
Nominees: Famous Friends, Jess, Frances and Lena, Andy Shaw, Twig the
Wonderkid, One Night Stand, Cut, Michael de Guzman, "They're all drug
addicts"
Last Year's Winner: Andy Shaw
Most Attractive Bartender:
Nominees: Aaron (40 C), Robert at Happy Ending, Matt at Union Pool,
"The long-haired model at Beatrice Inn on Fridays," Mary Kate at Crash
Mansion, Lauren Larkin, Maddy Thaler at Royal Oak
Most Attractive Cocktail/Bottle Waitress:
Nominees: Rebel
Drag Performer:
Nominees: Tigger, Acid Betty, Rainblo, Deryck Todd, Epiphany,
Peppermint Gummybear
Gender Fuck Performer:
Nominees: Pixie Harlots
Door Staff:
Nominees: Annex, 40 C, Ro (Annex, darkroom), Happy Ending, Lit (Matt
Kepler), TRASH!, Don Hill's, "Anywhere but Hiro," "Rififi when TRASH!
was there"
Last Year's Winner: Rififi
Bar Staff:
Nominees: 40 C (Aaron), Happy Ending, Le Royale, Beauty Bar, Matt and
Jess at Savalas, Le Royale, The Plumm
Last Year's Winner: Rififi
Venue-Bar:
Nominees: Arlo & Esme, Savalas, Rodeo Bar, darkroom, Union Pool,
Beauty Bar, Black and White, Duff's
Last Year's Winner: Rififi
Place to See DJs Spin Vinyl:
Nominees: Marquee, Beauty Bar, Studio B, Santos Party House, 205,
Sundays Best, East Side Social Clvb, Love.
Dance Floor:
Nominees: 40 C, Studio B, Santos Party House, darkroom, Touch, 205, Cielo, Annex
Last Year's Winner: Studio B
Venue-Club:
Nominees: The Delancey, Love, Happy Ending, Rebel, Santos Party House,
Le Royale, Studio B, The Plumm
Spot to See Breakdancing:
Nominees: Rebel, Ninjasonik on Wednesdays at Happy Ending, McCarren
Park Track, Hiro on Thursdays
Yuppie-Spotting:
Nominees: Beatrice Inn, Hiro, "Manhattan," Ruff Club, "Weekends in
Meatpacking," "Weekends in East Village," "L Magazine Nightlife Awards
Party"
Spot for Anonymous Sexual Encounters:
Nominees: Lit, Don Hill's, Six Six Sick, The Box, High Voltage,
TRASH!, "everywhere"
Gay Club:
Nominees: Metropolitan, Splash, Phoenix, The Cock, HK
Place to Spot Celebrities:
A-List:
B-List:
C-List:
Nominees:
A-List: Marquee, Beatrice
B-List: Beatrice, Lit
C-List: Three of Cups, Lit
Mixed: Happy Ending, Bowery, Hiro
Post-Breakup Night Out Spot:
Nominees: Metropolitan, Lucky Cheng's, Death & Co, Ruff Club,
Chemistry NYC, "Stay home"
"My Significant Other is Out of Town" Spot:
Nominees: Ruff Club, Metropolitan, O'Connors (Brooklyn), Chemistry
NYC, Happy Ending, "Stay home," "When my significant other is out of
town, I drug myself until he comes back"
Most Relaxed No-Smoking Policy:
Nominees: Lit, Beatrice Inn, 205, Annex basement, Le Royale
Venue Decor:
Nominees: Love, Happy Ending, 205, Lucky 13 Saloon, Le Royale, Bowery
Electric, Cielo
Venue That Deserves Getting Dressed Up to Visit:
Nominees: Marquee, Gansevoort, Beatrice Inn, Happy Ending, Clover Club
Most Dangerous In-Venue Staircase:
Nominees: Three of Cups, Le Royale, 205, Beatrice Inn, Happy Ending,
Rehab, The Pool at QT
Venue with the Most Pretentious Line-Companions:
Nominees: Marquee, 205, Santos Party House, Pink Elephant, Hiro, "who
waits in line"
Open Bar:
Nominees: Minou, Disco Down, Ether, A Rock and a Hard Place, Lit, Zygo
(High Voltage),
myopenbar.com, "all"
Non-Theater/Concert Venue for Live Performances:
Nominees: Studio B, Annex, Don Hill's, Irving Plaza, Bowery Poetry
Club, Pianos, Mercury Lounge, Maxwell's, McCarren Park Pool, Arlene's
Grocery, Joe's Pub, Ars Nova, Market Hotel, Death By Audio
Bottle Service Menu:
Nominees: Beatrice Inn, Marquee, Happy Ending, 205
In-House Club Food:
Nominees: Trash Bar in Brooklyn, Crash Mansion, Union Hall, Sprinkles
cupcakes at Country Club, Pete's Candy Store, Union Pool (Taco Truck),
White Rabbit
Venue-New:
Nominees: 40 C, Arlo & Esme, Le Royale, High Bar, Country Club,
Trophy, Market Hotel, Hugs, Hello Brooklyn, Santos Party House,
"definitely not Santos"
Sound System:
Nominees: Arlene's Grocery, Santos Party House, Love, Annex, Sullivan
Room, Hiro Ballroom, 205 Club, Club Europa
Lighting System:
Nominees: Love, Annex upstairs, Annex, Hiro Ballroom, Bentley Meeker,
Santos Party House, Club Europa, Cielo
Rooftop:
Nominees: Studio B, High Bar, 230 5th, 300 CPW, The Hudson, Bar 13, The Delancey
All-Night Train:
Nominees: L train, J,M,Z trains, J (singular) train, G train, R train,
"None!," F train
Last Year's Winner: A train
Car Service:
Nominees: Bikes, Metropolitan in Williamsburg, Northside, Arecibo, New
Brooklyn, Yellow Cab, 7777777 Carmel
Last Year's Winner: Taxi
Fashion Trend:
Nominees: Glitter, neck-brace, staying in worst- boys with exposed
chests/low v-necks, "being demure would be a great trend," large bows,
brown leather dress shoes, 80s bathing suits as onesies, "the absence
of one," being yourself, headbands over foreheads, over-sized glasses,
clothing optional, "anything but shutter shades," "fuck trends,"
glowsticks, Pokemon vomit
Last Year's Winner: Fanny Pack
Post-Clubbing Food:
Nominees: Ray's Pizza, Punjabi, pizza, San Loco, Yaffa, Around the Clock, 7A
Last Year's Winner: San Loco
Night to Go Out:
Nominees: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Last Year's Winner: Friday
Mix of Nightlife and Fashion:
Nominees: BYTE, Disco Down, Trouble & Bass, Ruff Club, Fashion Indie,
Stereo-Type, TRASH!
Mix of Nightlife and Live Music:
Nominees: Minou, Cheeky Bastard, Phat Baby, Lit, Famous Friends
Parties, Santos, Studio B
Mix of Nightlife and Art:
Nominees: Beatrice Inn, Supreme Trading, Arlo & Esme, Stereo-Type,
Lit, Glasslands, Hugs
Most Thriving Scene:
Nominees: Metropolitan, Williamsburg, Bushwick, "hipster crap," Ruff,
DIY, downtown rock scene, Electro
Media Event, Media Alert
Contact: Zachary David Palmer
Email:
zacharypalmer@gmail.com
