Who Designed This Place?: How a Nightclub's Design Affects the DJ

May 2001

A DJ friend, who is a resident of a popular nightclub, recently received a bill from a hotel for "playing the music too loud." It appears that the club's sub-woofers, which are near a series of sliding glass doors, can be heard by hotel guests approximately 1/2 mile away. On this particular occasion, the hotel reimbursed its guests and sent the club a bill. The nightclub, fearful of jeopardizing its dance permit, then forwarded the bill to the DJ -- for "playing it too loud." This very same nightclub is also famous for its architectural design.

Why not send the architect the bill?

Even though the club's owners are extremely sensible, it was, after all, the architect's design that placed the speakers near an open area. The DJ is just trying to do his/her job.

As you can see, a nightclub's design affects the DJ. In fact, there are many design variables that can determine the extent to which patrons will meet, drink, and dance. As a rule, the club's design has two themes: (1) to get people to meet one another, and (2) to get people to feel as comfortable as possible (i.e., to stay a little longer).

Here are a few design tips:

1) The "flow" of a nightclub. Have you ever noticed that some nightclubs have a pathway that tends to encircle the dance floor and/or club? The purpose of the flow-path is to create a walk-way for customers to meet one another (see Fig. 1). If it dead-ends, the customers just stand there (i.e., boring) (see Fig. 2). Some clubs design "tight areas" in the flow-path in order to force people to bump into each other and meet.

However, safety considerations also factor into the location of flow-paths (which are often linked to fire exits), "tight areas," and other design elements. Even if you're a DJ that promotes, you should always consider the customers' safety (for example, read the sad case of Commonwealth v. Welansky).

2) How dark is the club? If the club is dark, patrons must get closer to see one another. Again, the theme is to bring people together and eventually get them to dance.

3) Another way of getting people together is loud music. The customers are less likely to get intimate if they don't have to shout in each other's ears.

4) Have you ever noticed that most Las Vegas casinos don't have blue lighting, mirrors, or clocks? This is because blue light (and to some extent green light), as it's reflected on the skin, may make the person appear unhealthy. The theory holds that If you're reminded of health, you may leave (i.e., to go work-out the next morning). Mirrors have the same psychological effect. A clock may remind the customer that s/he has an appointment the next day. Again, they leave, less dancers, and the DJ appears unable to hold the crowd.

5) The distance between the customers' heads in a seating area and the nightclub's ceiling height actually makes the difference between the feeling of a "warm" and "cold" nightclub. This is why many nightclub stools and tables are so high. Shorter tables and couches are usually placed in low-ceiling areas. If the club feels cold, people are less likely to stay (and hence, dance).

6) Fog 101. An architect must factor the flow of the fog throughout the club (i.e., where vents are placed). Fog not only helps the dance-floor lighting, but it also tends to mask an empty room (i.e., the customers don't see the empty areas on the other side of the club). Some fog-juice manufacturers scent the fog to appeal to the patrons' sense of smell. In addition, fog-juice may tend to dry the patrons' throats, which may affect drink sales.

7) Background speakers. Most large clubs tend to place small background speakers in the back areas for three reasons: (1) To eliminate echo due to that area's distance from the dance-floor speakers, and (2) To give that area energy, and (3) To lure that area's patrons to the dance floor whenever certain songs are played. As a DJ, you will often have to leave the DJ booth to monitor the background volume.

8) Location of the DJ Booth. Many club experts believe that the closer the DJ booth is to the dance-floor, the more energy on the dance-floor (i.e., it has more of a live-act feel).

While there are other variables, such as the number of bars (i.e., the more bartenders, the quicker the drink turnover), the materials employed (i.e., wood is warm, metal industrial), or the location of the front door (i.e., are patrons on the outside viewing an empty club?), it should be noted that many clubs succeed without employing any of these design strategies. Conversely, some clubs may adapt all these strategies and still fail.

I suppose that in addition to these design strategies, a club's advertising, service, location, etc. will determine its success. Sometimes a club is just lucky. In some cases, you may have to ask yourself questions such as: Is the club busy because a popular club nearby recently closed down? Is the club busy because it's the only club in the area? Does the club have a niche (such as afterhours)? Finally, does the club run competitive drink specials?