Whether you're a wannabe superstar DJ eager to showcase your talents, or are just getting sick of the local Ritzy's, starting your own club night is a great way to have a good time with your mates and maybe even kick start a career in the music industry. But, before you begin booking your first residency in Ibiza, remember that it's not all glitz, glamour and guest lists. Venues need to be booked, flyers distributed and DJs sweet-talked into playing. It can be hard work. And because it's your night, most of it will be down to you!

Nailing the basics

Before you get stuck in, it pays to ask yourself why you want to start a club night in the first place. Are you determined to be on the decks, or do you relish talking to journalists and meeting punters? For many promoters, it's a bit of both.

Laura

Twenty-three-year-old Laura runs a series of cutting-edge nights across London and the South-East. She's currently putting together a Brighton event called 'Milk Teeth', which mixes dubstep and female-fronted hip hop, with co-organiser Katie.

Laura was inspired to start running club nights when she saw the people behind her favourite London club at work. "The girls organising the night were a tornado," she says. "I eventually convinced them to let me DJ and decided I should organise my own events."

For Laura and Katie, part of the buzz comes from playing music they aren't hearing elsewhere.

"It's so great to be able to create something around what you want to listen to," says Laura. "Obviously it has to appeal to other people too, but it's mostly about having fun and playing music you love."

Laura and Katie's top five tips

1. Work out a budget. "Remember that everyone involved will need paying - from the company that prints the flyers to the DJs, live acts and the venue," says Laura. To avoid losing cash, set realistic limits, and rope in friends to help out wherever possible.
2. Find a good venue. "Be realistic," says Laura. "Booking a 500-capacity club for your launch could be ridiculous if it's just you and 10 friends dancing around an empty space." She suggests visiting as many venues in your local area as possible - and seeing what they offer. "Some clubs will provide security, decks, cloakroom staff and even support your promotional costs," she says. "Others will just leave you to it."
3. Be positive about promotion. Filling the club with your mates might work for a couple of dates, but you'll need genuine clubbers to ensure your momentum doesn't fizzle out. Handing out flyers in the street and putting up posters in local record shops are both time-honoured ways of creating interest, but don't forget about using the internet. "Facebook and other social networking sites can be really helpful," says Katie. "You can digitally invite people and attract them with reduced admission or drink offers."
4. Music matters. There's no point playing exactly the same music as your local competition. Offering a soundtrack that's new and exciting is the key to making an impact. The DJs on your flyer don't have to be well-known, but they do have to be carefully chosen. "Nobody expects a small night to have Diplo or Annie Mac, but find somebody talented who's interested in playing, and they could be your biggest attraction," says Laura.
5. Don't panic! The odd disco disaster is part and parcel of putting on your own club night. Even the most successful clubs have off nights, when DJs go missing or the wrong crowd gets in, so don't beat yourself up about it. Just learn from your mistakes and remember that there's always a next time.

Taking it further

OK, you've just put on your first club night and are still buzzing from the experience. So what now? Many people, from bookers at festivals through to big-name DJs, have managed to make clubbing a full-time career. But, before you jack in the day job, it's worth remembering that going professional means putting in a lot of extra effort, plus some very unsocial hours.

"Club promoters need to be organised and dedicated," insists Laura. "Nights can take months of planning, and you need to overcome many obstacles. A talent for communication is essential."

Still, if you've got a real passion for promotion then don't be put off. However famous they are today, most of dance music's hottest names started their career in the same way.

Updated: 06/04/2009

Written by Matt Chittock