"Dusk till Dawn" Poker Club In Nottingham Diary (by Rob Yong)

[Wardonkey]

Rob,

Those of us that argued against the membership fees system did not do so for selfish reasons, most of expressed a willingness to pay whatever you decided would be a fair price.

We are concerned the numbers do not add up and we are doubtful that a membership scheme will raise sufficent funds, in fact we think it would cost you business.

We understand that you want to create a different kind of club and we want to help you to achieve your goals.

You asked for our opinions and we gave them honestly.

Do not be disheartened, you have friends around you and however you proceed you will have their support and I am confident that you can make the club a success.

Have a good day tomorrow/today.

Wardonkey

[robyong]

Its 6am and I've just finished a new membership proposal taking into account the comments on the thread, which in fact has helped loads. Feel a bit better now, I think I was just frustrated that I had not thought it out properlry before I put it on the form, I have now, but I hope people are dead honest with there YES and NO votes. Off to bed for 2 hours sleep.

[robyong]

Long day today, but a lot of the foundations and structure of the club have been sorted out, I think.

Grant Thornton, my accountants, were a little shocked at my latest business venture, but even they are aware of the growth in poker. Apparently they had a "poker night" for some of their clients in Birmingham last month and it went down a storm. I told them that it would be in ther interests to puchase "corporate VIP" membership to the club if they valued my business!

Grant Thornton have gone away to set up the club Ltd company and the "financial loan facility" between the club and my recruitment business, sf group. Basically, the club will be able to loan money from my recruitment business of up to £4m (hopefully we will only need £2m but no halm in having a bit of spare capacity is there, I changed it to £4m at the last minute!) at a 'commerical' interest rate, 1.5% above base rate.

It needs to be structured as a loan or the Inland Revenue will add PAYE and NI to all of the money I use for the club. For example, if it would cost £1.12m to draw out £0.6m, if we did not set up the loan facility correctly, where as this way I just pay the interest on the money we use, and its very flexible, payback whenever (or never!).

I had another meeting afterwards, with my Finance Director and Managing Director of sf group. After we signed off the sf group budget (took 10 minutes), we discussed who we would manage the club's adminsitration (2hours), including payroll, accounting, suppliers,banking,  VAT etc. It was decided that we would employ an additional administrator in the accounts department and that the club would be set up on our CODA accounting system as a new company.

In most businesses the MD and FD would be a bit concerned that the owner was going to blow the company's money on some hair brained sheme, bleeding" the main business of cash, but these 2 people have known me for 25 years between them, so they are used to expecting odd things and have always supported me. Tony , my sf group MD, plays online and live poker himself, and can't wait for the club to open. Also, I can't help thinking they want me to be busy so I won't come back and interfere in their jobs or sf group.

Unforunately, Action Jack had to look after his son so we were unable to hook up, so I drove down to Oxford to meet a potential card room manager. We had a good chat and got on well, he is very enthusiastic about the club and we arranged for him to come and look round the premises in the new year. He also agreed to do a report on what he believed the poker activities in the club should be. Really nice chap.

When I got back to my house Chubby and Shrew were playing heads-up and Womble was sleeping on the sofa. We all spend a good few hours going through the re-furbishment of the premises. Womble is so knowledgable on this, he had managed set-ups for Mecca Bingo, Millers Barn and TGI Fridays, and his comments highlighted my lack of knowledege and expertise. I hope he will find the time to help us on this project.

Its 7am in the morning and I've just woke up on the sofa, not sure why I never made it to bed. I have meeting with our IT Manager later today. After last nights Womble conversation, I can't help feeling a bit apprehensive about the re-furb of the club, Womble has highlighted stuff that I had never thought of, more expense and logistical problems. The Shrew had also told me that our currrent "property project" has fell behind schedule due to the roof, which doesn't help either with the timing. I need his team to start ripping out the club in April.......more complications.

Okay, where are we, I know I have achieved some stuff but I feel there is just so much to sort out, we................

........have a Club name
........have secured the premises..........
........have got positive news from the Gaming Board.........
........are well underway with the recruitment of my Committee, General Manager, Card Room Managers, Bar Manager etc............
........have a Marketing Manager and IT Manager working full time already.............
........have a draft Membership Sheme,
........sorted out the money to finance the Club

What else? I need a shower to clear my head.....this is a full time job. Am I out of practice after spending the last 2 years playing poker, or this really such a diffiult job?


Cheers Rob

[Tractor]

Just wondering if at any time you might be able to post a few piccys of the premisis, for us to have a gander at?

[ripple11]

Just to say, this is exactly what is needed Rob ,well done on taking up the challenge....just a small one !

Every success.

PS. can number two be near London !!??

[SKA Dealer]

Gratz to hear it's all going full steam ahead. Love the name, and the location/premises sound tip-top. Should hopefully be dealing poker full time when I head over to Canada in the new year. They have a spangly 24hr card-room latched onto the Casino, with leagues with PRIZES!!!!! How's about that then? A casino in tune with their market!! I shall report back in the New Year with any findings.

Till then, best of luck with the venture, I have no doubts!!!

SKA

[snoopy1239]

Personally, and this is just my opinion, I'm not a big fan of the name.

-- it's not very catchy.
-- People will keep missing out the tilt bit. (as tikay has done, and like you have done yourself on the title of the other thread)
-- the tilt part sounds like someone from up north is saying the name.
-- I think just 'Dusk til Dawn' is pretty good on its own.

I'm pretty sure you've settled on this title, but I thought I'd air my views anyhow. You said you wanted some negative feedback, so here's mine.

Nothing major, I don't think the title makes too much difference. Plus, it just snoppy's opinion, which is generally pretty worthless. 

Good luck with all this. It seems as though plenty of the blonde faithful, including myself, will be making the trip up to Notts. 

[Nem]

Personally, and this is just my opinion, I'm not a big fan of the name.

-- it's not very catchy.
-- People will keep missing out the tilt bit. (as tikay has done, and like you have done yourself on the title of the other thread)
-- the tilt part sounds like someone from up north is saying the name.
-- I think just 'Dusk til Dawn' is pretty good on its own.

I agree.

Dusk 'Til Dawn

[jammer]

Personally, and this is just my opinion, I'm not a big fan of the name.

-- it's not very catchy.
-- People will keep missing out the tilt bit. (as tikay has done, and like you have done yourself on the title of the other thread)
-- the tilt part sounds like someone from up north is saying the name.
-- I think just 'Dusk til Dawn' is pretty good on its own.

I'm pretty sure you've settled on this title, but I thought I'd air my views anyhow. You said you wanted some negative feedback, so here's mine.

Nothing major, I don't think the title makes too much difference. Plus, it just snoppy's opinion, which is generally pretty worthless.  :D

Good luck with all this. It seems as though plenty of the blonde faithful, including myself, will be making the trip up to Notts.  :)up

I have to agree with this. "Dusk til dawn" is much classier to my ears. The pun in the middle isn't necessary in my opinion - it makes the club sound a taccier, and I think it would also just cause confusion as the t is easy to miss. The three words don't really have any connection with tilt in the middle, and its actually also quite hard to say (whereas ith just a 'til' it rolls of the tongue. Although I may have just unearthed a dormant speech impediment...)

As ever good luck with it indeed Rob.

Jim.

[booder]

Personally, and this is just my opinion, I'm not a big fan of the name.

-- it's not very catchy.
-- People will keep missing out the tilt bit. (as tikay has done, and like you have done yourself on the title of the other thread)
-- the tilt part sounds like someone from up north is saying the name.
-- I think just 'Dusk til Dawn' is pretty good on its own.

I'm pretty sure you've settled on this title, but I thought I'd air my views anyhow. You said you wanted some negative feedback, so here's mine.




Nothing major, I don't think the title makes too much difference. Plus, it just snoppy's opinion, which is generally pretty worthless. 

Good luck with all this. It seems as though plenty of the blonde faithful, including myself, will be making the trip up to Notts. 

totally agree with you snoopy and i made EXACTLY  the same comments to rob..

[byronkincaid]

I think just 'Dusk til Dawn' is pretty good on its own.

yeah me too

[Woodsey]

me too

[Ironside]

any of you guys been too yorkshire they speak like "from dusk tilt dawn"

or "i've been up tilt 10 every night this week"

[robyong]

change the name, change the membership sheme........................................god knows what people will be like when the club opens........change the sign, change the dealers, change the reception......................what have a let myself in for here.

[booder]

what colour are the carpets rob?