Problem was I forget my torch, basically when you enter the premises you have 30 seconds to de-activate the alarm (until security is called out), its pitch black so you need a torch to find the alarm console located at the other end of the building, I only had a lighter, so I had to wander round in the dark with the alarm going off, I've got a massive blister on my thumb from the burning myself with the lighter.
Its a sureal feeling standing in the middle of a 15,000 sq for building in total darkness with an alarm blaring and a voice announcing "you have been dectected as an intruder, security are on the way, please leave the premises". I seem to have a problem every time I show someone round the premises, last time I dropped the alarm key in total darkness and me, Chubbs and Simon Trumper were on our hands and knees for an hour trying to find the keys.
We have moved our web site development to another company who Pete knows. The people we used first did their best but we need some one a bit more advanced. Our site needs to link into other systems such as the Card Room Management system so their is some complex programming involved. The look and feel of a site is very subjective and everyone had a different opinion on what looks best, personally I think the best looking poker site in Daniel Negraneau's "Full Contact Poker", although its gone a bit commerical since he sold out to Big Stack enterprises.
We've got our first project meeting tomorrow round at my house. The full crew will be there, all 7 of us. I have completed the full project plan using a piece of software called Micorsoft Project (had to learn how to use it as I am an excel man). Each person has a full list of jobs by type and time deadline that we need to do before the club opens. Roughly, here are some examples of what each person's responsibilities in the set up will be:
Me - Finance and legals , project plan
Nick - the refit of the premises, all fixutures and fittings, planning, control of costs
Chubbs - club membership, online poker solution, marketing of DTD
Pete - web site, membership system, cashiering system, card room system, internet cafe
Aces Trumper - live card room rules and regulations, payouts, structures, procedures, 2007 major festival schedule (5 events)
Nightfly - everything to do with the card room, poker tables, chips, recruitment of dealers/supervisors, montlhy regular poker schedule
Darren - bar, restaurant, VIP club, recption, cashiering, recruitment of hospitaility staff
There's loads more stuff, but basically everyone has an area to work on and a nice long list, including me. I feel pretty organised having done this, but it is still bugging me why this whole thing is such a difficult job, sf group is 10x bigger that DTD, yet setting up and running that business was loads easier than doing this.
When you look down my project team its basically my best mate since we were 1 (Nick), his brother Darren, my local card room Manager (Nightfly), one of my Dads old work mates (Pete). and two of my poker mates (Aces and Chubbs). You can see how I do business, breaking that old saying " never do business with your friends". To me, trust is miles more important than experience or ability, people can learn how to do something, but a dickhead will always be a dickhead, no matter what he smiles and tells you.
The online side is progressing, however I can't help feeling that this is a shark infested industry. I've read up and done a lot of research with Chubbs, but I still feel we need to be really careful not to get bent over by one of these online businesses. They are all keen to tell us what they can do for us, but not so forthcoming in explaining how they will do it (satelittes, buy-ins etc)........sort of a "sign here and sort out the details later approach". What is very apparent is that their is a HUGH difference between "gross" and "net rake", and noone likes to bring this to your attention. You see after software charges, cage charges, bank fees, player fees the % you get is of the remainder, less that 50% of gross rake with some companies, but most of the don't seem to explain this very well.................I wonder why?
Since most od the DTD team are banned from the Broadway ,I'll have to follow the comp on Blondepoker, good luck to everyone that is playing, it looks a good structure and its a pity I can't play in it, maybe I'll play the £1000 in Sheffield this Friday instead, gotta get the poker fix. I haven't been to Gala since I reruited Nighfly, and I miss going there with my Uncle and Nick, and all the bantor that goes with it. I've been told that I can go still go there by friends at the casino, but just don't feel comfortable with it.
