I think that during the winter months maybe the events need to be at the more popular venues even more than they do in the Summer. For example, if I hear that an event is on at Seven or News Cafe I am likely to give it a try because it will have some traffic via walk in trade as well as the traffic delivered by your promotions efforts in contrast to an event at a lesser known venue that is less likely to attract walk in trade. I don't want to risk spending my Friday or Saturday night in an empty place, especially one miles up the road.
But then again, I am just a customer, and not a promoter so what are my thoughts really worth? Maybe nothing !
One thing I do have to say is that no matter what event I have been to in Spain, UK and all over Europe - When I go to the USA I see that they really do it so much better than us! They seem to be able to mix the blend of dance floor action and relaxed table drinking ( where the money is!) a lot better than us Europeans.
I was in Amika in London on Friday and was disappointed that it was the same type of music and vibe in each room, with people sitting down at tables with bottles of Vodka etc listening to what was at times, quite hard house music, whilst groups of 'clubbers' were jumping around to the same music in the room with the dance floor. But they get great PR when the likes of Rihanna and P Diddy go there spraying Cristal and it gets in the papers!.
I do think it can be a layout issue with some of the venues in Marbella which prevents a night really having the right vibe. I think Pangaea in Puerto Banus had the right mix when it was open, but on the other hand I don't believe the new indoor section at Nikki Beach really cuts it......
I agree that certain places do make it hard for promoters to come in and make it work, and that Sintillate and Hed Kandi maybe do have a lot of the so called 'Premium' venues sewn up in the summer. However, I think it's about the experience that you create for the guest that is important. For example, Pangaea and Amika in London are both clubs that I go to, and I have had to almost cut off my right arm to gain access to in the past, but neither of these clubs really have anything that the likes of Icon in Marbella doesn't already have. They are both basement clubs with very little space.
It's unfortunate that it seems to be the clubs that employ 'exclusive' guest policies that have more success than venues that are more 'inclusive' but that seems to be the way it goes. But then again, FTV didn't exactly set the world alight in Marbella in terms of numbers last summer so maybe it's more of a lottery out here in the Wild Wild West that is the Costa Del Sol !
Enjoying this thread, hope it continues!