<p>I am a parent of 2 teens, one in college, and one in high school. My daughter goes to underage clubs, but I have restricted her to the ones not in a war zone in our area, which leaves 1. My dream has been to open a teen center, including a nightclub area, along with an arcade, laser tag arena, and other things. I have found a place, but even with a degree in small business management, I have no idea where you get the money, or anything else. My family laughs at me when I bring this up, even my family who does sound and lighting for bands, (which I feel would be very helpful). So let’s review, my daughter has had several school acquaintances killed in car accidents, potentially if they had anything else to do could some of these have been prevented? Recently, another child was killed. It has re-sparked my resolve to do this. The problem I have, is that the perfect places for this endeaver, ie)not center city, are in the millions and only for sale, not rent. Even to rent some places is overwhelming. Again, I found one place that could be affordable. Could somebody offer advice or support? I have been hit with , the liability, teens are beligerant, (but they have the money to spend), nobody wants to deal with teens. well, isn’t that kind of the problem??? And my intent is to have bouncers that will immediately eject anybody getting out of line. immediately. I know there is much more to this, but I just need some reasons to do this, rather than constantly being beaten down by the people that are supposed to support me. (have I mentioned my husband wants to open a fruit stand?)</p>
<p>I cannot help you on the business end, and I can’t even imagine the insurance bill, but I still think it is a fantastic idea. I have seen these places with younger kids in mind, although I have seen many teenagers taking part. I have seen them with bowling (traditional and nontraditional), little mini-golf, go-karts, some with catering (highly priced private parties for adults and kids-the one I am thinking of was very upscale and did not look like an amusement park), others serving burgers, pizza and fries. I have also seen one done without lazer tag, more like a nightclub with a restaurant, in a kid friendly atmoshphere. Good luck!</p>
<p>Could you form a non-profit? Here in Alaska non-profits can take part in gaming, such as pull-tabs, and gain a great deal of money from that. Non-profits can pay their administrators and those who provide service, but cannot transfer great deals of money year to year. I am part of a swimming non-profit and we usually have around $80,000.00 in the bank from bingo, etc. and pay out grants to the 4 teams which are under us, who, of course, also have their own fundraising games. Just something to check in to.</p>
<p>The type of place of which you are dreaming does not do well in my neck of the woods. For whatever reason, kids tire of going to these places. Every one of them has gone belly-up. 
I am sorry, but I am with your husband, the fruit stand sounds like a safer idea.</p>
<p>Do you have a thriving music scene in your area?
In our area we have clubs which have all ages nights- in my youth I remember dances held at boys and girls clubs/high schools in the summer which were way too infrequent.
I would talk to local promoters of music events for ideas and support.
I also regularly attended dances that were held weekends at a roller rink- ( bands included tower of power among others) a venue that was mixed ages seems the best bet- but keep going- I think you have a very valuable idea.
Even though I grew up in plush suburbs- the fact that there was nothing to do for teens even with the activities above led me to move to th ecity when I had kids.
I think that taking over a preexisting build for one or two nights a week should give you a chance to try out ideas.
a church- a community center?
A place for local bands to perform?
Howabout a place that offers tutoring and after school activities on weekdays and dances on weekends?</p>
<p>Start smaller. Starting a center will cost millions and take too much time.</p>
<p>If you are concerned that there are not enough wholesome activities for teenagers (and there generally aren’t)–make a difference by organizing a few events per year.</p>
<p>I’ve done this for the last decade and it has been a HUGE hit with the kids. Here are some of the activities I’ve done:</p>
<p>Camping with 30 boys. All boys encouraged to bring a dozen cans of shaving cream for all night shaving cream wars. (My own father made me take out insurance to protect his land from liability. It 's not expensive for a single night). </p>
<p>Day trip canoeing with 35 boys. First time out, one canoe tipped within first 100 yards. Sure enough, a (faculty) kid stood up out of the water, gushing blood from the forehead. All the other boys were WAY down river. Luckily it was surface cut and I was able to bandage and continue on…but I should have sent H with the first canoe so one adult could stay with the group.</p>
<p>Treasure hunt parties for 40 through the neighborhood. </p>
<p>Touch football games with pizza delivered to the park field.</p>
<p>Croquet party for 40 with picnic buffet. (We have croquet clubs with six and eight fileds available).</p>
<p>Casual 3 on 3 bastketball tournaments. (Rent a primary school gym).</p>
<p>Woohoo Olympics with 40 to 60. Send kids through neighborhood or town in groups of 8 to 10 with polaroid cameras doing all kinds of made-up stupid tricks. Feed afterwards and announce ‘winners’. </p>
<p>H and I do these events without other adults. Other adults expect to be entertained. However, we are very effective marshalls and not afraid to check coolers/backpacks etc. We do not host drinking events for underage kids but we find that older teens are happy to participate in afternoon/late summer afternoon events.</p>
<p>Another hint: Your child may be HORRIFIED at the prospect of such an event. They will be FINE at the event when they see their friends having so much fun. I have successfuly used the SURPRISE party to circumvent ‘loser’ parent allegations. ;)</p>
<p>I have considered doing events first at a fire hall or the like. and I do like the non -profit idea. my plan was to start small, like the nightclub, and then move up to an arcade, lazer tag, and I had thought of a place for after school with a tutor where kids could get help with homework, writing etc. Figured I could actually have a monthly charge so parents wouldn’t have to worry about after school activities while they are working late. But I want to start small and work my way up. In my area, we have several of these clubs in the inner city, and they do well. But lately, our inner city has become very dangerous, violent crimes, one of these clubs had a shooting, so many kids, including mine, can no longer go inner city. So my daughter travels about 20 miles to go to one in the 'burbs. Since I live in the burbs myself, I think it is just a perfect area, with many many new and older developments full of teens with tons of money. My thought was that since a local child was just killed in an accident, to have an event at a firehall and raise money for a scholarship in his memory. I think that may give an indication. But kids are savy these days too, and they are going to expect a really neat place, not just some dump with some chairs and table, and a few chicken wings. Something like a dave and buster’s, just not as big.</p>
<p>Can you connect with a local nonprofit such as a Boys and Girls Club and then launch a campaign to raise the $ for a real teen center? It probably would be best to collaborate with an already existing organization. </p>
<p>I also think that cheers’ idea of having a few events a year would be a good start. In my area, lots of teens are into things like poetry slams. Having monthly or quarterly poetry slams would draw lots of teens.</p>
<p>You also could search on-line for places that offer the kind of entertainment that you’re considering. Contact them for advice.</p>
<p>The only problem with Boys and Girls club is that they are totally self-contained and run their own events. They raise and take money from all over the community, but generally only spend on programs which are sponsored and run by the BGC. My friend is an Executive Director in the area, and they are very strict, so unless the OP wants to work for BGC, and possibly set up her own BGC, it would be best to either campaign independently or set up a new non-profit. Her endeavor would, essentially, be in competition with any BGC in the area.</p>
<p>and that’s the problem. The boys and girls clubs are in center city, and I mean a really bad area, and nobody goes there from our area. (I do not mean that to sound prejudiced, it is just too dangerous). I have not heard of any sponsored events from a boys or girls club in our area. and I have done a search of local venues, there are only 3, 2 of which are in very dangerous areas, the other is 20 miles away. I am looking at other things though from the ideas I have been giving, like contacting already existing places with enough room to have an event, and start up little by little. I eventually hope to have a large, all inclusive teen center where they are safe and engaged. perhaps I am delusional, but I think teens are looking for this in our area.</p>
<p>As far as kids being safe- my S spends a lot of time at other kids homes and our home too. I know where he is, and that he is safe. They make their own fun-poker games (min. $-max loss is $5), they cook and bake (sometimes it is in a theme and elaborate), they go to movies, rent DVDs, have LAN parties, play various electronic games (some passive and some interactive), play pool, and basketball etc. Some kids are involved in a band and they practice quite a lot and have made CDs. Some of the boys go to New England for skiing and stay in a condo owned by one of several families in the area. Some neighborhood kids go camping too. These are just a few ideas about how my S and how his friends stay busy in a safe way, and it costs us very little money. I will also add that some of them are also busy with community service activities in the area.</p>
<p>Many former students of mine were active in Ground Zero, a Bellevue, WA, Boys and Girls Club venture. <a href=“http://www.bgcbellevue.org/teenprograms.htm[/url]”>http://www.bgcbellevue.org/teenprograms.htm</a>
It sounds exactly like what you want to do.</p>
<p>The local Y also runs some teen events.</p>
<p>Many churches are interested in running teen events. The Unitarian church is often interested in working with the local community, and I’ve never met a Unitarian who cared what religion other people were, so it wouldn’t have to be a religious-tone event.</p>
<p>Friends of ours opened one in an upper middle class suburban shopping area near 3 high schools and went belly-up. They had live bands from the high schools, and the bandmembers’ friends came and a few others. The novelty wore off for the kids after a couple visits. Sorry!</p>
<p>I know this probably wouldn’t work in all places. But we already have 3 in the area, and they are packed when they are open. With the shooting in the one, kids have not been allowed to that area for the most part now, (by the parents, kids that live locally to these still go,) I have driven by, after several years of being open, they still have phenomenal waiting lines to get in, at 10 bucks a pop just to enter! I would never have bands from high schools, professional only, but more likely a DJ. This is an area I am familiar with, it’s the starting up process that I am having the problem with. I have had way too many people approach me asking when I am going to do this, I know it will work if done properly. I just don’t know how to start. I guess I have to buy a “starting a business for dummies” book.</p>
<p>Hey, why not take a small business class at a local university? I know that is how many of our local businesses got their start. They walk you through how to write a business plan, all that fun stuff. Good Luck! It sounds as if you are really passionate about this. </p>
<p>I know it is an excellent thing here in Fairbanks, AK where there is not much to do if you can’t afford a snow machine, and most of the young military guys frequent these places as well. And, people, please don’t start flaming on the military guys or saying how they wouldn’t be allowed near your kids, etc. All I am saying is that they are a major part of the economy here and might be a population Amith1 can market to if she is anywhere near a base.</p>