Tribalism

Sometimes I run night clubs.
As the Summer weather becomes more and more hot, I have no desire to sweat through the humid days of Southeast Texas doing construction work.
(Although I'll keep a few projucts going in order to keep young cousins employed and out of trouble.)
To ensure gainful employment in an air conditioned environment, sometimes I'll elect to do work for club owners who need my assistance in developing a concept, setting and meeting sales goals and in the training of staff.

This year is expected to be a busy one.
In addition to my other projects, I have partnered with a furniture restoration business to run a showroom featuring their finished products.
We will feature Mid-Cent-Mod and other antiques from different eras.
A few years ago I set up and ran the only long lived full service nightclub in our area.
Since that time. many club owners have sought my aid in developing and running a successful night spot.
I turn down more offers than I accept based on anything as simple as; the way owners treat their employees, an owner's philanthropic efforts, or even the type of car an owner may drive.

This year I am running one spot while doing consulting work for two others.
Is this a conflict of interests?
Nope.
Each spot plans to cater to a slightly different demographic and each spot is working with different resources.
My most hands-on effort is with the most needy of these groups.

"The success of each club will benefit the others."
But no group of owners seems to see things this way.
Each group assumes that there is a limited pool of patrons which should be exploited to the maximum potential.
One spot caters to Blacks 21 and older,
another caters to Blacks 30 and over,
while another is integrated with a 30 and over spot upstairs, a restaurant downstairs with a Bill E. Bob bar in another area.

Each owners group spends heavily trying to make the other spots look bad.
But in this scenario - only the local radio stations benefit.
Each spot tries to draw customers from the others in numbers to the point that none of them is able to service the guests they contain on a packed night.
This leaves patrons broke and disappointed - and owners broke and bitter.

The smart method is for each group to focus on what they really want.
The smart thing would be for each club to turn those away which they do not serve and recommend one of the other spots as an alternative.
This way, each spot does cheaper advertising for the next while maintaining good relationships with their complimentary competitors.
Each spot is able to focus on doing their one thing well (instead of doing several things poorly) thus increasing the value of their product and the likelihood of their success.