OT: Looking for input from all (non-hockey related)

[Bones45]

Looking for some input here, guys. All the married guys out there, this is specifically for you.

What if there was a place which existed where you can pay a monthly fee, and you have full access to the below:

An apartment which offers a place where you can come, hang out, nap, arrange play poker games, watch the big game, cook a meal, shower, read, smoke, listen to music, drink, etc. Fully furnished eat-in kitchen, living room (L-shaped couch, loungers, tables), artwork on walls, big screen LED. Second room has two beds, couch, rug, bean bag chair and bathroom/shower.

The theme of the place is “No Complainingâ€. No complaining allowed. You complain? You are out, locks changed. No conflict.

No opposite sex. (it would totally change the intent and feel of the place). Or should I say that women and men have different nights. A calendar is made each month indicating which days are women or men. Weekends would alternate b/t the two.

The reason I ask is this. I have a one bedroom apartment which I rent out, and almost break even every month. I really can’t ask for more rent. My tenants are changing, and I have a couple of weeks to do maintenance on the place and a backsplash in the kitchen. I was walking around the place today and was trying to figure out a way to get more money out of it.

Then the ideas started flowing – what about a male hang out place where no a-holes allowed, just chill out, meet new people - just a local getaway for a couple of hours/1 day where you can get away from life/family/ whoever.. Single guys probably won’t know about the need for this – but married guys and guys with kids, lol,, will definitely understand this idea. Just something Ive been throwing around in my head.

Maybe I’m nuts?

If you understand the idea here, and are shaking your head yes in agreement, how much would you pay for monthly access? $100? Car payment?

Whatcha think? Help me think this idea out.

 

[hockeygoon15]

I like the premise. You run this idea by Mrs. Bones yet? I think that may be your biggest roadblock

Honestly, without having any kids running around yet, I'd rather just spend the time at my own place. I could see how having a nice, shared, man cave where you could get away from it all for a little while would be nice, though. Then again, I'm also more of a hang-out-by-myself type of guy anyway -- what some announcers might refer to as a "house bound agoraphobe"

 

[PK Cronin]

I think it would take you a lot of time, money, and effort to get that to work out right.

How do you know guys wouldn't ruin anything? You'd have clean more frequently. How many guys would you allow? How would you advertise it? What separates you from going to the bar? Is food included? There are a lot of questions/issues that you could get from this.

Just be sure to think it through.

 

[13th Floor]

I think it would take you a lot of time, money, and effort to get that to work out right.

How do you know guys wouldn't ruin anything? You'd have clean more frequently. How many guys would you allow? How would you advertise it? What separates you from going to the bar? Is food included? There are a lot of questions/issues that you could get from this.

Just be sure to think it through.

Yea I wouldn't go for it, mostly because I don't have much of a use for it. I just ran through my head of running it by my wife and in my brain it came off as kind of sketchy. I'm going to a place where I pay to hang out there with other guys who are doing the same thing? Why wouldn't I go to a strip club or bar -- it kind of sounds like the same deal? And if I wanted to just hang out with the guys, I'd just go to their house and chill.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong, and maybe you are looking for 3 to 4 specific people to go in on it on a month to month basis or something? That's the only way I could see it working, but it just isn't for me because I wouldn't pay extra income to do something I could do at someone's house.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[JeffNYI]

There was an episode of King of Queens where they did just what you described above.. Doug and his buddies rented an apartment that was just an all-male chill-out zone to get away from their wives/kids.

I have a wife and kids, and my wife would NEVER go for it.. not only that, even suggesting I spend money on this would ring a billion alarm bells and I'd never hear the end of it.. so I'd have to do it behind her back, which brings a whole host of other obvious problems.

I get what you're saying.. and yeah it'd be fun to have a place to just go, bring my own drinks, chill, etc.. and it's MY place - so I'm not imposing if I want to stay for however long I want to stay..

But the drawbacks of having to deal with the wife every time I went there/got back from there would far, far outweigh the benefit..

 

[OpAck]

There was an episode of King of Queens where they did just what you described above.. Doug and his buddies rented an apartment that was just an all-male chill-out zone to get away from their wives/kids.

I think Kramer (Seinfeld) did something similar also...but more as a smoker's lounge.

I'm with Jeff...my wife would not go for it either. I don't even know how I would even start to explain to her that I want to pay a monthly fee to gain access to some apartment that will serve as a place for me to unwind with probably a bunch of people I don't even know. After first getting paranoid about me cheating on her, she would make the valid points that I can go over any one of my friend's houses and hang out there for free. Or point to my PS3 collecting dust below the TV. Or go hang out at one of the many bars or clubs that already have mancave-ish items. Again...for free (as long as you don't drink or if it's a club).

I actually think it would make more sense for a single guy/gal who is new to the area living in a tiny apartment and doesn't know anybody, rather than an already married guy/gal. It would be a place to meet people. But then again...I'm sure it'd make more sense to just go to a bar and hang out there. People would also feel more safer meeting new people in a more public environment, instead of a private apartment. And the apartment would have to be somewhat close to where the person lives or works.

And let's just say I want to take a quick nap or something...yet I show up and some idiot is playing his hip-hop or country music and I can hear it. There's going to be a problem and I'm sure I'm going to complain...and rightfully so. But I'll be the one getting kicked out because the guy was playing his music too loud...

I dunno, it just sounds like it wouldn't exactly work out the way you want it to.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Sounds like it has the possibility of quickly turning into a drug den. How much time are you going to have to police all these strangers coming in and out? Normally when you rent it's to one person and you are able to gather references and even then it's still a crapshoot. Do you really want to play russian roulette with an ak-47?

 

[JTforPres2012]

There was an episode of King of Queens where they did just what you described above.. Doug and his buddies rented an apartment that was just an all-male chill-out zone to get away from their wives/kids.

I have a wife and kids, and my wife would NEVER go for it.. not only that, even suggesting I spend money on this would ring a billion alarm bells and I'd never hear the end of it.. so I'd have to do it behind her back, which brings a whole host of other obvious problems.

I get what you're saying.. and yeah it'd be fun to have a place to just go, bring my own drinks, chill, etc.. and it's MY place - so I'm not imposing if I want to stay for however long I want to stay..

But the drawbacks of having to deal with the wife every time I went there/got back from there would far, far outweigh the benefit..

On top of the Chines restaurant! Sounds like a good idea, but I feel like it would be an extremely difficult process to work out. How do you really advertise something like that? How much is the right amount to charge? Etc..

 

[Bones45]

First off, you guys are awesome. Thanks for the feedback..

Ill responsd as best I can, on thoughts -- I dont have all answers yet.

I like the premise. You run this idea by Mrs. Bones yet? I think that may be your biggest roadblock

Hell no. Its far too early for that type of chaos.

It has to be sold to all wives, as just a place to hang with the guys without have to go to a bar, and deal with standing, other idiots, the bar crowd, etc. Its not your buddys house, who has a wife and possibly kids running around and being a PITA.

Dont forget, no need to miss out on the girlies. They would have their nights too -- where you would only have girls there. No males allowed (except me, I own the joint, )

Never said this was going to be an easy sell.

How do you know guys wouldn't ruin anything? You'd have clean more frequently. How many guys would you allow? How would you advertise it? What separates you from going to the bar? Is food included? There are a lot of questions/issues that you could get from this.

Just be sure to think it through.

I dont, really. The key is that you get the right people, people who understand the place, me, and respect everyone. Obviously if people trash it, it stops. Would have to have a limit -- not sure about how/who funding the bar..Probably be BYOB.

Think it through? Of course -- isnt an HFBoard post sufficient?

I see it as similar to a ski house share -- you get X amount of days for the month, there is a calendar of events sort of -- and you are allowed to bring a guest or two.. and you picking the dates you want. The key is that you arent in a some bar, strip club, or a friends house -- its a neutral location. I mean as a dad myself, sometimes ya just want to get away from everyone and chill -- but out of the house, and frankly, sitting at bar watching the game/hanging out, just isnt what it used to be. Guess its called maturity. ********!

Agree -- Jeff -- if the wife doesn't understand the nature of the place -- and that its NOT a pickup joint or a drug den, it wouldn't be worth the aggravation.

I guess I'd have to have a web cam in there 24/7 to make sure things are on the level.

To complicate things even further, this is a co-op. So there are all types of house rules Id be breaking and risk all types of mgmt issue. Course, I could join the board before I did this, and make some changes if needed...

Opack -- yeah.. the music/napping/smoking thing could be trouble as well.

These would have to be people I know, or someone my close friends could vouch for, and their spouses of course. Its not a like a random public thing. Can you imagine if I put it on CL? Yikes.

Id have to clear $1600/month to make it even thinkable. 10 guys at $160 a month?

Super Bowl, all local playoff weekends are extra? LOL

 

[Felix Unger]

A few thoughts:

1. If this is so attractive, I can see why people become ultra-orthodox Jews.

2. Hard to see how you wouldn't have to collect sales tax, which would be a real pain in the ass.

3. Suppose you had to kick someone out, but couldn't retrieve a key. Then you'd have to replace the locks and all of the keys. Right PITA.

4. If gambling were to take place there, you could put yourself in potential criminal liability.

5. Generally speaking from a business point of view, it's way better to have a large sale than a bunch of small ones.

6. In order for this sort of thing to work, it would have to be a true cooperative - i.e. each member gets a say on accepting new members, disciplinary matters, etc.

I could go on..

 

[Bones45]

A few thoughts:

Hard to see how you wouldn't have to collect sales tax, which would be a real pain in the ass.

If gambling were to take place there, you could put yourself in potential criminal liability.

In order for this sort of thing to work, it would have to be a true cooperative - i.e. each member gets a say on accepting new members, disciplinary matters, etc.

Sales tax? That is for suckers!! This would be on the DL -- neighbors wouldn't notice or hear anything -- "we are friends of Scott and Rachel's" -- that's all they need to say..

Gambling is only illegal if the house makes money. So its not a problem.

 

[IceAce]

Isn't this basically what a Lions Club, VFW, Kiwanis, Guys with Fez hats, etc. is?

 

[bvon44]

Guys with Fez hats, etc. is?

That made me laugh far more than it probably should have.

As an unmarried guy with a girlfriend my say doesn't really matter in comparison but I think for this to work it would have to be like the King of Queens did it. Have it used by a bunch of close friends who can all vouch for each other. That way it'll alleviate suspicions among the friends and their wives as well as your wife.

 

[Bones45]

Isn't this basically what a Lions Club, VFW, Kiwanis, Guys with Fez hats, etc. is?

LOL..Not sure what those actually are, even though I have heard of some..

Just a club which you can rent out, run by bitter old men?

Doesn't sound like much fun, and the places are usually pretty depressing.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Have you thought about renting it out to vacationers?

http://www.homeaway.com/ and http://vrbo.com/ are good sites where you can advertise.

 

[lorwood]

As a member of the local fire department I used to run the rec room (fire dept bar). One of my first acts was to charge dues of $5 a month. The rec room already received some funds from the fire dept general fund but they were never enough to keep the place stocked on a regular basis, really only enough money was given for the occasional party.

This measly $5 a month, only from those who choose to use the rec room, was enough to change the taps from Bud to any good beer (2 kegs 2 varieties) we wanted that month ( I put up a request box and always got around to filling requests.) There were always munchies and every Sunday breakfast was served before drills.

Well I learned that once you charge people one dollar they think they have the rights to everything.

I had people complaining about what was being served and demanding special orders at breakfast instead of just taking what was on the menu which was different every Sunday

I had people taking entire bags of snacks out of the rec room thinking they paid for it.

I had people *****ing about what kind of beer was on tap even though there were always two types and the brands were rotated.

Heck we even had one guy get kicked out of his house and think it was OK for him to live there.

Forget about some people cleaning up (not everybody) or even throwing there own trash away after all they paid their money!

Once my time was up the next guy (smartly) discontinued the dues and the rec room went back to no food and one keg of Bud.

So if you are going to charge money expect that people will expect more than they are entitled to and make you miserable if they don't get it.

 

[A Pointed Stick]

Isn't this basically what a Lions Club, VFW, Kiwanis, Guys with Fez hats, etc. is?

The fez would be a requirement.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Have you thought about renting it out to vacationers?

http://www.homeaway.com/ and http://vrbo.com/ are good sites where you can advertise.

www.airbnb.com as well....and that's a great idea!! I didn't even think of mentioning that but you can make good money from airbnb if you are in a good location.

 

[Kevin27nyi]

There was an episode of King of Queens where they did just what you described above.. Doug and his buddies rented an apartment that was just an all-male chill-out zone to get away from their wives/kids.

Was going to say this.