In the last year I've seen night clubs exchange in management, shut down and re-open, open only on the weekends and also open it doors to 18 plus events. In each strategy their has been sound results and with others they have flopped. You see it everywhere including Hotels such at the Ivy going bankrupt and being sold out just to survive.

However, its easy to say when establishment are literally hopeless and desperate to make a dollar rather than allowing guest to simply attend an event and splurgetheir money on bar sales. I also take under consideration that if you are not on a guest list or if you arrive after the guest list closestheir is always the expectation to pay a cover charge(this is protocol). It is fair and justified BUT what if their is only 20 minutes left in the night? That's right. What if it is 1:10AM? Ridiculously enough I experienced a specific venue(which is notoriously know to be glamorous and a will established venue) to literally deny me or my guest entry because I would not pay a $20 cover for 20 minutes of enjoyment and to add more to the topic the venue was quite empty. Who would do this and why? The "who would do this?" is the easiest part... Hard Rock Hotel's 207 Lounge. Why? Is the mystery.

I spent time to think about what is happening to our Gaslamp Quarter. As I walked down Fifth Avenue I noticed places like The Bondi close down on a Saturday night. What! Yes, Saturday night. Venues are desperately economically in pain. The recession has affected night clubs like the snowball affect rolling down a mountain side waiting to roll over and smash its clients. What does this mean for you? Pay close attention.

Its means that they will have to figure out a way to balance and manage their bottom line. I spoke with a General Manager on Sunday about this growing trend and asked how the recession has shifted the way they manage their profits. The answer is "charge our client". You and I are the client. Haven't you noticed that your drinks are just a bit more expensive and not as strong? Have any of you experienced not being on the guest list? Well, they are desperate and unfortunately people like you and I have to pay the ticket.

So what do we do as a consumer?

Honestly, their are not too many solutions. If I were to suggest one it would be leverage. If you are not an avid club goer then round up a few friends and pitch in the money you would normally spend in one night. This could be anaverage of $20 to $40. You can find more than enough places to purchase VIP service with two bottles for $400 and you'll skip the line. If you have 10 friends then you'll have $400. Be smart and spend wisely and best of all you wont have to deal with that annoying door man charging you $20 for 20 minutes for an empty room and desperate service.

See you in the night life!