So, you want to start and run a juggling club. What are some of the issues you should be thinking about? Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Venue

This is obviously a big part of your club and can be the hardest thing to find. It may seem obvious but your venue needs to have a reasonable ceiling height and decent lighting. If you are looking to teach/learn aerial skills then you will need additional clearance and also a venue suitable for the equipment.

Things to be aware of: are there any expensive windows/light fittings which the club will be expected to pay for if damaged. Do the owners have any objections to unicycles or snakeboards being used, which may mark the flooring?

A place to sit down and chat is also a nice idea, as are tea/coffee making facilities.

2. Location, location, location

Location can be key for keeping a club going. You may have found the best juggling space in the world, it's free and it's available any time you like; but if it's halfway up a mountain and only accessible on a llama, you're unlikely to get many members.

Things to think about in terms of location: is there parking, do the buses run close by, how safe is the area? Remember that not everybody has a car, particularly younger members who may have to be dropped off and picked up by parents. This may be a factor in deciding the day and time you choose to run the club if, for example, you need to allow time for people to make last trains back to civilisation.

3. Day & Time

A lot of the choice about the day and time is likely to be driven by the availability of your chosen venue. If you are going to be the only person with the key then think about which day suits you. Talk to people that are interested in coming along to find out which day works best for them. Try not to clash with any other clubs in your area.

As for time, if you want the maximum number of people to attend then you need to allow people time to get home from school/work and grab a bite to eat before the club starts. Be aware that they may have school/work in the morning and may not want to stay out too late - you can always move on to a local cafe/pub after the scheduled end time of the club.

Take a look at the IJDb club details to find out what day and time is working well in other locations.

4. Price

The next issue you are likely to face is price, and a lot of this is going to be driven by what you are being charged. If you can get a hall for free in exchange for, say teaching some scouts, then great! Similarly if you can negotiate a fixed per person price with the venue then this takes away a lot of financial headaches. Otherwise you are going to have to think about how much the venue wants to charge you and how many people you can realisitically expect to turn up each week. If you aren't going to be able to cover your costs then it doesn't matter how good the space is.

Again, have a look through the clubs listed on IJDb and see how much they are charging - heck why not e-mail the contact person and ask how much they are charged for their space while you're at it.

5. Advertising

Do this. As much as possible. If people don't know about it, then they can't turn up. There are lots of ways to do this which don't cost the earth. Posters and leaflets in the venue, the local univeristy, sent to local youth clubs/scout groups/library, etc; local newspapers seem to like pictures of jugglers and also list local events; write a website for the club; add the club listing to relevant websites (*cough* http://www.jugglingdb.com *cough*); juggle in public places with flyers to hand out (subject to local authority restrictions); tell people about it at conventions.

6. Safety

The world is an increasingly litigious place and it is important to make sure you are safe, both in terms of the basics such as knowing where the fire exits and first aid kit are kept, and in having insurance. It may be that your club will be covered under the venue's insurance (they will be able to tell you this, so ask when scoping them out). If not, then you will need to provide cover in case of claims.

Information on getting insurance in the UK can be found here:
http://www.jugglingdb.com/compendium/performing/showbusiness/publicliabilityUK.html

Remember to factor the cost of insurance into the price you are charging.

7. How to keep it going

Firstly, turn up yourself. On time. Every week. If you aren't going to be able to open up, ask someone trustworthy to do it for you. If the club is going to be closed, let people know as soon as possible and then keep on reminding them.

Be prepared to spend time teaching newcomers, especially whilst the club is new. This may mean that you get to juggle less, but don't be afraid to delegate to other members. See Charlie Hull's excellent article on running paid workshops for some hints and tips on teaching http://www.jugglingdb.com/compendium/skills/workshops/runningaworkshop.html .

The main thing that keeps people coming back to a club is the club members themselves. Learn from the other members but also be welcoming to new members and teach them things that will keep them coming back. After all, if your members are paying you their hard-earned cash, they'll want to be getting something back in return (though there may be people who just want the space).

It may be necessary to buy kit for complete newcomers to use. Remember that suppliers will often offer a discount for "seconds" and also for buying in bulk. Keep those nasty corporate beanbags handed out by banks and the like as someone will be able to use them even if you won't. This holds true for your old equipment when you upgrade/lose/break part of a set. If you won't have secure on-site storage then you will need some way of transporting kit. If you have a car then strong plastic boxes are ideal, otherwise rucksacks/sports bags may be the way to go.

Don't forget music. This can be as simple as a set of old computer speakers to connect to a personal cd/mp3 player.
Buy a cheap kettle - a lot of jugglers seem to be caffeine-fuelled: help them to maintain their addiction.
(Your venue may require any electrical equipment to be safety tested - ask before you blow the fuses).

Your local council can be your friend, in terms of cold hard cash as well as providing cheap/free venues and advertising. In return you may be asked to run Saturday workshops or juggle at the switching on of the Christmas lights, and if it gets more people interested and turning up, putting more cash into your club, then this is a Good Thing (but don't let them take you for a ride).

Don't stop advertising for new members. Fresh blood is what keeps a club going and this is particularly important if you live in a University town where your members may be seasonal.

8. Have fun!

The final thing is to remember to have fun! Juggling clubs are a great place to learn new tricks and make new friends. The more there are, the better. With thanks to Charlie Hull amongst others for advice, support and additional comments. If you want any more help/advice why not try contacting the organisers of clubs listed in the IJDb http://www.jugglingdb.com/clubs/ who will more than likely be happy to help.