Pop-up LGBTQ+ bar nights

LGBTQ+ people and allies paying for drinks or tickets, and sometimes sponsors or local businesses supporting the night.

A share of bar takings agreed with the venue, door or ticket sales, room hire arrangements, and event sponsorship.

• Promotion and social media
• Event organising
• Negotiating with venues
• Community building

• Check who holds the liquor licence and whether your arrangement is covered by the venue's licence, as rules differ by state
• Ticketed or private events may need extra permissions, so check with your state liquor licensing body and the venue
• Public liability insurance for events, and check what the venue's policy covers
• Put the deal with the venue in writing, including who pays for security, performers and cleaning
• Attendance can vary week to week, so avoid big upfront costs until the crowd is steady
• Plan for patron safety and a clear process for handling harassment

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the venue deal, entertainment, promotion and insurance. Monthly revenue is estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how steady your crowd becomes.

Check who holds the liquor licence and whether your arrangement is covered by the venue's licence, as rules differ by state. Ticketed or private events may need extra permissions, so check with your state liquor licensing body and the venue.

Plan on at least around 8 hours a week, based on estimates, covering promotion, venue liaison and the night itself. Attendance can vary week to week, so avoid big upfront costs until the crowd is steady.