Synopsis
Clubland
takes you inside the epicenter of the hottest party scene in the world – Miami
ʼ
s SouthBeach. Beyond the velvet rope, through the VIP lounges, past the DJ booth and right into theback office. This is the story of the money, the egos, the catfights and the controversies at themost popular nightclubs in town.Nicola Siervo, a gregarious 39 year old native of Italy, is the consummate South Beach host.For over a decade, Nicola has been the “face” of the most exclusive high-end lounges,restaurants and clubs during the seaside neighborhood
ʼ
s Phoenix-like rise from a shabby,crime-ridden retirement community to “America
ʼ
s Riviera.”From his Sunday night dinner parties at Bang in the early 90s (frequented by Madonna) to hishosting duties at the ultra-exclusive lounge Bar None (co-owned by Sylvester Stallone andOliver Stone), to his stint at the famed Joia Restaurant on Ocean Drive (a favorite of JenniferLopez and P. Diddy), Nicola has become a gossip column staple, hosting bold-faced names athis parties nearly every night of the season.In 2001, Nicola partnered with Roberto Caan, a fiery French financier, to open the exclusive VIPlounge
Mynt
. From the start, it was the most successful venue on South Beach, boasting thehighest gross per square foot of any nightclub in the neighborhood. Nicola kept the clubpopulated with sexy locals, millionaire playboys, fashion models and his celebrity friends --connections made from spending a decade as the best-known host on South Beach -- whileRoberto maintained the books and operated the business.Their lucrative partnership ended in May 2005, as squabbles over money drove a wedgebetween the two. Nicola declared his independence and announced he was opening his ownbrand-new club, the New Zealand-themed
Mokai
, with new partners two blocks away from hisold home at
Mynt
!The 2006-07 season will be different for both men: Nicola is going head to head with Roberto forthe coveted status as proprietor of the hottest club on the beach.However, it won
ʼ
t be easy for Nicola. Designing, building, staffing and opening a club on SouthBeach is a maze fraught with pitfalls for even the most seasoned nightlife entrepreneurs.Building the right alliances is even trickier. Among the characters he encounters:
•
The ubiquitous Miami Beach code-enforcement officers, who can shut you down withoutwarning and make life hell for a nightclub proprietor. It is not unheard of for a disgruntledformer partner to phone in an anonymous tip, so Nicola better make sure he has hisbases covered
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