Ces touristes dépensent une fortune pour ces clubs XXL

Patrick Tartari has taken over the mythical Palais des Festivals in Cannes for two months, transforming its 2600 square meter empty platform into an immense nightclub called "Le Palais Club." This venture costs 400,000 euros for rent, and if successful, it could host 3,500 people nightly. The idea for this ephemeral discotheque, which operates for 52 days during the summer, came to Tartari four years ago, aiming to liven up Cannes' nightlife beyond the cinema festival and Croisette strolls. Preparation for the club's opening involves a dedicated team, including specialists from Paris, New York, London, and Ibiza. Franky Twitter is responsible for attracting affluent clients, while bartenders promote the club to vacationers, with Swedes being a primary target this year due to their perceived attractiveness and tendency to arrive in early July. Ten thousand chic promotional flyers are distributed along 200 kilometers of coastline from Cannes to Toulon, including Monaco and Saint-Tropez. A casting call is held for young women from Vilnius, Lithuania, who are students seeking summer jobs as "ambiance hostesses" or dancers. Mozart, a former DJ now an event creation virtuoso, leads the selection process. He is particular about details and only selects four out of twenty candidates in one session. These Lithuanian dancers are a cost-effective choice, earning around 150 euros per night, which is half the rate of a French dancer. Soon, they will walk the red carpet of the Palais des Festivals, which Patrick Tartari has rented with all its decorum for 400,000 euros. Eight hours before opening, 55 tons of equipment are still being set up, including 4 kilometers of cables to power 160 lights and a 2-million-euro high-performance audio system typically used in stadiums. Professional dancers rehearse on podiums, part of the hundred animations planned for the summer. Barbara, whose real name is Madame Rolls, is a seamstress who previously worked for major fashion houses like Dior and Chanel. Now, she creates mobile embroidery, working six days without sleep to produce 1.5 meters of voile with her sewing machine. This year, Mozart dictated the club's color scheme, opting for black with integrated contemporary art by Belgian artist Cédric Tangis, whose exclusive works are featured. Three hours before inauguration, tension rises among the staff. Patrick Tartari anxiously awaits the necessary opening permits from the prefecture (for alcohol sales) and the safety commission, which arrive at the last minute. A prestigious guest, DJ Bob Sinclar, arrives by plane to mix for two hours, earning an estimated 40,000 euros. He films his performance with a head-mounted camera for his online fans. Sacha, the resident DJ, will take over from him later. Two hours before opening, reservations pour in, and the club practices overbooking, a professional tactic to create an impression of high demand and exclusivity. Patrick Tartari, the "boss," oversees the entrance, instructing bouncers on impeccable dress code and behavior, and reprimanding Sacha for being late. At 11 PM, the doors open. Regulars like Laetitia and Madison, who travel 50 km from Villeneuve-Loubet, express their excitement for what they consider the best club of the summer. Over two months, 180,000 people are expected to dance, including the targeted Swedish clientele. Bouncers like Suki, the bouncer, strictly enforce the 18+ age limit. VIP guests, who commit to buying at least one bottle of champagne, enjoy privileged access to elevated areas with banquettes and dedicated servers. At 2 AM, the club is a "bomb ready to explode," with 3,500 people experiencing Bob Sinclar's set. Julien Bourliakov, the alcohol manager, uses an earpiece and microphone to communicate with the beverage office, supervising large orders like a Jeroboam (3-liter bottle) of champagne. He's known as the "marathon man" and oversees exceptional orders, such as 10 bottles of Dom Pérignon totaling 5,000 euros, which must be served within five minutes to encourage quick consumption and reordering. The club's 400 square meter stockroom houses 21 fridges and is managed by six employees. Julien alone has access to the "bank," two cold rooms storing the most valuable bottles, including a 60,000-euro Mathusalem of Dom Pérignon Rosé, one of only three in the world. When such an exceptional bottle is ordered, Julien personally serves it to the client, accompanied by a change in music. Jawed, a wealthy Pakistani client known as one of the biggest clubbers on the Côte d'Azur, is a frequent buyer, once spending nearly 50,000 euros in a single night. The club attracts global stars like Stallone, Justin Bieber, Paris Hilton, Madonna, and Leonardo DiCaprio, who are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of euros. This "temple of celebration" is located on the beach, at the end of the Croisette, next to a prestigious casino. Julien Polagoc, the 33-year-old superintendent, manages 60 seasonal staff. He started as a dishwasher and rose through the ranks. Charlie, the lighting artist, controls 160 lights with 1 million euros worth of equipment, creating a dazzling spectacle. The club charges a 25-euro entrance fee for general admission, while VIPs, who reserve tables and spend significantly, enter for free. Zoran, the club's bouncer, determines who enters, prioritizing elegance and good behavior. Pretty girls often get free entry, though some still pay. Vera and her Swedish friends, on vacation in Cannes, are escorted to a controlled-access VIP table. Danish clients next to them have already spent 1,400 euros on a magnum of vodka and champagne, and the night is just beginning. The club makes its profit from alcohol sales. Julien reveals the establishment's "safe," a vault containing rare bottles like a 15-liter Nebuchadnezzar of rosé champagne, priced at 200,000 euros. While they didn't sell it last year, they remain hopeful. The club makes a 100% to 600% margin on these exceptional cuvées. Patrick Tartari, who only drinks water, founded the nightclub three years ago. He has his own ultra-VIP section where he entertains guests and stays informed about his wealthiest clients' desires. For the season's first party, he brought in rapper Wiz Khalifa, who, for a 40-minute show, received 75,000 euros, a palace suite, a private helicopter, and an open bar. Despite the high costs, Tartari considers the event a success, with the club packed and a "crazy atmosphere." The next day, Tartari, a 54-year-old businessman who started in real estate and owns three clubs in Cannes, discusses the void that existed in Cannes' nightlife for two decades before his clubs brought back a young and festive clientele, previously drawn to destinations like Saint-Tropez or Ibiza. Although he dislikes discussing money, estimates suggest his ephemeral discotheque generates around 12 million euros in revenue. Six full-time staff work year-round to prepare for the 63 nights the club is open. Artists like American rapper Future, a rising hip-hop star who has never performed in Europe, are booked six months in advance at significant cost. David Guetta, a French DJ, commands the highest fee at 168,000 euros per night. Tartari spends 4 million euros each summer to bring in top artists. Thomas, a 29-year-old Parisian and former waiter, is crucial for attracting wealthy clients. He maintains 5,000 contacts, including Gulf princes, poker players, and prominent French families. He tailors "dream nights" for his clients, making them feel like the stars of the evening. Thomas, a VIP square manager, wears 895-euro sneakers, symbolizing the club's trendy, fashionable, and relaxed ambiance. Andrea and her two friends, 18-year-old high school graduates, prepare for a night out in Cannes, adhering to the club's "sparkling" dress code. They each have a 50-euro budget for the evening, with alcoholic drinks priced at 15 euros. They are excited to see DJ Bob Sinclar. Thomas works diligently in the VIP section with his affluent English investor client, ensuring their consumption. Although paid minimum wage, Thomas earns substantial tips from his wealthy friends, sometimes up to 2,000 euros on good nights, and reportedly even 60,000 euros on one occasion. Andrea and her friends gain access to a VIP area with a white bracelet from a hostess, as the club aims to fill its private lounges with attractive girls on nights when it's not at full capacity. This bracelet also grants them access to the DJ booth. Patrick Tartari has two months to recoup his investments, hoping to attract over 130,000 clubbers by the end of August.