For Parisian entrepreneur and entertainment guru Alexander Ghislain, the path to domination of the international up-scale nightlife scene has been a life long journey.
Now, after the successfull launch of his marquee club Raspoutine in West Hollywood, the visionary entrepreneur has big plans for the future.
We spoke to Mr. Ghislain and asked about his background and upcoming ventures:
How did you get started in the entertainment industry? What sparked your interest?
I started young. When I was just 14 years old, I was the one at school every Friday investigating which one of my friends’ parents were out of town for the weekend. I handled everything from the invitations to the drinks, and even DJed the parties myself. I always went above and beyond, renting sound systems, and hiring friends from my boxing gym to work the door. Since then, I have had the opportunity to work with multiple night clubs and manage different venues. I love working in the entertainment industry and seeing the magic happen. I get a great sense of pleasure watching everyone in the room having fun.
How hard is it to be a successful club owner in Los Angeles?
I believe that all markets are difficult. We start from ground zero each time. It can be challenging to find your target demographic, and your first regular clients — but once they spread the word, the clientele grows quickly. LA isn’t necessarily a harder market. It’s all about the work, timing and your team.
You have managed several exclusive establishments over the years. What do you believe is the key to maintaining “hot spot” status in major cities like LA?
In LA, like everywhere else, “the door” is the key to success — the art of being able to make the right clientele selection. There is a paradox in the night life industry: to have the best ambiance, you must have different types of people — age, appearance, sex, social class, and so on. But at the same time, it’s important to know who should sit next to whom. You want to create an environment where everyone meshes perfectly together.
Raspoutine is known for its Parisian charm. How did you transmute this regal ambiance to the LA market?
I tried to find the perfect location for Raspoutine (volume, capacity, history) in the best area of LA, which, in my opinion, is West Hollywood. After securing our location, I duplicated the exact design and décor as the original Raspoutine in Paris to give our West Hollywood location the same charm and warmth.
You secured an impeccable location for the Los Angeles branch — 8623 Melrose Avenue, a place better known as having received the first liquor license in Los Angeles in 1919, before transforming itself into a speakeasy just a few months later. How did you acquire this location? Was it on your radar for a while?
I visited this location a few years ago and knew it was the right spot. I wasn’t sure about the size of the venue at first, as it was a bit smaller than Raspoutine Paris; however, I wanted the LA location to be really private, so after some time I realized it was perfect, and went for it!
What’s next for Raspoutine? Do you plan on opening more locations?
I’ve been looking for new locations in London and New York, but it’s not easy to find venues that meet all the requirements. If it’s not perfect for Raspoutine, I am not doing it. I’d rather keep looking for a better place. Possibly a location in Vegas too… stay tuned!
