ADDICTIVE's blog: "Club Paradise"

So recently, I was asked to reopen Club Paradise Lounge after a very short break away due to working 80-100 hour work weeks and not having time for fubar (technically not reopen since it never really closed but get more involved in it being more active).  I was told by many that Club Paradise is the only place they have ever really felt home in.  Even people that are staff in other lounges said that Club Paradise will always be where their heart is.  It was so humbling to know that I had created a place that felt like that to so many.  Over the years many have been staff or members and have disappeared and reappeared.  It has been so great to see both old and new faces in there this past month.  It is the longest running fully active lounge other than Fubar support.  

With all of this said, I was kind of disappointed.   It is not like it was years ago in lounges or even on the website itself.  We reopened with a bang and still continue to remain one of the top lounges.  But my disappointment is this……Back in the day, people were loyal to one lounge even though they may have visited others.  Also back in the day, people helped each other with leveling and other things on the site.  It seems nowadays there is very little loyalty to ONE lounge and very little loyalty to friends unless they run a lot of bling all the time.  And before anyone takes that wrong…I have some amazing friends on here that are very loyal and very loving.  That is by no means meant for you J  The lack of loyalty is why lounges don’t last.  It frustrates owners and management and it is why I choose to take a more inactive role on fubar over the last couple years.  I was red and every other color under the sun and very actively involved in a lot of leveling groups and just other social groups such as Club Far and the 2^nd Alarm Hotties.  That kind of comradery does not exist in the levels it once did.  One thing I learned in the past couple months during my time to focus on my life is that life is too short not to enjoy it, you should live it to the fullest, you should empower people, and it re-enforced that you should be the best person you can be.  The little things are important but not as important as the big picture.  Choose your battles wisely and make sure they are that important to you that they are worth fighting and possibly losing something over. 

Prior to me reopening Club Paradise, I believed a lounge or anything in life ran by structure and I took that to a very high degree.  I thought I could make everyone happy and fix everything.  It cost me a lot in life and a lot just with friends on fu.  Being raised by a dad that was a former Marine would explain a lot of that structure issue.  There was a big control factor because I felt to have something done right you had to do it yourself since a lot of people in the past were supposed to help and didn’t.  Also, years on fubar being hurt and used by many gives you a colder approach to things.  Well coming back, after experiencing health issues and real life issues, I decided that it was time to get back to me and who I was before the hurt.  I decided that Club Paradise was to be what I always envisioned it to be.  That is a home for all and a place where everyone feels welcomed.  A place we can all have fun and runaway to when we need cheering up from our problems.

I have seen many lounges come and go and many lounges threaten to take Club Paradise down.  People need to realize it isn’t about being the #1 lounge.  I could care less if Club Paradise is #1 or #10.  It is about being REAL, having fun and being a true family.  I can honestly say that there are some of you that have stood by me through thick and thin over the last 4 years Club Paradise has been open and for that I can’t thank you enough.  So for those of you out there that jump from lounge to lounge every time a new one pops up that is more popular “at that moment” you really are foolish.  That is not what builds real friendships.  Rewards come from real friendships and from loyalty.  It would be like having to move to a new home every time a nicer one popped up in your town.  No one wants to really go through getting settled in and then having to move over and over again.  Most people hate moving. 

So basically what I am saying is do your research and look at what is best for you.  If putting your effort into a lounge that is going to close in 3 months is your deal then go for it.  I personally don’t want to waste my time on a lounge that is going to close after I bust my butt.  For those of you that want a home that isn’t going anywhere and has over 10,000 members for a reason, come check out Club Paradise.  We are currently looking for all staff including management and a potential co-owner or two.  This time around, I am empowering the people so there are a lot of management positions open and you all will have the say in what goes on.  I prefer to be more like a silent partner that helps as needed but isn’t running the show.  I believe in forgiveness and have extended that hand out to a few that were banned and have squashed issues with others.  Far less rules now than ever before.  Main rule is have fun and of course follow the rules that fubar has placed.  Other than that I think you will find a very relaxed fun loving environment in Club Paradise.  We appreciate your loyalty and loyalty will be rewarded in many ways.   Your ideas and thoughts will definitely be heard.  We are trying real hard to make it a place that you feel a big part of.  Would love to know what you all feel will make it become the place for you.  Ideas on rewards for staff are appreciated to.  In the past I have given fubucks, my points, bling, vips, etc so let me know what appeals to you.  I know your time is valuable.   So look for fun times and good things in the future.  

I do want to give a special shoutout to all of our DJ’s like DJ Sparky & DJ Skitzo and many others who get paid to dj in real life but yet take time to come and volunteer to dj on fu.  Show them lots of respect.  They have more than earned it.   

Also, it gets tiring people coming to me and going oh look my lounge is number one and how great you think you are.  The true test of greatness is not that you stole staff from another lounge closing so you had instant numbers, or you just opened and your lounge hit number one for a couple weeks because you are the new kid on the block.  Please come to me proud when you have put a lounge together from square one like I did.  With no staff, alot of time invested and it has stayed that way for the long term.  Club Paradise got to be where it is today with 10k members from alot of blood sweat and tears from me and my staff.  It got to be that way when me and DJ Army Medic started it 4 years ago with no staff and one by one added staff to it.  We didn't take staff from a top lounge that closed.  We did it the roll up your sleeves and pitch in way.  That is the story of true success.  Especially with the amount of lounges that have come and gone in 4 years.  I give props to the lounges that did it the right way without having to steal other people's staff to get instant numbers.   

Thank you all for having patience and for reading while I rambled on and on.  Feel free to leave your comments.