My partner and I are starting a pinball membership club open to the public. Not an arcade, but all about pinball. We've finished our business plan and are now ready to start purchasing machines. We need to buy 24 machines for our shop. If you were buying 24 machines all on free play, what ones would you ensure were in your shop? Any advice is appreciated!

We have about $80K to buy machines. We are opening in August, 2012. Want a mix of cult classics, new releases and just fun. thoughts?

Business model is pay by the hour or buy an annual membership for unlimited play. Also will have machines designated for just members, not open to general public.

Thanks! what about Twilight Zone, Cirqus Voltaire, Theatre of Magic and Tales of the Arabian Knights. worth buying?

We are pinheads, have them in our basement and thought it would be a great idea to bring guys like ourselves together. We've run parties/tourneys in our basements and decided, WTF. why not do more. Business plan, support services, all taken care of. no background in pinball, just love it!

seen CP Pinball online, very cool have you visited?

Haven't nailed that down yet but there will be a members only night and tournament/league night also I imagine. Met with both Stern and Jersey Jack last week, they are interested in co-marketing, launch events and even prototype evaluation for members only.

Thanks. and yes, you are right. How original huh? We are documenting our story on facebook as we set the business up if you search for skillshots pinball. Want to respect the site and not advertise but we want to put the best product out there we can. Taking all feedback and suggestions!

Thanks to all for the advice. more questions coming as we build this out. any guidance always appreciated.

It's close to home for us which makes it easier for a start up. If people like it and it takes off, we will open more I assure you. Will put Oak brook on the list.

Found a guy in Ohio says he can get us any machine we want within two weeks. shopped out and everything. Meeting him on Friday ath www.ohiopinballshow.com. checked him out and he is legit.

will keep it in mind. we have a list of 50 machines right now need to cut that in half. I'd like to play it. I figure i'm my best test market. Any thoughts on the Jersey Jack WOZ machine? He offered to give us a discount and make us distributors if we were interested? Do you think the market is ready for more high tech in pinball?

We are definitely looking for retail space. We don't want anything too big. We don't want to be an arcade. We want to be about pinball and only the pinball experience. We were able to meet Steve Ritchie and George Gomez at Stern last week and they said they'd attend our opening. Got really geeked out when they said that! I think I'm going to buy AC/DC Premium this weekend. So we will at least have AC/DC and WOZ. We will take all the advice we can get. thanks!

Tried to send PM but disabled

Thanks for offering to help. Advice as we get this thing going and hopefully, if we are so fortunate, seeing all of you IRL at our shop once we open would be great!

Haven't set a fee yet. What would be a fair annual membership if you had members only nights, machines the general public couldn't play, member only tourneys and special events?

What's the name of the place. Would love to see how NOT to do it.

Love topless Tuesdays! First order of business! Lol. Thanks!

Franchising is a ways off but glad you see some positive things here. First year will be a lot of trying new things I think to get it perfect before we open the next one. Will keep you in mind for sure!

Really great ideas, love the brainstorming! couple things we don't want are to just be an arcade, or a Gameworks. We want to change the model. This is about Pinball for Pinball people. I agree there should be both membership (with lots of perks, if you are going to pay more you should get a lot more), and then a pay through the door. Coin drop we are on the fence about but considering. We are not looking for teenagers to loiter or anything like that. We definitely want to be part of the pinball movement, bringing some life back into pinball, new players, be the destination, etc. Sounds corny but we want it to be special and the members to feel a part of it. And i agree on the maintenance comments, we have already talked to a few technicians in our area and they are interested in being on retainer working with us.

Clay, thanks so much. We are very passionate about this and feel we can make it work if we don't get too big and keep it a close eye on it. Whether we make money or not, this is our dream and if we monitor it well, based on your suggestions, I know it can work!

I agree completely. The pinball anarchists are not our core customer. We want people who care. We are not in this to get rich, it's a place to meet, have fun, and experience pinball. I talked to my partner last night. What do you think about members getting a piece of the action. Like sharing in the net revenues (revenue after repairs, maintenance, etc.) or money off their annual renewals if we do well?

i agree, instead of just my partner and i policing the shop 24/7, it would create a whole membership base that has an interest in it being successful. 300-400 people who have a stake in it is very compelling i think. The company i work for has a profit sharing model and i got the idea from that. i'm thinking like 10% of the revenues allocated to the members (who are with us for at least 12 months) as money off their membership. do you think that would work?