The most common definition of a club is an organization that is formed to bring people of a common interest or goal together to work towards that common end. In the world of night life, a club has pretty much the same goal, in drawing people together who share a common bond in the type of music they offer, the type of clientele they draw as well as the type of drinks or entertainment they provide. Many patrons may find that visiting a variety of clubs throughout a single evening can provide a better understanding of the nightlife in their community.

Typically, larger cities will have a greater variety of clubs as there is plenty of business for them to share. Smaller towns may offer only one or two clubs from which patrons can choose, but for most, the common goal is to gather, talk, have a few drinks, dance and socialize. In those areas with several clubs, once they open for business, they will take on the personality of their patrons.

Regardless of the interests of the clubs' owners, it is the patrons that ultimately determine the type of entertainment they provide as well as the type of clientele they attract. While most clubs tend to cater to the single crowd, looking to meet members of the opposite sex, there are also those that cater to same-sex hook ups and those that share a common interest or occupation. Clubs that often cater to off-duty police officers for example, usually called cop bars, generally provide a place for these officers to gather and share war stories from their jobs.

However, for most citizens clubs are developed to gather with friends to enjoy music, dancing and a few drinks. All clubs try their best to insure that their patrons who have perhaps imbibed too much throughout the evening make it home safely and generally prescribe to the practice of making sure each group have a designated driver. There are also potential legal ramifications for the clubs that blindly seek out only the pating customers without regard to their safety.

Dance clubs are probably the most sought after venues as people truly enjoy getting out on the dance floor and showing off their latest moves. Of course, with some patrons their dance moves improve with the more alcoholic beverages they drink, but their expertise on the floor is not always shared by others sharing limited space. The popularity of dance clubs is constantly increasing and for some, the right music to meet their tastes is more important than the quality of the music presented.

The bottom line for clubs is affected by how well they can keep their clientele happy and returning on a regular basis. It is no longer acceptable to have live music only on the tradition weekend as many occupations offer staggered work-week schedules and it is common to see many clubs offering entertainment seven nights a week. Although some of their clientele may not be able to hang around the clubs until closing time, many patrons like to get out with their friends nearly every night of the week.