Tipsheet: Getting Into the Clubs

• Published 2004

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When trying to get into a private club, remember:

• Parties at the most upscale clubs—the Metropolitan, Harmonie, Union League, Union, Colony, Lotos, Players, and Century—cost at least $250 per person. The college clubs average $150.

• You’ll need a sponsor. Ask friends if they, or anyone they know, belong to any clubs—most have reciprocal arrangements, so if your pal is a member at, say, the Century Club, that could be your ticket in.

• None is legally allowed to advertise, but to bring in money, a club might find you a sponsor.

• Event planners often have relationships with club managers, who can hook you up with potential sponsors.

• Most clubs bill members’ accounts, and settling the bill with someone you’ve never met can be awkward.

• Some people desperate to get in for just one night have been known to pay the full one-year membership fee (usually between $10,000 and $15,000).