We all know that feeling you get the day after a big night out—not just the pounding headache, but the lighter wallet in your pocket, and the confusion about where all your cash could have gone.
Eventbrite set out to uncover how much an average nightlife enthusiast spends when they’re out and about—and where, specifically, that cash is going. We analyzed data from our top six metros that go big after the sun goes down. And while most cities love their drinks and late-night snacks, we found that the ticket to an event eats up the most money and is the catalyst for other nightlife spending.
Keep reading for more nightlife spending insights in San Francisco, and see how the other cities stack up here:
New York| Atlanta | Los Angeles | Chicago | Austin
San Franciscans spend the same amount on tickets and drinks
The average spend on tickets and drinks came in nearly equal, showing San Francisco likes to get loose at live shows, so you can guess where their priorities lie.
Go out to get your groove on
People in SF were the most likely of any city to cite “getting my groove on” as a reason they go out — which makes perfect sense for the city that loves morning raves and dance party boat cruises.
Tip: To appeal SF’s dance-loving crowd, work some dance-y language into your marketing such as “Find your ultimate release on the dancefloor this Friday” or “Dance the work week off this Friday.”
Ticket trends: lowest ticket price, mostly music
Of all the cities studied, San Francisco had the lowest overall average ticket price ($25). Music events dominated the night, with 83% of all nightlife tickets falling into this category at an average paid ticket price of $20.
Tip: Price your tickets close to the average for your event type to ensure you aren’t alienating people with high costs—or missing out on some major revenue.
Ridesharing rules SF
The Bay Area is where Uber and Lyft started, so it’s no surprise to learn that ridesharing was the #1 way that San Francisco got around at night. People were also more likely to walk or take the bus compared to other cities.
Tip: Partner with ridesharing services to incentivize partygoers to come to your events with a ridesharing discount code. Work with Uber and Lyft to reach out to their customers that most frequently go out at night with ticket giveaways.
How San Francisco drinking habits measure up
San Franciscans have three drinks in an average night, with 15% of people indulging in five or more drinks. Only 6% say they don’t have any drinks.
Tip: Try extending your happy hour to attract more thrifty drinkers. You may also consider offering a nice, non-alcoholic option you can charge a bit more for. Think Arnold Palmers, or fresh fruit spritzers.
How SF snacks: pizza, burritos, and bacon-wrapped hot dogs
Burritos and bacon-wrapped hot dogs ranked higher in SF than any other city. If you’ve ever been in the Mission at 2:00 am, you know why.
Tip: Partner with some of SF’s most popular food trucks that offer delicious burritos (traditional or interpretative), such as Senor Sisig, El Tonayense, or Curry Up Now. Offer the trucks curbside parking on your most popular nights, share discounts with your attendees, and take a cut of the profit.
Check out how the other cities stack up here:
New York| Atlanta | Los Angeles | Chicago | Austin
METHODOLOGY
FOR THIS STUDY, EVENTBRITE ANALYZED DATA FROM MORE THAN 10,000 NIGHTLIFE EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN FEBRUARY 2014 TO DECEMBER 2014 IN SIX TOP METROPOLITAN AREAS WITH THE GREATEST TICKET VOLUME AND REPUTATION FOR NIGHTLIFE. NIGHTLIFE EVENTS WERE DEFINED AS ANY EVENT THAT STARTED AT OR AFTER 6:00 PM AND ENDED AT OR BEFORE 4:00 AM IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: MUSIC, FILM & MEDIA, PERFORMING & VISUAL ARTS, FASHION & BEAUTY, CHARITY & CAUSES, COMMUNITY & CULTURE, AND SEASONAL & HOLIDAY. METROPOLITANS INCLUDED IN THE STUDY: SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, ATLANTA, AUSTIN, CHICAGO. EVENTBRITE THEN SURVEYED MORE THAN 4,000 ATTENDEES OF NIGHTLIFE EVENTS TO UNDERSTAND SPENDING HABITS AND PREFERENCES AT NIGHTLIFE EVENTS.
