CHAT ROOM

A Few Points.

With the numbers you quote, I assume you are talking about a weekend event.

1) 100-200 people is a very good turnout for an event, only a small proportion of promoters would be able to achieve.
2) To get those numbers usually means building upto them, so lower numbers initially so lower bar take etc. venues aren't likely to be patient or care to wait for an event to become established.
3) Venues are interested in the bottom line not Salsa. To secure a decent regular weekend venue will usually require both a Hire Fee and Large Bar Take. Salsa is competing against big money earners such as weddings, corporate parties, and other types of music such as rock, hip hop, dance etc. where the bar take will be much higher because those genres have a drinking culture.

Weeknight venues you can usually strike a deal based on bartake because less competition for the venue however you still run the risk of losing a venue without any notice at the whim of the venue.

Usually 2 Venue Options for weekly clubs:-
1) Get a bar/nightclub for free in return for bringing in punters. Upside: your costs are now just teachers and marketing, downside you can have the rug pulled from under you very easily - anything that looks like generating more income will get precedence at the venue e.g. football
2) Hire a hall. Upside you have control of the venue. Downside the costs for your night will be doubled at the very least by the venue costs. You'll need a venue with a bar to hope to get reasonable numbers so you have to cover the barman wages, a caretaker/venue manager wages.

Then an hourly rate for the venue. Most venues will have a minimum hire period of 3 or 4 hours, yet most promoters will just charge in effect for the 1 hour lesson and the freestyle dancing is usually free.

Then the venue will probably try and add on 1/2 hour hire before and after your event as setup and clearing the room. The venue will probably say the room has to be cleared that night so the caretaker will be on overtime for all this.

etc. etc.