Must chill

The first time Rainer Scheer put on a massive entertainment block party for 2,000 people, back in Sarasota in 2008, he worked day and night to intricately plan every detail.

But even with obsessive preparation, he made one costly mistake: He forgot to hire security personnel for the VIP tent, so no one stood by to check if people had the special wristband for entry. “People were just walking in for free,” says Scheer.

Making sure to hire VIP security is one of many lessons Scheer has learned in the unique business venture he launched eight years ago, while the recession was just beginning to percolate. The company, and the events it puts on, is Chillounge Night.