That's why there are so many VIP tables at crazy cover charge and even crazier minimum spend. They are needed to cover the "overheads" and subsidize the night. The club probably makes its slice off the regular punters having had the night propped up by the table service crowd.
Of course if there weren't so many high-rolling posers stumping up premium tabs, the DJs wouldn't be able to command fees like that in the 1st place. Stepping back from it all, of course, the DJs are no way worth that spend and they could never command it without the prestige venues of the superclubs pulling in those revenues. So they are entirely dependent on each other when matched.
If the VIPs went, the headliners would either have to drop their fees or go elsewhere (likely the latter to places like Vegas and Miami). Question then remains, would the superclubs be able to get their same net cut from enough regular punters if they slashed their entry fees, hired cheaper DJs and cut their drinks prices. Well, if the headliner is costing enough then quite possibly yes IMHO. But without so much certainty of a 'full house'.
And I reckon that's what has locked in the status quo. It's simple risk-reward really. The clubs are scared to break away from the trend because they reckon "names sell". And they are right in that ! However some hedge their bets with a mix of big name nights and more low key ones - and that's also a sensible thing to do, especially if a market is on the point of over-supply. Entry fees are lower but on the whole drinks prices are not and this is basically the underlying source of profit for the club rather than the top billed headliners. They are cashing in on their name. Which is just business.
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