How to Choose What Type of Music to Showcase in your Venue/Restaurant
Previously on the jukestand blog we have discussed the impact live music can have on the habits of restaurant-goers, but where do you go once you’ve made the choice to hire an artist? Are you looking for a band to fully promote and put on a show, or just some atmospheric acoustic covers? Deciding upon the style of live music that best fits your restaurant or bar can be tedious, but when chosen wisely can display a commitment to detail and a strong brand presence will impress patrons.
Selecting the sound of your live space is much like determining what type of background you’d typically pipe through the speakers. If you are looking for more ambient and low-impact music for a slow weekday night, hire a local artist to play acoustic guitar covers. On the weekends when business is bustling, a small band or even a solo singer with a PA system would enhance the lightness and fun of a night out. Higher-end restaurants still looking for that extra push into the right vibe to serve their meals can turn to local ensembles and soloists (another opportunity to use Jukestand!). Some spaces, however, want to place music on a higher pedestal of focus while their guests buy food and drinks, consistently booking local talent, as well as artists rolling through town for the night.
Larger, more pub-style venues with room for a PA and some mics, as well as a regular local crowd, may begin to work with promoters and book acts making their round in the local and national circuits. In my hometown, Syracuse, NY, local restaurant Funk N’ Waffles has a small stage a few feet off the ground. I was fortunate enough to play the space a few years back, and the owner/bookers do a great job in making their space accessible to artists just starting out and more renowned, like Moonchild or Brandon “Taz” Niederauer. Some restaurants, like Dinosaur Barbecue, another Syracuse staple, open up sections of their patron seating to set up a stage and hold blues and cover band nights. The restaurant is styled like a Southern roadhouse bar and many of the bands are locals who play just for the fun of it.
Volume, or more accurately style, is too an important factor in determining the perfect soundtrack for your restaurant’s ambiance. Folk and solo acts tend to be more effective in setting the vibe at coffeehouses and smaller spaces. The quieter delivery and subtle strumming of an acoustic guitar as opposed to, say, a shoegaze band with two amps to a guitarist and an arsenal of pedals and stomp boxes. The bigger the space you have, the bigger and louder the artists you are able to book. Some restaurants want to remain just that, restaurants; music, when played at a certain volume, can overtake the vibe of the space. That’s a great thing, especially since it allows for a wide range of styles and genres to occupy your restaurant, continually piquing the interests of your customer base. But a music-centric restaurant, or at least one with a loud band, can also negatively impact your business by turning away older crowds and sacrificing quiet area to relax and enjoy one’s meal.
Bar venues themselves are an entirely different category of restaurant. Typically, these establishments place the stage, and the band, at the focal point of the room. The bar is in the back and subdued, and there’s plenty of open space in between the bar and stage for a few tables, but mainly standing room. This focus on the music also limits functionality and operation of the restaurant itself, and possibly even diversity of menu. Since concerts at reputable bar venues around the US, depending on the promoter, sell tickets prior to entry, restaurants with such a music-heavy approach may lose the ability to take reservations, or even develop a more formal dinner menu (if that’s even what you’re looking to do!). The science of selectively pairing music to work within restaurants goes two ways, however, and as a musician it’s also important to determine the rooms you play alongside your goals and trajectory in mind.
In high school, I was that local guitarist the Italian restaurant in my town hired on summer weeknights to strum lightly while guests enjoyed their meals. Usually, the restaurant GM would settle upon a rate before I played, though tips were generous and abundant. I eventually realized that these performances, during which I was essentially the background music to a thousand different dinner conversations, I was not challenging myself to grow as an artist, singer, and songwriter. I figured I’d be taking a risk in entering the competitive market of coffeehouse open mics, art galleries, and even school-curated talent exhibitions in order to not only display my talents as a musician and a songwriter, but also to find my voice and style of songwriting, but it was worth it. The restaurant gig was by no means a bust, though. In leaving my post I was able to pass the job off to another local artist, allowing for more young talent to gain exposure and hopefully find their path.
Whatever your vibe, live music is a fantastic way to immerse your customers in the ambiance and emotion of a night out. As this and previous blog posts have repeatedly preached, the cultural crossroads between the dining and music communities are strong together, it’s just a matter of deciding what fits best for your space! Obviously, not every room is equipped for the chaos and confusion of a noise rock or speed metal outfit, but that doesn’t mean the somber and light tapping of a piano won’t do wonders for your restaurant and for customer experience. Find what musical cocktail pairs perfectly with your room, and get booking! There’s plenty of artists itching to play anywhere for the chance to perform again- why not give them a shot while at the same time developing your restaurant’s brand?
