Music Matters: How Tunes Shape The Guest Experience

Music is much more than background noise; it is a critical component that sets the mood, controls the pace of service, and reinforces your brand identity. The team at Bar & Restaurant magazine recently gathered insights from industry experts on how strategic music use can make or break a guest's visit.

Here are the key takeaways for your operation:

1. Music Dictates the Pace of Service

Music should be viewed as a tool to manage the flow of your business. As one general manager noted, music is arguably the most important element next to food and beverage.

• Manage Table Turns: On busy nights when you need to turn tables faster, playing music with a higher tempo (BPM) can subtly influence guests to move quicker.

• Encourage Relaxation: On slower weeknights, a more relaxed playlist with a slower BPM allows guests to linger, take a breath, and enjoy a longer, more leisurely dining experience.

  
  

2. Balance Volume and Ambiance

The volume of your music is just as important as the playlist. It should be loud enough to create energy and atmosphere, but soft enough not to dominate the conversation. The ideal setting is when the music "perfectly harmonizes with the conversation throughout the building," creating a warm and inviting space. If the music is too loud, it can overpower the guests' experience; if it is too quiet, the room can feel awkward or "off."

3. Reinforce Your Brand and Theme

Music is essential for establishing a cohesive identity, especially for themed concepts.

• Themed Environments: For a bar centered around escapism, like a Tiki bar, strictly adhering to a theme (e.g., Surf Rock, traditional South Pacific music) helps transport the guest. Operators should be prepared to politely decline requests for modern music that clashes with the established vibe.

• Emotional Connection: For venues built on culture or heritage, music acts as the "soul" of the experience. Using live performances can transform a space, making any moment feel like a communal, unforgettable celebration.

  
  

4. Curate, Don't Compromise

Allowing guests to select music can give them a sense of control, but this should be done within a carefully defined "sandbox." Having a curated selection—for instance, via a jukebox stocked with different eras, genres, and styles—ensures that while guests feel involved, the music never deviates entirely from your bar's theme or mood. Variety within the established genre is also key to demonstrating credibility to your audience.

Source: The summary above is based on the article "One for the Road: How Music Makes or Breaks the Guest Experience" by Ashley Bray, published on Bar & Restaurant (https://www.barandrestaurant.com/guest-experience/one-road-how-music-makes-or-breaks-guest-experience?mc_cid=09489a4ca9&mc_eid=fb4df109e1).

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