Music in restaurants acts as a potent tool that enhances the dining experience and creates an inviting ambiance. It plays a critical role in establishing the desired atmosphere, engaging customers, and reflecting the restaurant's unique brand identity. Whether you operate a fine dining establishment, a trendy bar, or a cosy café, the significance of music in the retail mix cannot be overlooked. It is essential to consider the music selection on your premises and develop a sound music strategy. If you’re wondering how it can benefit you and your restaurant, keep reading to find out!
Having music in restaurants increases customers' likelihood of spending money and encourages them to visit more frequently. This becomes particularly beneficial on slower days when it's challenging to fill up tables. The addition of music adds vibrancy to the atmosphere, elevating the overall vibe and attracting more people to the venue.
During periods of waiting, whether it's for a table or food to be served, customers can become bored and fixate on the passing time. Incorporating music provides a delightful distraction, diverting their attention away from the wait and allowing them to embrace the present moment
Live music has the added benefit of boosting the morale of your employees. When employees feel good, they can genuinely enjoy their work shifts, resulting in a higher level of job satisfaction and motivation.
The absence of music in a restaurant can create discomfort for customers, as they may feel self-conscious about their conversations being overheard by neighbouring tables. Additionally, the sounds of cutlery and dishes in the restaurant can detract from the overall dining experience, making it less pleasant to enjoy a meal.
Research indicates that when slow-tempo music is played, customers tend to spend an average of $55.82, whereas with fast music, the average spending decreases to $48.62. This observation suggests that customers may prefer the atmosphere created by slow-tempo music, which potentially influences their willingness to spend more.
If you run a café, bar, diner or restaurant, don’t let just anybody choose which songs should play. The head waiter may like hip-hop, while the cook might be a jazz fan – but before you give in to personal tastes, ask yourself:
Illustrated with an example: For a cosy Italian trattoria, curate a playlist that encompasses a mix of traditional Italian classics, smooth jazz, and romantic ballads. This selection will help maintain an authentic Italian ambiance while adding a touch of sophistication and creating a soothing atmosphere for diners to enjoy their meals.
According to research conducted at the University of Oxford, the findings suggest that:
While it may be recommended to select slower-tempo music during the peak dinner hours (6:00 - 8:00 pm) to create a relaxed atmosphere for customers, Happy Hour (4:00 - 6:00 pm) presents an opportunity to introduce livelier music with a slightly higher volume.
Additionally, research suggests that increasing the volume of music during this time frame may contribute to a higher number of drink purchases within a given period.
As the dinner service winds down (8:00 - 10:00 p.m.), a gradual increase in tempo, while keeping the volume unchanged from the earlier prime time, can assist servers in smoothly concluding the service and accommodating the last seating for the night.
The effects of volume are not as straightforward as they are with pace and genre. Age and gender impact people’s preferences when it comes to volume.
This implies that when your restaurant is crowded, you can slightly increase the volume to accommodate the higher capacity. Conversely, when the venue is less crowded, you can adjust the volume accordingly and bring it down a notch.