“We want music that conveys irresistible good taste.”
That was the request from a current restaurant client that came to us looking for a custom music program.
It’s a fair request – because after all, if you’re the owner of a full-service or quick serve restaurant, then you definitely want everything about your business to be irresistible – including your music.
So how do you ensure that your restaurant music conveys irresistible good taste? We’ll break down some of the most important considerations to keep in mind.
#1: The music should welcome your customer and reflect the environment you want to create
Knowing what your brand is all about is just one of the keys to finding the right music for your business. You really need to know who’s coming through the door and the best way to connect with them.
Looking for some other ways to make that connection? Take a look at your décor. It may seem unimportant, but it is. It’s all part of making the entire experience come together. Is your interior bright and modern, or dark and rustic? Are the table tops chrome or wood? Is the lighting subtle and low or luminous and bright? Simply put, the tunes need to flow with every element of your business.
#2: Savor the important questions
Finding great restaurant music requires you to think about some important questions, such as:
- How do you want your customers to feel when they’re at your restaurant?
- What is on the menu? This may sound like a basic concept, but it’s important to think about. Is there a flavor, tone or theme that your menu conveys that should be considered?
- Who is your competition, and how do you differentiate?
An experienced music for business provider will ask you these types of questions in order to help you achieve a branded sound that flows with the experience you’re aiming to create. And if they don’t, that’s your cue to start looking elsewhere.
#3: Don’t forget about dayparting
Different times of day bring varying volumes of foot traffic and different energy levels, and the music you play should reflect these factors. Busier periods may call for a more upbeat approach, while slower times may call for music that delivers a more subtle sound. A professionally-designed restaurant music solution will enable you to automatically daypart your programs to create a consistent experience that matches the environment you want to create.
#4: Keep it fresh, but aim for familiarity
It’s always important to make sure that you have access to a broad selection of tracks and programs so that you can maintain a fresh sound and avoid repeating tracks throughout the day. But even if your target customer is drawn to the latest hits and rising artists, you should still make sure that your restaurant music features a solid mix of familiar favorites. After all, playing your customer’s favorite songs is a sure way to connect with them on a deeper level.
It isn’t easy to create the right balance of new tracks and classic hits that strum a special chord within your customers’ hearts – all while ensuring that your program doesn’t go stale. This is another reason why it’s important to work with a professional restaurant music provider that understands how to keep your sound always fresh, yet irresistibly familiar.
#5: Make sure it’s fully licensed for business use
This is a must – unless you want to pay thousands of dollars in fines. Make sure your music is already fully-licensed for business use. You can learn more about it on our music licensing page.
At the end of the day, making your restaurant music truly irresistible isn’t about finding a few genres that sound like your brand. It’s about achieving a distinctive sound that makes your target customer feel as though they belong in your business. A sound and experience they’ll crave over and over again.
If you’re interested in learning more about our affordable restaurant music solutions, visit our restaurant music page, or contact us today for a free consultation.
– Submitted by Brian Chamberlain and Jeff Sheerin, Music Design and Marketing