What station are you listening to?

Monday, January 27, 2025

We always say that there are three things in the Restaurant experience that we can control. The lighting, the temperature and the music. This time, I’ll talk about the music. Music is a critical element in the customers experience and in turn, how they enjoy their dining experience at your establishment. Music sets the mood and the tempo and having the wrong music can create a less than enjoyable experience. Over the years we have worked hard to make sure that the music that we play compliments the style of what we are trying to do. We look at our dining demographic and ask ourselves what those core customers like to hear and what makes the setting the most enjoyable. We also ask ourselves about volume and it’s affect. Tol much volume and the guests can’t hear themselves and too little and you might as well not have the music on.

We the latest technologies in place, you can play Apple Music and avoid any BMI or ASCAP licensing issues. They have done their homework and created “Stations” for you to select. Things like Latin Swing, 50’s big band, Irish pub and 90’s hits. The list is endless. But with all of these choices, what is the right soundtrack for your business? The first thing to remember is that this is not about the music that your staff wants to hear. Too often the staff gets a hold of the playlist and you discover that your Mexican restaurant is playing contemporary Hip Hop music. It doesn’t matter what the staff wants to hear; they aren’t paying the bills. When they finish their shift, they can go to their cars and listen to whatever they want, but not when they are at work.

It is important to look at your core customers and make sure that the folks who are spending the most money are happy with your soundtrack. If your restaurant clientel is mostly 40 and 50 year olds, then they might be looking for 80’s and 90’s tunes. I’m 67 years old and if I go somewhere that they play America, The Eagles, Billy Joel and Elton John, I’m staying for an extra drink. But that’s me. If you have a Mexican restaurant, choose a soundtrack that creates the mood you want. Lively, laid back, instrumental, or classic Latin sounds. But maybe you have a non-Latin customer base, so that requires thinking outside the box and playing music that those guests will like. It’s not as easy as just turning the dial.

Additionally, we like to have a lively music playlist at Lunch and Happy Hour to create a little excitement and then, as dinner sets in, we dial the tempo back. Subconsciously, our guests hear the music and either feel the upbeat nature of the setting, or they settle in for a leisurely dining experience. If you ask them, they may not be aware of it, but their brain reacts to what they hear. You need to be in control of that. Think long and hard about your choices. Perhaps even ask you best customers what they think. They may not have given it any thought. We didn’t put a lot of emphasis on someone who came in for the first time and wanted to have us change the music on their first trip. It’s ok to be accommodating, but you aren’t playing DJ.

Finally, think about the message that your music sends. In this current age, the language of several music styles contains things that can be offensive. We don’t allow that in either the front of house, or in the kitchen. Foul language, or language promoting sexual connotations is a law suit waiting to happen from staff who are offended. If I hear derogatory language in songs, I shut the music down. I don’t care if that’s “just what they say.” If you can’t use those terms when you are out and about in the business world, it shouldn’t be acceptable in the restaurant. So, I’m a Boomer and I like my 70’s soft rock hits. But that’s just me. What makes your customers happy and keeps them coming back. Think about the mood you’re setting and then pay attention to staff wanting to play what they want. Your there for the customer. They pay the bills.

And now…about the temperature…

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