This is the first article in a series that discusses Music Strategy and how it benefits all types of businesses. In this article we dive into how Music Strategy for Restaurants can help with branding and creating the right ambience.
When was the last time you went to a restaurant and there wasn’t any music? From fast food to fine-dining and up and coming health food chains, music is a constant theme in almost all dining and food establishments.
When you enter a restaurant, music is clearly not the first thing that is on the customers mind. However, vibe and ambience are. Music Strategy for restaurants may not be the first thing that an owner or operating may have in mind but whether it’s just waiting in line to take food away or to sit down for a full meal, creating the right environment should be one of the top priorities for any restaurant owner or manager.
– Music Strategy for Restaurants:
Every restaurant is different of course in terms of their food, style or even culture, which calls for different music for different restaurants. For example, when you think fast-food you think upbeat, EDM, pop and vocal music. When you think fine dining you think of smooth, lounge or house music. When you think of Chinese or Indian food, you think of Chinese or Indian music.
No matter the type of restaurant, the two main factors behind a music strategy stay the same. The most important things to keep in mind are:
– Ambience and Branding: This follows up further to what was written above. The style of music needs to be something that fits your brand as a restaurant. Are you an upscale italian restaurant? Then smooth jazz and lounge music is what sets the vibe for an upscale restaurant. If you’re a quick service chain of restaurants that makes salads and wraps? Then something upbeat, dance-like and modern is what fits the bill. Making sure that the music is ‘on brand’ is key to having a successful music strategy.
– Scheduling: While many restaurants are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, every restaurant experiences a different reality for the amount of guests dining for each period. It’s important to have the right styles of music and tempos playing for each time of day. For example, at a cafe/bakery you have the morning rush but during the early afternoon things may be very quiet. This calls for a playlist that mellows out a little after the morning or lunch rush.
For a restaurant that’s open for lunch and dinner you may have something upbeat at lunch then tone it down for the mid-afternoon, then bring the tempo back up around cocktail hour then back down later on in the evening.
Looking to make a music strategy for your restaurant? Contact us for a free consultation and see how we can help you build your brand with music.
