Music For Pubs – The Perfect Guide For Happy Hours

Let’s start with a fun fact. The word “pub” is short for “public house” and their history can be traced back to Ireland in the Middle Ages. Unlike private houses in the region at the time which required a membership to enter, pubs were generally visited by working-class citizens. They sat around, complained about Britain’s rule over Ireland, told stories, and drank into the night. Music for pubs of that time was almost non-existent and entertainment existed merely in the form of the patrons’ banter and the occasional live performer.

Sounds familiar, right?  Pubs today are still based on these same structures. The best thing about pubs today is that, despite their rich history, they are still, essentially, just places to relax with a pint and your friends after a hard day’s work.

Music’s Influence On Your Pub’s Experience

To make your evening out more fun, the ambiance of the pub matters the most. The mood of the establishment is influenced by factors like decor, interaction with the staff, and the gastronomy, among others. However, the most crucial thing to brighten the atmosphere is the music for pubs. Music is one thing, that in a flash, can transform the way your night can turn out. 

The playlist for the pub can be selected based on who the pub is for or if it has a theme. For instance, a rock music-themed pub will have a different kind of playlist when compared to a luxury pub inside of a five-star hotel. 

Therefore, to ensure that the customers have a good time, it is also important to identify the demographic of your customers based on your price point as well as a possible concept to tie it all together.  With the right music, you are sure to see your pub bustling with activity and people leaving for the night with a happy high and a mental note to come back again. 

Tailoring Music For Pubs For Your Benefit

Notably, music, as we all can accept, is like a second language to us. In the hospitality industry, pubs may be the place where music is most crucial. As gathering spaces, pubs must use music to foster a relaxed, sociable ambiance where patrons may mingle and unwind.

 It’s crucial to choose the right background music for your pub. That covers not just the musical genres and styles you select, but also the vigor and volume. 

According to research, it is thus important because people tend to link higher notes with sweetness. Deeper, more resonant tones are often associated with bitterness. The parasympathetic nerve system plays a role in appetite, according to Neel Burton, author of the Concise Guide to Wine and Blind Tasting. Loud music stimulates the neurological system, which reduces appetite. 

Hence, your customers’ experience will have the perfect soundtrack if you choose music for pubs music wisely. It can affect their spirit and energy, inspire them to engage in discussions, and ultimately have an impact on how much time and money they spend at your pub. 

Pick Music For Pubs That Satisfies Your Patrons

When compiling the ideal pub playlist, there are numerous things to take into account. Define the ideal setting you want to establish first. Will the space’s purpose change or stay the same during your business hours? 

For instance, some pubs might offer food all day long before transforming into a livelier, more vivacious space for drinks. Some may only be open for a few hours on the weekends or on hot summer days next to the pool. Many pubs also have separate levels which serve different types of drinks as well as have varied decor and ambiance.

Choosing the proper playlist for the time of day, the best genres, and the most appropriate energy levels will all contribute to creating the ideal environment. For instance, it’s uncommon for your pub to play excessively upbeat, pumping house music in the afternoon. When your consumers are trying to unwind, this might be obtrusive and invasive. 

Similarly, you shouldn’t play music that is too soft or slow in the evenings because it will make your room feel uninspiring. To get the buzz going, the evenings can be energized by choosing the music to move into a different pace. The music and energy, then, can be upbeat and may feature vocals. For example, some punk rock music would be a good fit.

Matching the music to the pub

So, choosing the ideal energy level for your pub will rely on its interior decoration, its intended use, and its clientele. Let’s look at some of the more typical pubs and how music may be employed to best create that ideal ambiance.

Brewpubs

Serving beer brewed in-house, brewpubs are a hit among millennial beer connoisseurs. And this crowd needs a chill, relaxed atmosphere to enjoy their favorite beer during weekend brunch or after a long workday. Upbeat, electronic tracks with minimal vocals are always a good fit for these spaces.

Cocktail Bars

Cocktail bars are all about serving up delicious concoctions that pack a punch. They are split into two categories depending on the demographics. 

There are bars that are refined and elegant consisting of older and affluent guests. While there are those which are more contemporary and modern consisting of a younger crowd. Although both consider music to be equally important and to serve the same purposes, the playlists very rarely have the same preferences.

Classic Cocktail Bar

In a classic cocktail bar setting, jazz or blues that is relaxed, inviting, and interesting works nicely in the early evening. Therefore, a slow jazz piece is a great option to let the customers unwind.

The trick to choosing music during the peak evening hours is to make sure it’s electronic but still has a vintage vibe. Finding electronic music that incorporates jazz or soul is a simple method to accomplish this. For example, this track by Prince would be a good fit.

Contemporary Cocktail Bars

For a more modern pub, the younger crowd would enjoy electronic music. It can create a sleek vibe that would go well with the experimental and modern drinks served at the bar.

Wine Bars

The draw of wine bars is often their exclusive collection of wine. This majorly attracts wine connoisseurs with a certain refined palette who want to sample premium glasses in an elevated and luxurious experience. A cozy acoustic playlist is often a hit at these places.

Sports Bars

Frequented by sports fans from all walks of life, the general clientele here is young, male and excited to watch their favorite teams play a sport they love. They need energizing music that will keep them engaged between plays and before and after a game. 

Dive Bars

You’ve been in a dive bar if you’ve ever visited one with graffiti-covered toilet walls. They frequently don’t even have a concept, let alone a name. The music playlist may be chaotic and the decor may be average, without any theme or thought put into it. 

Despite all of this, a city or town’s dive bar is one of the most enduring styles of bars. The clientele generally consists of the locals of the neighborhood in which the bar is. The usual likes of such regulars are alternative or glam rock like David Bowie, Rolling stones, etc.

Old English-Style Pubs

Old-style pubs are a common sight all throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom but they’ve been exported to the rest of the globe as well. The clientele is wide – from the middle-aged after-work crowd to youngsters looking out for cheap Happy Hour deals. Hence, the music also needs to have as wide a range. It can go from the latest Billboard hits to upbeat classic rock music.

Creating A Dynamic Music for Pubs Playlist with Soundsuit

The ideal music for a pub requires a lot of thought, and who has the time with thirsty customers demanding your attention? And that’s where Soundsuit comes in! With our help, you can make the process automated, fun, fast and easy.

Based on the details you supply about your typical customer, Soundsuit creates the perfect playlists for your pub. You can choose your preferred musical genres or let the app’s SmartGenres function choose the ideal music for your pub. 

By pressing a button, Soundsuit also enables you to quickly change the tone and intensity of the music. You can also use SmartMood to set your playlist to play automatically. With the help of this feature, you can automatically adjust the playlist’s energy throughout the day based on smart data. 

Using Soundsuit is as easy to use as downloading the app and hitting play, and it works with any sound system. It offers a completely legal substitute to using streaming services like Apple Music or Spotify, which many pub owners are unaware are prohibited for use in public spaces. And it is affordable!