There are times when you walk into a restaurant or bar, and everything just feels right. Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why, but it’s clear that a lot of thought and effort has gone into creating the perfect atmosphere.
It is likely that these places will stick in your memory and that you will recommend them to friends.
As a music consultant, of course, I pay close attention to the music, and sometimes the atmosphere can be let down by poor music choices. I’ve stayed at a luxury resort where everything was perfect, but they were playing explicit RnB at breakfast time, have visited a cosy cocktail bar where the music was so loud, I had to leave before ordering a drink and I’ve attended a live music event where the dominant sound was “feedback”.
Of course, music is only one part of creating a great atmosphere so I thought it would be interesting to have a look at “how do you create a great atmosphere?”.
I think a great atmosphere is largely about making you feel welcome, comfortable and that you belong in the space. So, I suppose it’s how it affects our senses that creates this overall feeling, meaning smell, sight, hearing, touch, taste and temperature are all involved:
Smell – A clean, fresh scent is essential for welcoming guests. This is often an underrated element, but it can make or break the first impression.
Sight – We like venues to look inviting with appropriate lighting levels that match the mood.
Sound – We want to hear good music at the right volume as well as the pleasant buzz of people enjoying themselves
Touch – Surfaces should be clean, and furniture needs to be comfortable.
Taste – we like to enjoy great food and drinks with interesting and memorable flavours.
Temperature – we want to feel warm and cosy in the winter and cool in the summer.
An operational manager undoubtedly has a big part to play in the delivery of a great atmosphere, but a large part of the responsibility lies with the brand and interior designers to create a well thought out and designed environment.
Whilst interior design is key, it’s the operational team that really brings the atmosphere to life every day, so it is essential that they receive training on how to achieve this.
For managers, the main areas of influence in creating the right atmosphere include:
Lighting – Ensuring the lighting levels are appropriate for the style of venue, types of customers and time of day.
Temperature – utilising the heating, aircon and extract systems to provide a comfortable setting.
Music – appropriate music played at the right volume that can be heard clearly. Obviously, the manager needs to be provided with the correct tools to achieve these goals and as music consultants we would recommend the following:
Music Brief – A well thought out music policy designed with the brand, venue and guests in mind.
Sound System – A quality sound system that delivers an even coverage of sound throughout the venue and can adjust the volumes in different areas i.e. bar and restaurant.
Background Music Player – A well programmed and regularly updated music collection that is scheduled for different times of the day and days of the week.
DJs and Musicians – that understand the venue’s brand, have been well briefed, are technically proficient and know how to play to the correct atmosphere and audience.
I trust this article has been useful and if you would like to discuss how music can enhance your venue’s atmosphere then please get in touch and “Let’s Talk About Music”.