Sponsored by TouchTunes
Dining out is about more than just the food. It's also about the experience. And music plays a significant role in creating that experience. While restaurants have traditionally chosen background music for their customers, some now allow customers to select the music they listen to while dining. This new trend is gaining popularity, allowing customers to have a more personalized and engaging dining experience. There are many things to consider when choosing an interactive music solution for your restaurant locations.
Benefits of Giving Customers a Choice in Music Selection
- Customization: A significant trend in the restaurant industry is diners seeking more options to meet their specific needs and preferences. In addition to customized food and drink options, your guests can customize or choose the music using a simple mobile app or touch screen. Music selection helps to enhance the dining experience, making it more enjoyable and engaging for the customer.
- Increased Dwell Time: Customers stay longer in restaurants that play the music they enjoy. When customers like the music in your restaurant, they are more likely to relax and enjoy their meal, which can lead to a longer dwell time. By giving customers the option to select songs, restaurants can keep customers entertained and engaged for extended periods, increasing sales and revenue.
- Improved Customer Loyalty: Customers who interact with and choose music are more likely to enjoy their dining experience and be satisfied with the overall service. Leading to positive reviews, repeat business, and increased customer loyalty. Customers who associate your restaurant with a positive and enjoyable experience are more likely to return in the future.
Considerations for Giving Customers the Ability to Choose Music
- Technical Challenges: Giving customers the ability to choose the music can be a technical challenge. Restaurants need the appropriate technology or music solution that allows customers to connect their devices to the sound system and control the music. Additional equipment and staff training may be required.
- Consistency: When customers can choose their music, it can create an inconsistent atmosphere within the restaurant. To maintain a consistent brand identity, restaurants should consider creating playlists or customizing the music selection. This ensures that the song choices available to customers fit your brand and venue vibe.
- Inappropriate Music: There is always a risk that customers may choose inappropriate music that could offend other diners or staff members. Restaurants need the ability to filter the song catalog based on attributes important to your brand and location.
How to Implement a Customer-Controlled Music System
- Choose the Right Technology: Many systems do not have the technological ability for guests to choose songs. Restaurants need to have the appropriate technology in place including speakers or sound systems. Make this process easier by partnering with a music solution with expertise in interactive music technology to help you get the right guest experience enabled in your locations.
- Licensing: It is vital to ensure that the music played in the restaurant is licensed and legal. Playing unlicensed music can result in legal action and fines. Choose a respected music solution that ensures music is appropriately licensed by agencies such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.
- Train Staff: Staff may need training to operate the technology and assist customers in connecting their mobile devices to the sound system. Ensure that the solution you chose is simple to use, provides the appropriate staff training, and even rewards staff for encouraging customers to take advantage of the opportunity to play music and have fun.
- Costs and Maintenance: Consider the overall costs for quality, licensed music services, and the technology and equipment necessary to create the right experience for your brand. Some music partners, such as TouchTunes, offer no-cost solutions for restaurants, risk-free pilot programs, and a national support network to ensure minimal downtime and worry-free maintenance for all your restaurant locations.
Music is a powerful tool that can influence our emotions, thoughts, and actions. Restaurants can use music to create a memorable dining experience that keeps customers returning for more. By carefully selecting the right music or even allowing your customers to help choose the soundtrack, restaurant owners can increase dwell time and patron loyalty while also creating an engaging brand ambiance. Partner with an experienced music provider with industry expertise to help make your restaurant music experience as unique as your brand.
