Why Do Restaurants Play Music? (4 reasons)
Restaurants play music because it affects customer behavior and restaurant profitability.
4 Reasons Why Restaurants Play Music
1. Improves dining experience
Eating at restaurants is an experience. People do not just want to eat. They want to create a lasting memory. Music can complement a restaurant’s ambiance.
For example, some high-end restaurants play classical music in the background. They might have an audio system just like other restaurants. They might also have a live band or orchestra.
The music elevates the dining experience. It is one reason why couples choose certain restaurants for dates. Other restaurants might play the latest hits on the radio. These are great places to relax on a Friday afternoon after work.
2. Complements branding
Restaurant owners decorate their businesses by being strategic with color choices and banners. Music can help complement these decorations.
For example, Italian restaurants can play Vivaldi in the background to make customers feel as if they are eating pasta in Italy. Other ethnic restaurants can also use music with cultural significance.
3. Affects table turnover
Super busy restaurants might intentionally increase the volume of their music to make people eat faster. Customers will not be able to have casual conversations when they can barely hear themselves talk. They will want to eat and quickly leave.
In addition to adjusting the volume of their music, restaurants can also play music with a faster tempo. People’s eating habits will naturally harmonize with the beat of the music.
There is a balance that restaurants need to consider. By increasing the volume and tempo of the music, restaurants will increase table turnover. Customers will quickly enter and exit the restaurant. However, their average order value will go down. Customers will not have time to order more when they are influenced to grab a quick bite.
In contrast, the average order value will go up if restaurants decrease their restaurant’s volume and tempo. Customers will enjoy themselves. They will make time for dessert. They will have more pleasant conversations with their friends and loved ones.
Therefore, restaurants need to think about this delicate balance when they adjust their music.
4. Enhances waiting experience
Popular restaurants have lines. Sometimes, customers must wait 30 minutes or more before a table is ready. Music will make the waiting experience more pleasant. Time will pass by more quickly if people have something to do. As a result, customers will be happier. They will be more likely to come back.