If your restaurant has a great atmosphere, it’s likely that customers visit your establishment to eat, drink, and enjoy the company of friends and family. In reality, the entire experience should take approximately 70 minutes, but the more pleasant your space is, the more you may find that customers prolong their visits. This causes a problem for restaurant owners who want to find balance between creating an appealing space and growing their business by serving as many customers as possible. Many restaurant owners solve this problem by taking a cue from the nightclub industry. By creating a separate space where customers can listen to music (either live or recorded) and dance, you can rotate tables in the dining area and make it easy for customers who have already been served to extend their visits. If you’ve got the space for it there can be no better draw than quality live music. Local bands can bring their own following and expose your business to customers you may not otherwise reach. You’ll want to schedule and promote your acts well ahead of time to ensure a smooth process. Seek out performers who fit the vibe of your restaurant and convey the image you want for your business.
Is the Investment Worth It?
In addition to solving the aforementioned problem, creating a space for customers to dance and enjoy music may also increase sales. At an average restaurant, patrons order one round of food and, at most, a couple of rounds of drinks. Restaurants that offer social activities for guests to enjoy after their meals, can persuade some customers stay for hours on end. This means higher drink tabs and perhaps even late-night appetizer orders. Moreover, having a space for music and dancing will allow you to add event facility to your repertoire. In 2013, the banquet industry was worth $45 billion. Offering a space designed for music and dancing can help you grow your restaurant business by turning it into a facility that can be rented for receptions, parties, and special events.
How Much Will You Invest?
If you think that your customers will love listening to music and dancing at your establishment, it may be a great time for you to grow your restaurant business with this fun and appealing addition. You should plan for three primary investments: a dance floor, a sound system, and lighting. Though these investments differ depending on the type of music you will be playing (live or recorded) and the size of your space, you can expect to spend approximately $2,000 on your dance floor and anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 on sound and lighting. Live acts will vary in cost but can be well worth the investment. Local performers looking to book as many gigs as possible are a good option as they will be willing to trade profit for increase exposure.
So Let Them Dance!
In the United States, consumers pay nearly $677 billion per year to drink and dance. By investing in the right equipment and creating an enjoyable space, you can encourage customers to extend their visits and grow your restaurant business. Finding a nice restaurant to bring your significant other for a romantic night of dinner and dancing can be a challenge. Years ago they were much more common but there is still a market for the occasional dancing night event. The environment should be intimate and participation should be encouraged. Brining in professionals to teach the moves and get people on the dance floor will give you the best chance for success.
In many cases small business owners lack the credit or collateral to access the money needed to remain flexible. Quikstone Capital Solutions provides cash for businesses. A merchant cash advance from Quikstone Capital Solutions is a business loan alternative that can help your business thrive and prosper, whether you need cash to buy equipment, cash to renovate or expand, cash to purchase inventory, cash to advertise or cash for emergencies. Quikstone Capital Solutions can help. Contact us for a consultation today.
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