How-To: Sound System

HOW-TO: CREATE A KILLER SOUND SYSTEM

Music is, by far, one of the most important components of any successful bar or club. Whether inspiring all-night dance parties in the hottest nightclub, prompting intoxicated sing-a-longs in a local tavern, or providing soothing background ambience for conversational crowds, the right (or wrong) music can make (or break) a great night in your bar, and even affect its overall success as an establishment.

And it’s not just the song selections that make the difference; that can be honed over time by the crowd of regulars who demand certain genres, be it on the jukebox, by your live acts, or from your DJs. (Incorporating the Top 5 Song list from each Tuning Up column in Bar Business Magazine is an advisable first step.)

But the bottom line is this: you could discover a set list of music discovered in the Lost Ark of the Covenant that is guaranteed to evoke eternal euphoria for anyone who hears it, and if you play those songs through a sub-par sound system, you’re not going to see the advertised results. To create the best audio experience for your patrons—and therefore give them a reason to continue spending money in your club—owners need to have the optimal sound system for their location, based on certain criteria for their physical venue, crowd, and musical styles.

Whether installing a completely new sound system or overhauling and improving your current system, there are several important steps and things to consider.

DON’T BE A HERO
Like many home-improvement ventures, who amongst us isn’t tempted to save a few bucks in the budget by taking the do-it-yourself route. Only when a pipe bursts thorough the floor flooding the basement or the new countertop doesn’t quite seem level do we finally submit and call a contractor. Simply put, self-installation of a new sound system is the most common misstep club owners can take.

“The single biggest mistake I’ve seen in my 30 years, that I see over and over, is an attempt by owners to either install a system themselves or have a friend who knows car stereos do it for them, and they go online and buy a speaker because that particular Web site has it on sale this week, etc.,” says Kurt Kieslich, National System Design Specialist at Sound Stage Systems in North Haven, Connecticut. “The bottom line is, they’re tripping over dimes getting to the dollars. A licensed sound contractor is a true profession. I mean, you have to be licensed just to pull speaker wire in most states.”

TO READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE AND OUR OTHER HOW-TO FEATURES, START YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO BAR BUSINESS MAGAZINE OR BAR BUSINESS DIGITAL BY CLICKING HERE: Subscribe