Management
How Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Impacted Restaurants in 2019
On Thanksgiving Day, only 30.8% of Toast restaurants stayed open in 2019. Restaurants also increased Wednesday profits by 34.6% th...
Read More
Designed from the ground up for the restaurant industry, Toast includes the following software capabilities:
View AllBuilt for the rigors of the restaurant industry, Toast certified hardware includes:
View AllToast is designed for restaurant success. Customize Toast to fit the needs of your restaurant type.
Learn MoreHosting live music events in your restaurant can be an effective way to attract new customers and turn loyal customers into advocates for your business. By inviting local musicians to play at your restaurant, café, or bar, you’re becoming involved in the community and setting yourself up to attract their fans.
So how exactly do you host a live event? Is it true that you need licenses and permits? Where do you find musicians to perform? What kind of sound equipment is required? Hopefully the information below will tell you everything you need to know about putting on a great show.
Forgetting to acquire the proper legal clearances for your live performances is a costly mistake. Just as you need a music license for background music, you also need one for live music performances. Failure to pay for background music and live performance licenses can result in massive fines that can lead to the closure of your restaurant or bar.
While you can get the rights to play background music from various outlets, such as the performance rights organizations (PROs) BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC, or a restaurant music service, live music licenses can only be acquired through the PROs. If you’re using a background music service already, and only need the license for live music usage, be sure to make this clear when talking to the PROs.
In some cities, you may also need a permit to host the concert. Los Angeles, for example, requires restaurants to get a permit from the LAPD in order to host any events accommodating live music. Failure to obtain this permit can lead to fines and even jail time. Check with your cities website or police department to see what permits you need to host live music.
Sound quality can make or break your event. In order to produce a memorable experience for your customers, it’s important that you have high quality equipment. Here’s an overview of some audio equipment you’ll need.
It’s also important to hire a sound technician who’s experienced in live audio mixing. You may think this is something you can handle yourself, but sound technicians have experience that allows for greater attention to detail. You don’t want to have the guitar so high that you can’t hear the vocals, but you want it high enough so everything blends together nicely.
People get injured at live events from time to time. Musicians can fall off the stage or trip over cables, and physical impact and/or knockouts among audiences members is very probable if a mosh pit is involved. The amount of energy at the event is determined by the type of music you play and your establishment, but you want to make sure you’re covered in case anything goes wrong. Be sure to purchase insurance that covers you for any injuries that could happen to the musicians or fans.
Finding musicians to play at your event can be hard if you don’t have an established reputation. Here are some tips for interacting with musicians.
Hosting live music events in your restaurant or bar can be a huge benefit for your name. Your dollars will go not only towards funding a rising local talent, but will also buy new faces for your establishment and a new asset to your business; you'll see sales in your bar POS system reports rise. So what are you waiting for? Once you get a grasp on the process, start taking the next steps toward bringing a musical guest to entertain your restaurant's guests.
Toast Restaurant Blog