Entertainment Ideas to Attract Customers to Your Hospitality Venue

Entertainment is crucial for hospitality businesses like bars, restaurants, and hotels. The right entertainment can help attract more customers, keep them coming back, and create buzz for your venue. This comprehensive guide covers diverse entertainment options to consider when looking to boost customers and revenue.

Entertainment sets the mood and atmosphere of your venue. It shapes the overall customer experience. With so many entertainment choices, how do you select options that align with your brand? Here are some essential tips when brainstorming entertainment ideas:

• Know your target audience – Select entertainment that appeals to those you want to attract
• Fit your Venus’s size and layout – Consider space and acoustics for live music, comedy, etc.
• Schedule smartly – Entertain during peak days/hours when crowds are largest
• Offer variety – Have different genres of music event types on different days
• Promote aggressively – Let people know what entertainment you offer and when
• Monitor and adapt – Track what’s working and make changes if needed

Let’s explore entertainment options that can work for all hospitality businesses.

Live Music Performances

Live music is a top choice to animate restaurants, bars, hotels, and other venues. Benefits of hosting live music include:

• Creates an energetic ambience
• Draws in larger crowds
• Appeals to music lovers as “destination venue”
• Variety of genres – jazz, rock, acoustic, DJs, and more
• Can suit casual or upscale environments
• Flexible staging – indoor stage, outdoor patio, roaming musicians

Considerations for live music:

• Acoustics – Size and layout impact sound quality
• Sound level – Manage volume so music enhances but doesn’t overwhelm guests
• Scheduling – Have live music during peak hours when the largest crowds are present
• Promoting musicians – Market performances via website, social media, signage
• Type of musicians – Solo artists, duos, full bands, DJs, options for all budgets

Popular live music ideas include jazz nights, tapas and tunes, local band spotlights, battle of the bands, open mic nights, featured DJs/producers, cultural music and dance, roaming mariachi bands, and piano bar singers.

Entertainment for Sports Fans

For hospitality businesses seeking to attract sports-loving customers, there are many entertainment additions that can enhance the sports-watching experience.

Possible entertainment features to boost sports crowds:

• Big screen TVs – Invest in large, high-quality televisions and surround sound
• Multi-screen coverage – Show different games on multiple screens
• Sports bar theme – With memorabilia, team logos, signature dishes/drinks
• Game day specials – Discount food and drinks during big matchups
• Trivia & Games – Host trivia on slow days to draw crowds
• Fantasy sports events – Have draft parties, competitions, prize giveaways
• Loyalty rewards – Give perks for frequent customers during season games
• Live viewing parties – For major sporting events like championships
• Athlete appearances – Arrange for local players to make unique visits

Sports fans will flock to venues offering an immersive game day environment with multi-screen viewing, fun contests, games, and more.

Comedy Performances

Comedy is an interactive entertainment option that encourages laughter, brings people together, and keeps audiences engaged. Consider hosting comedy shows featuring:

• Stand-up comedians – Have amateur or pro comedians perform routines
• Improv troupes – Groups performing unscripted, witty scenes
• Variety/talent shows – Mix of comedians, musicians, speciality acts
• Open mic nights – Give amateurs a chance to test jokes and stories

Comedy works best in intimate, small-to-mid-sized venues. Promote shows through social media, ticket sales, local partnerships, and internal marketing. The schedule shows during slower days to attract new business.

Games and Activities

Incorporating interactive games gives customers another reason to choose your venue. Popular games found in bars, breweries, restaurants, and hotels include:

• Trivia nights – Hosted trivia quizzes on slow weeknights
• Arcade/video games – Classic games like pool, pinball, basketball
• Board/table games – Jenga, chess, checkers, backgammon
• Outdoor lawn games – Cornhole, giant beer pong, croquet
• Shuffleboard – Tabletop or full-size indoor shuffleboard
• Bowling alley – Mini multi-lane bowling for family fun
• Virtual/simulation games – Driving, sports, multi-player immersive games

Tips for adding games:

• Offer a variety to appeal to diverse preferences
• Instruction cards/staff help first-timers learn rules
• Multiplayer games encourage bonding between customers
• Schedule tournaments and leagues to build ongoing engagement
• Have staff keep games organised equipment in good shape
• Promote specials like happy hour drink deals with games

Themed Events and Performances

Themed events are a great way to drive traffic during slower times while offering customers unique experiences they’ll remember. Popular themed event ideas include:

• Holidays – New Year’s Eve parties, Halloween bashes, ugly sweater contests, more
• Decade themes – 80s night with music, movies, neon decor
• Cultural celebrations – Yoga + mimosas for int’l yoga day, mariachi bands for Cinco de Mayo
• Tributes and costume contests – Live 80s cover bands with costume contests
• Wine/beer/spirit tastings – Guided tastings paired with foods
• Cocktail classes – Mixology and craft cocktail workshops
• Paint and wine nights – Step-by-step canvas painting while sipping wine
• Crafting classes – Flower arranging, wreath making, other crafts
• Murder mysteries – Immersive mystery games and storylines
• Dinner theaters – Interactive shows during multi-course dinners

Promote themed events early across all marketing channels. To incentivise participation, offer discounts on food, drinks, and entrance fees.

FAQ

What are the most popular entertainment options for bars?

Bars’ top entertainment draws include live music, DJs, karaoke, trivia and game nights, sports watching, stand-up comedy, drag shows, dancing, and themed events like costume parties.

What types of entertainment work best for hotels?

Hotels can attract guests and locals by hosting live lobby musicians, outdoor movies by the pool, wine tastings, cultural music and dance performances, family-friendly magic shows, and art shows featuring local artists.

How much should I budget for entertainment?

Entertainment costs vary widely based on the type and number of performers. For budget-friendly options, host open mic nights, game tournaments with prizes, or local undiscovered talent. Expect to spend more for top bands, well-known DJs, professional comedians/magicians, and specialty variety acts.

How far in advance should I book entertainers?

Book live music and other speciality performers at least 2-3 months in advance, especially on peak days like weekends. Give as much lead time as possible for highly sought-after entertainers. Always promote shows well in advance across all marketing channels.

Should I pay entertainers a flat fee or a percentage of sales?

A flat rate fee is standard for musicians, comedians, and variety acts. You can negotiate a fee based on expected attendance and sales. Paying a percentage of food/drink sales is also an option to incentivise entertainers to help drive traffic.

Conclusion

The entertainment options for bars, restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality businesses are endless. Focus on providing interactive, engaging entertainment that makes customers want to choose your venue. Pay attention to timing, scheduling, promotions, and finding the right performers to match your brand.

You can increase customer visits, sales, and loyalty with the right entertainment mix. Remember to track results and switch up your entertainment until you find the winning formula. Getting entertainment right takes work, but the payoff of happier customers and a thriving hospitality business is worth it!