Entertaining Your Bar and Restaurant Customers: 25+ Creative Ideas

As a hospitality industry veteran with over 25 years of experience running my bars, restaurants, and hotels, I’ve learned that providing great entertainment is vital to keeping customers engaged and returning. A lively atmosphere and fun activities can turn a simple dining experience into a memorable night out.

In this blog post, I’ll share 25+ creative entertainment ideas I’ve implemented successfully to liven up any bar, restaurant, or hotel venue. Whether operating on a tight budget or having ample resources, there are plenty of options to entertain patrons of all ages and interests.

Live Music and Performances

Live music and performances are among the best ways to create an electric ambiance. Consider the following entertainment acts:

Local Bands and Musicians

Supporting local talent is a win-win – you provide a platform for artists to gain exposure, and your patrons enjoy an authentic performance. Make it a weekly occurrence like “Local Band Thursdays” or allow different acts to play each weekend.

Open Mic Nights

Open mic nights, a unique experience that gives your customers a chance to showcase their talents, can attract aspiring musicians and stand-up comics in your area. Offering small prizes can further enhance the energy of the night.

Roving Entertainers

Hire roving performers like magicians, jugglers, or caricature artists to interact with patrons tableside. It’s a thrilling way to add some theatrics and get people engaged.

Karaoke

Karaoke, a foolproof crowd-pleaser, is ideal for bars and lounges. Providing a quality sound system and an extensive song catalogue can make singers of all levels feel welcome and ensure a fun and engaging night for your patrons.

Live DJs

A skilled DJ can energise any scene by spinning great music suited to your venue’s vibe. They can take requests and adapt to the crowd.

Participatory Activities

Rather than passive entertainment, get patrons actively involved by offering these participatory activities:

Trivia or Game Nights

Hosting bar trivia, battle of the Brains, or themed game nights (think True American from New Girl) makes for a lively evening. Offer gift cards or discounts for winners.

Open Mic Comedy

Give stand-up comics in your area a chance to try out new material. Customers will love the authenticity and intimacy of local comedians.

Dance Lessons

Provide free beginner dance lessons before opening the dance floor, such as salsa on Saturdays or swing on Sundays. Patrons will have fun learning something new.

Karaoke

As mentioned before, karaoke gets patrons engaged either as singers or avid cheerleaders, supporting those brave enough to grab the mic.

Scavenger Hunts

Send groups running around your venue searching for clues and completing silly challenges. The competitive team atmosphere breeds bonding.

Paint and Sip Classes

Art classes are fun solo or in groups. Provide supplies and step-by-step instructions, and patrons will happily sip and paint.

Bar Games

Classic bar games will always be a hit and naturally bring people together. Make sure to provide enough equipment and space:

Darts

A dartboard or two fosters friendly competition. Host a bracket-style tournament to get people engaged.

Pool

Every bar is complete with a pool table. Make sure to supply sufficient cues and chalk to handle demand.

Foosball/Table Soccer

Fast-paced foosball matches can whip up excitement. Sturdy tables with smooth gameplay will keep patrons coming back.

Shuffleboard

Long slider tables are perfect for pubs. Patrons will relish the chance to have friendly shuffleboard rivalries.

Arcade Games

Classics like pinball, skeeball, and Pac-Man appeal to nostalgic adults. Keep machines maintained and offer prizes.

Board Games

Provide a selection of high-quality board games like Jenga, Cards Against Humanity, and Scrabble for groups.

Interactive Entertainment

Incorporating interactive elements takes the entertainment to the next level. Try these crowd-pleasing ideas:

Live Sporting Events

Televising live sports, from huge matchups to March Madness, attracts crowds of excited fans. Offer game-day menus and drinks.

Marathons or Fight Nights on Pay-Per-View

Significant marquee events like boxing matches or MMA fights shown on PPV are a proven draw. However, cover fees apply, which you must factor in.

Pub Quizzes

Hosting weekly bar trivia or themed quizzes can mentally stimulate patrons. To encourage participation, hand out rewards for winners.

Beer Pong Tournaments

Hold bracket-style beer pong tourneys for some competitive fun. Offer prizes and keep lots of cups on hand!

Video Game Consoles

Provide gaming consoles and multiplayer games for groups to let loose. Consider charging nominal fees to control crowds.

Photo Booths

These are always a hit! Let patrons pose solo or with friends and take home printouts as mementoes.

Live Viewing Parties

If you have adequate space, consider these lively viewing party ideas:

Sports Events

Bring extra seating and screens to host viewing parties for major sporting events like the Super Bowl or World Cup finals.

Movie Screenings

Project cult classics, new blockbusters, or even indie films for a cinematic night. Theme menus and decor to match.

TV Premieres

Capitalise on the buzz for heavily anticipated series or episode premieres by airing them and creating fanfare.

Award Shows

Emulate Hollywood glam with Oscar or Grammy viewing parties. Roll out red carpets and offer spot-on themed bites.

Additional Novelty Ideas

Here are some additional out-of-the-box ideas to entertain patrons:

Comedian Pop-Ins

Arrange surprise short sets from local comedians to spontaneously delight patrons.

Celebrity Guest Bartenders

Recruit celebrity guests or local personalities to guest bartend for charity.

Psychic Nights

Hire tarot readers, mediums or psychics to mingle with patrons and offer readings (for a fee).

Pet-Friendly Events

Organise Yappy Hours for pets and owners to socialise or pet talent shows for cuteness overload.

Talent Shows

To fully showcase local performers, in addition to open mics, host broader talent shows or pageants (drag or cosplay).

Key Factors to Execute Successful Entertainment

To turn these entertainment ideas into crowd-pleasing reality, here are some essential tips:

Match Entertainment to Your Concept – A raging dance club needs a top-notch DJ, while a laidback wine bar fits mellow jazz nights. Stay true to your core vibe.

Promote Heavily – Spread the word about acts and events through social media, email blasts, flyers, website banners and word-of-mouth.

Provide Necessary Equipment – Invest in sound systems, karaoke machines, gaming consoles and other gear needed to execute activities properly.

Compensate Performers Fairly – Pay local artists reasonable rates and offer drink specials for performers to show you value their contribution.

Schedule Smartly – Avoid programming competing events on the same nights. Space out lively music and chill acoustic sets over the week.

Train Staff Accordingly – Ensure waitstaff is prepped to support special programming, like serving menu items created explicitly for viewing parties.

Respect Noise Levels—Play loud music appropriately or face noise complaints. Inform nearby residents in advance of big acts.

Obtain Necessary Licenses – Research permits are required for live entertainment or PPV telecasts. Stay compliant.

Final Thoughts

After running numerous food and beverage establishments for 25+ years, I have learned that great entertainment transforms a standard night out into an unforgettable experience. Keep your offerings fresh, fully leverage your space, and create an inclusive vibe where patrons eagerly return to see what’s happening next.

Whether you book local bands or big names, host trivia or karaoke, or televise significant events, choose options that enhance your venue’s atmosphere. Take some of these tested entertainment ideas and put your spin on them. Delighted customers who stay longer, spend more, and come back are ultimately what matters.

Does your bar or restaurant have any unique entertainment that attracts crowds? What activities create the liveliest vibe? Share your thoughts and stories below!