How to Choose the Right Music for Your Venue

From acoustic singers, rock bands or DJs, find the perfect live music for your venue with GigPig. Our platform makes hiring artists fast and easy

Live music can be a wonderful addition to any venue. From pubs and clubs arranging weekly gigs to hotels setting up special events, booking musical performers can boost footfall and revenue. As per GigPig's Live Music Index, 79% of venues believe live music increases revenue and footfall, with the benefits extending to spend per visit, which on average can increase by 64%.

Professional musicians can create a fantastic atmosphere and put your venue on the map. With this in mind, booking musicians for your next event is a no-brainer. But how do you know what type of music is best for your venue? 

Finding the right music for your venue

The UK is packed with talented music artists in every genre, from acoustic sensations to energetic bands and charismatic DJs. And while any talented performer can engage your audience, it’s helpful to book somebody who will truly bring your venue to life. With this in mind, let’s explore a few ways to work out what type of music will suit your venue to the ground.

Know your audience

First up, who are you hoping to entertain? Do you have a loyal customer base of regulars or do you want to draw new crowds? 

If you’re putting on a gig for the first time, it’s helpful to chat with your potential audience members and find out what sort of live singers, bands, or DJs they’d like to see. Alternatively, if you organise regular gigs, getting some feedback from previous attendees can help you decide who to book next. 

It’s also worth taking your audience’s age and other demographics to make sure the artists you book will be suitable.

Know your venue

As well as knowing who you want to attract, it’s also important to choose a music genre that suits your venue itself. Let’s break this down into a few key areas.

• Atmosphere: What’s the energy like at your venue? Consider the atmosphere — both existing and what you want to create. If you run a cosy cafe with a stage area, some light acoustic music could work well but if you want to put on a gig in a speakeasy bar, perhaps a retro-style swing ensemble would be best. 

• Facilities: It’s also essential to think about the practical aspects of your venue. Do you have room for a multi-piece band or is there a limited performance space? Likewise, can your facility accommodate lots of musicians with their instruments and equipment or would you require more paired back duo or soloist acoustic set?

It’s important to think about whether guests will be sitting or standing, too. 

• Restrictions: Does your venue need to abide by any restrictions or rules, such as a sound limit? It’s always wise to take these into consideration before booking a performer.

• Management: Who will be on hand to help the artists? Knowing what your staff can manage will lead to a smoother event. Some bands might require somebody to help them set up before they perform. 

And it’s not just about the performance day. In the run-up to the event, who will be able to arrange the performer booking? If you’re hiring a live singer who works alone, there may be less communication needed than if you’re booking a big band.

Remember, with GigPig, all the artist booking information is in one place on your centralised calendar, making communication easy and streamlined. Get in touch to learn more about how our platform works.  

Think about the event itself

Now it’s time to look at the type of event you’re setting up. Maybe you’re organising a day festival, with a range of artists performing different genres. On the other hand, you might want to find a performer whose style matches a specific theme — such as an upbeat pop act for a Pride celebration. 

Similarly, more corporate events may be best suited to relaxed and sophisticated music that guests can enjoy as they mingle, whereas a student party might call for energetic music that gets everyone dancing.

This leads us on to another factor to keep in mind — the timing of your event. This could impact the type of music you choose. For example, an acoustic singer or duo might be able to offer a mellow sound, perfect for an afternoon performance at your venue, whereas a heavy metal band may be better suited to an evening performance slot.

Find the best live music performers with GigPig

No matter what sort of event you’re planning or where your venue is, a professional musician can help engage your audience and build a positive atmosphere. 

At GigPig, we recognise it can be tricky knowing where to start when it comes to finding music artists. That’s why our platform showcases some of the best live music performers around the UK. Our hospitality music marketplace and handy booking system make hiring artists a fast and easy process, taking all of the stress out of managing bookings and allowing you to keep track of all your bookings on your own centralised calendar. 

Find out how our pricing tiers work and book a demo to see how GigPig can help you find and book incredible musical performers.