The importance of festive live music for bars and pubs
The festive season offers a golden opportunity for bars and pubs to capitalise on increased trade while creating memorable experiences for their guests and hosting live festive music in your venue achieves this.
It’s the perfect time to give your customers a reason to keep coming back for more. And what’s one surefire way to make your bar or pub stand out? Hosting live festive music!
Let’s face it, nothing says “Christmas magic” in bars and pubs quite like Michael Bublé or Mariah Carey playing your guests. But imagine a live band bringing those brings classics to life. That’s the kind of unforgettable experience live music brings, creating an electric atmosphere your guests will rave about.
Live music has a way of turning up the festive atmosphere in your venue like no other. It has that unique ability to elevate the mood and spread Christmas cheer amongst your guests, with an energy that cannot be replicated from a playlist to turn any night out into an unforgettable experience.
The impact of live music alone does that, where the Live Music Index outlined that 87% of venues believe that live music can improve atmosphere and customer satisfaction. This makes festive live performances not just a nice touch, but a necessity during the holiday season.
The holiday season is a golden ticket for bars and pubs, with footfall and guest spending skyrocketing. As per Restaurants Online, during Christmas 2023, consumer activity increased, with 73% of people visiting bars and restaurants during that time. But by July this year, Zonal reported that bookings were up by 52% for the festive period in comparison to the same time as last year. It’s clear to anticipate (and you may have already seen it) an increase in trade.
But it’s not just about packing your venue. Live music keeps your guests hanging around longer (and spending more). A talented musician can turn a one-drink stop into a full-blown night out. Venues featuring live music report a 64% average increase in guest spend and a 36% boost in footfall.
This helps you set yourself apart from other hospitality venues, as consistently hosting live music can build your reputation as a vibrant and lively spot, which enhances your reputation and attracts repeat customers. Patrons are more likely to remember and return to a venue that delivers exceptional experiences, especially during the holidays.
Jack Oakden, Head of Sales at GigPig, puts it perfectly: “Live music is really important in hospitality over Christmas as it enhances the festive atmosphere, and attracts more customers which is really important in trying to stand out over the Christmas period.
“It increases dwell time, so people who might just nip in for one drink, if there’s live music they’re more likely to stay and turn that glass into a bottle of wine.”
For artists, it’s an essential time to perform live music as the atmosphere surrounding their music is infectious.
This was echoed by Sophie Golby, the incredibly talented vocalist for the dynamic Folk-Funk duo Romance In Durango. She said: It’s super important for venues to have festive live music because it’s always rammed whatever the time of day. It's all the people breaking up for work who want to have a bit of fun and sing along to some live music.
“It’s super fun for us and helps us out for the rest of the year because January is a quiet month for us.”
This thought is shared with the highly experienced DJ The Colonel, who said: “Everyone loves a good knees-up around Christmas, and you get a lot of people who only go out once a year, so it’s nice for them to see entertainment and have something to get involved in.
“It's a great time for us to earn money as January is pretty quiet, so no complaints from us.”
At GigPig, we believe in the power of live music to create unforgettable experiences. The holiday season presents a unique opportunity for bars and pubs to embrace this ethos by incorporating live festive music.
Our platform is designed to connect venues with talented artists who can bring your festive vision to life, saving you time and money to streamline your live entertainment. Whether you’re looking for a solo artist to perform soothing holiday classics or a full band to energise your venue, we’re here to make it happen.
This festive season, make your bar or pub the go-to destination for unforgettable experiences by embracing the power of live music.
