Outdoor spaces are important features for bars, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses. They bring in more customers and often encourage these customers to stick around longer. In other words, a little sun can add up to a lot of extra sales. But it’s not just about plopping a few tables and chairs on a patch of grass in front of your building. Good outdoor spaces are well thought out, with a focus on lighting, seating, greenery, and (here’s the tip you may have missed) sound.
As a business owner myself, I understand the value of a dollar, and how it tends to seem like everyone is trying to nickel and dime you. But let me say one thing loud and clear: sound matters.
The size of your outdoor area, your clientele, and the overall vibe you’re trying to achieve all factor into what (if any) sound system you should install. A bar with picnic tables bolted to the cement floor out back requires a lot more “oomph” than a quiet café with floral arrangements on every table.
Where you place speakers is also important. Make sure to turn the speakers down so that they’re not blasting music into everyone’s ears, but instead, are spreading it out and covering more ground.
Placement
Instead of opting for a forward-facing sound system that’s going to get drowned out by the first sign of a dinner-time rush or a busy happy hour, take the time to install speakers throughout the environment. Similar to lights, place your speakers where you want the audio most. Aim for speaker placement that will not cut through everyone’s conversations, but will allow the audio to fade into the background. It’s much easier to place speakers around tables and aim them at walkways (or directly at the tables if they have a louder volume) but keep the music turned to the background on the master level. This will let you aim your music/jazz/Sinatra dinner playlist ahead to the outdoor eating area, and around the outdoor fire pit and patio hangout.
Branding is a big buzzword concerning just about everything these days, but in the “Bar & Grille” world into which I was so violently thrust, your brand really means everything. You can use every trick, every promotion, and offer the best, craftiest flavor-of-the-week, but your branding can—and quite possibly, does—bring people back.
if you want to make the most of your outdoor business, invest in a commercial sound system that fits your design. A good sound ambience will create a sense of happiness, enthusiasm, and relaxation like never before. A space where chit-chat between your friends in a mild afternoon or a dinner between lovers, your customers, will be a moment to remember.
Understanding Your Needs
The first and one of the most important things to consider regarding your outdoor space is, how big is it?
Size matters, of course, because it dictates what you can actually do in this space. For example, do you have a large patio that can accommodate several different types of seating arrangements and activities?
Or, is your space smaller, so all you want and need is a simple arrangement that may create a more intimate atmosphere?
Besides the size, your outdoor space’s layout should be designed well. This means a space that is ADA accessible with good traffic patterns that allow for free and easy movement of people.
Acoustics
Next, let’s consider acoustics. For anyone hosting any sort of event or activity that features music or sound, acoustics are a big deal! Like water, sound travels. Depending on your space’s size and layout, the sound will travel differently. So, you’ll need to work with a provider of audio equipment, new or used, on exactly how you’ll employ it and where.
Along with this, aesthetics plays a part. Hard surfaces will bounce sound off, and softscaping—your plants and trees—will absorb sound. Certain water elements may amplify sound, or at the very least, they may be needed to mask ambient sound (such as from cars; i.e., noise pollution).
In a similar vein, you may first need to understand your demographics. Just as our age dictates the type of music we like to listen to and the type of “experience” we like to curate for ourselves through fashion, what we drive, etc., knowing our customers will inform us in creating the experience we want for them.
Specifically, this applies to our outdoor space—it may call for some creative solutions, which is why working with a commercial audio specialist is necessary. By taking the time to carefully consider these aspects, you can create a space that caters not just to the needs of your guests, but to their deepest, unexpressed desires as well. Doing so will provide attendees with a sense of novelty—which will make your venue stand out as an ideal destination for all kinds of events.
Key Features of a Commercial Sound System
Just like interior speakers, sound quality and coverage are the most important factors to look for in patio speakers. Wherever you plan to listen to these speakers, you should have even coverage of sound. In other words, you don’t want “dead spots” or spots on your deck where the sound is too quiet or too loud — keep a good, healthy medium that ensures you can enjoy your music and carry on a conversation with the people next to you.
Be sure to also look for speakers that are built tough. Most outdoor speakers are all-weather speakers. They are usually constructed of materials that can handle a wide range of temperatures and exposure to the rain and sun.
The last thing you’d want to do is have to replace your outdoor speakers every few years as the seasons take their toll!
All in all, you will want patio speakers that not only provide great sound coverage but are also tough enough to take care of business while they are outside. Building a space that people want to be in starts with creating an environment of relaxation and enjoyment. Every factor counts.
Budgeting for Your Commercial Sound System
Any business looking to enhance its customer experience must understand the costs associated with a new outdoor sound system. The initial investment can range from the low hundreds to the high thousands of dollars, reflecting the quality of the equipment, the complexity of the installation required, and the specific needs of a venue. Thorough research and the collection of several quotes will be a useful endeavor so that you can achieve a good understanding of what a new sound system will do to your account balance.
Balancing quality with budget is a prospective buyer’s worst nightmare. Still, while the first section of this blog pointed towards the major glaring differences in the cost of different PA systems, in this section, we’re going to advocate for you choosing the highest-quality professional sound system that you’re able to afford.
The benefits to your business of a good PA system are numerous. Any good business owner knows the value of parsing growth by measuring the metrics of several short periods and taking account of the results over the long term. This careful strategy is key to assessing the value of an outdoor sound system for your business and the ways in which it might fit into your budget.
Installation and Maintenance
When you are thinking about whether you should hire a professional or DIY your patio audio setup, you need to think about what each option entails.
If you hire professionals for your patio audio, you can rest assured that your setup will be done optimally. More than likely, the company will set up your speakers to give you the best sound quality possible on your patio. They also will not make any mistakes that a novice DIYer would make setting up their own system. It’s important to take this choice if you are really concerned about the points above. Professionals are experts. This comes at a cost that may not be effective for everyone, and it will lead us to the next option below.
DIYing the patio yourself can bring much reward. Being able to set up the speakers just how you want them can be nice. Many people enjoy being able to set their own system up as well. DIY is a great option to save money. Saving money is definitely a result of DIY because you can place the products exactly where they are needed; labor costs are cut as well. Some people are not as knowledgeable and may develop a headache through the DIY process. Subpar products may be produced without the right knowledge. It may even lead to damage, and then the cost for repair later!
The right commercial sound system is about more than just music quality. It ensures that music and announcements can be heard by guests. Without a solid sound system, a venue could fall flat, so don’t forget the crucial details when analyzing new outdoor space for your events.
The right commercial sound system is about more than just music quality. It ensures that music and announcements can be heard by guests––in every corner of the party. This will create more effective communication and enjoyment. So, factor in the venue shape, size, and the kinds of events you plan to host.
The right commercial sound system is about more than just music quality. It ensures that music and announcements can be heard by guests. Choose equipment that is water-resistant for outdoor use to ensure that the products you buy can withstand the tests of time––in any weather.
Ask the vendor about the latest systems so that you get the highest-quality sound. Look into units that boost sound across long distances to get the absolute most out of your audio. What is crucial is that you choose a professional company to fulfill your order.
The right commercial sound system is about more than just music quality. It ensures that music and announcements can be heard loud and clear. This system will create a more inviting environment. It will impress clients, improve ratings, and turn your space into the go-to festival or concert venue in your area.
