Is live background music in restaurants a thing in UK?
Posted by crt2000@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 21 comments
Hi, I am a mediocre guitarist and I would like to have a go at improving my skills. I don't really have experience of fancy restaurants. I was thinking of marketing myself as a guitarist that plays music in restaurants or similar venue (ideally not pubs) or other venues, but I don't really want to make concerts, just play gentle music in the background.
Is this a thing in the UK? I have never seen it and I have lived all around the UK but again I never went to high-class restaurants.
If it is indeed a thing, what genre would restaurants like? Classical, jazz, fusion?
Sorry for the bizarre question.
jj198handsy@reddit
Sure, why not.
You might not want to lead with that.
OccidentalTouriste@reddit
Perhaps a mediocre restaurant would like the symmetry inherent in having background music provided by a mediocre guitarist?
TheAdmirationTourny@reddit
Or perhaps a terrible restaurant would like the mood improved by a mediocre guitarist raising the average quality of the venue.
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Seen a few places - work is going to a place at Christmas where there will be a pianist taking requests to foster a party feeling. Also been places for afternoon tea with a resident harpist or a string quartet. But guitar is a bit of a odd one for a restaurant and good talent expected.
I'd consider getting a licence from your council and trying busking first. Even there, in most places, you need to pass a competency test though if I hear Greensleeves again, I'll scream (two buskers play it on repeat).
The-all-seeing-pie@reddit
My brother in law is a musician and has played in restaurant/bars so yes, it is a thing.
He says the gigs are always shit because you have to play quietly and no one is interested as they’re just concentrating on their food, but if that’s what you’re after then great.
wardyms@reddit
Not restaurants, bars yes.
terryjuicelawson@reddit
Somewhere more like a cocktail bar, hotel bar, late night cafe, open mic night.
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
I would actively avoid any small restaurant that has a regular live guitarist.
Dogsafe@reddit
I went to a small leaving do for a work friend, just about six of us out for a meal to see her off.
None of us really managed to talk to each other the entire evening because the place thought we'd rather be drowned out by two blokes with guitars.
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
Exactly.
I don’t want to slag off live guitar music. I frequently pay to go to gigs and I might well choose a bar with Spanish vibes and flamenco or something. But restaurants, nah huh. That’s like one of those awful violinists you get confine to your cafe in a European city square.
ExternalInspection46@reddit
Other than busking, which doesn’t have any pressure of any fixed audience but can improve your skills, perhaps you should try open mics first. Here you would have an audience, but only for a short time (10-15mins) which you can gauge your audience’s reaction to your music. If their reaction is positive, that could signal that people would probably be willing to listen to your performance for 1-2 hours, as that’s how long a meal at a restaurant typically lasts.
kirkum2020@reddit
Busking sounds like a more suitable endeavour.
ExternalInspection46@reddit
Agreed, this is probably best to improve skills & confidence in performing in public without any pressure. If the audience likes the performance they can hang around, if they don’t like it they’ll move on. A bit unfair if they’re at a restaurant and forced to listen to “mediocre” performance.
Justan0therthrow4way@reddit
Maybe try hostel bars. It’ll be a bit more chill especially if you play a set from like 7-9 so you can get a bit more confidence
Softbelly1970@reddit
Not if you're mediocre.
G30fff@reddit
not unheard of
not common
TheatrePlode@reddit
Yes it exists, I've seen it a couple of times in London and Manchester in fancy places, so high-end restaurants and bars are your best bet.
tmstms@reddit
Definitely exists, an yes, maybe tends to be higher-end, but the fact you have to pay someone makes it rare and maybe more suitable for a higher-end place less bothered by the cost. With playing recorded music, you get the licence and you can play anything all the time.
Accurate_Prompt_8800@reddit
I’ve been to some bars and restaurants in London that have people playing live. They do tend to be on the fancier side, as you said - haven’t seen any of this in a pub.
Jazz / jazz style pop and classical music are the main genres that tend to be played.
Chungaroo22@reddit
Can't say I've ever seen it. Cocktail bars may be a happy medium. I've often seen more chilled live music at The Botanist in Cheltenham. Acoustic sets and the like.
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