Red Stripe Guide to Live Music (Part 2): Preparing your premises

Have you considered staging live music events in your pub, but don't know how to get started?

In the second of our features in association with Red Stripe lager we're looking at the first steps to putting bands and artists in your pub's spotlight.

There are as many things to take into account as you can shake a heavy duty drum stick at, so to help you get going we've picked the brains of some of the most successful licensees and pub managers to make the job of finding out what makes a great music pub tick - or maybe that should be rock - that much easier.

The Venue

Every pub in the UK is unique, they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are large enough to house a decent-sized orchestra, while some are so small that squeezing in a singer/songwriter and an acoustic guitar might seem like an impossible task.

In terms of the suitability of your pub's space to host live music, common sense should tell you whether it's feasible or not. But beyond that, the opportunities are boundless.

Jan Gale, licensee of the Coronation Tap in Clifton, Bristol, says her pub doesn't have a stage; rather it has an alcove which has great acoustics for the variety of acts that she puts on several nights a week for the predominantly student population. "It's about making it a special place for the bands," she adds.

As well as space considerations "you've got to want to do it and give it all you've got", says Jan.

The Community

Part of that process is thinking about the community in which your pub operates. The ability to soundproof your venue to avoid annoying the neighbours is one of the first things to get sorted. It doesn't have to cost the earth, but any reasonable investment will make all the difference to those living in the vicinity of your pub. And, eventually, you. Good relations with your neighbours will make your life easier, plus over time the reputation of your pub as both a home of great music and a responsible business in the community will grow and grow.

Communication is key, says Hansi Koppe, a promoter who works with Andrew Bell, licensee of the Horn in Swindon. "Talk to those living around you," he says. "Discuss what time the music will go on until. Listen to their concerns and address them."

The sense of community is a factor which Samantha Cobell, manager of the Fox & Firkin in Lewisham, South London, believes is very important in building her pub's standing in the area.

"We've got friends in bands who have played here, and they bring their friends who keep coming back. There's a feel of everything coming together here, like an artistic community. We've got photography and film students from Goldsmiths College who come down and get involved. They come for the feel of the place," she says.

The Fox has become a destination pub for many people in South London, thanks to the dedication of Samantha, her team and her drive to provide a focus for the area.

The Buzz

Generating a buzz around your pub as a place to hear great music is not only about enthusiasm for the music - although clearly that is essential - but it's also about basic licensee skills; knowing what your customers want, both from a music point of view and with regards to the kind of pub experience they expect to find when they walk through your doors.

Paul Brazier, Red Stripe brand manager, says: "The great thing about music is that there is something for everyone - you'll know your customers better than anyone so tailor your live music offering to suit them."

Interestingly, where your pub is located could help dictate the sort of music which proves popular. That appears to be so in the case of heavy rock, says Hansi.

"We have tribute acts on from time to time, but things like Deep Purple and Black Sabbath tribute bands don't go down as well here [in Swindon] as they do in the Midlands and further North," he says.

But remember, your pub might prove to be an exception, so don't rule out the famous opening bars of 'Smoke On The Water' just yet!

But if heavy metal is too much of a prospect to kick off your music hosting career? Acoustic nights are always good to start with, Hansi says, "especially if your clientele is the sort that likes to have a quiet pint or two".

Jan of the Coronation Tap agrees. "It's about balancing the acts. Some older customers prefer to listen to the singer/songwriter types; they're really serious about their music. But then so are younger punters who like their music a bit louder."

And if something louder is your bag - and that of perhaps a younger customer base - then so be it. Whatever you do, put your all into it. And who knows, you could unearth the Next Big Thing in music!