Karaoke

How to choose a karaoke service for a restaurant?🎤

Minutes to read 4

Jan 26, 2024 2:37:59 PM

Considering offering karaoke to your restaurant customers? Or are you tired of your current service and want to try something new? When choosing a karaoke service, pay attention to these 5 factors that make up a good karaoke service.

There are several ways to offer karaoke in your restaurant. While there are many methods, over the years, modern entertainment services like Feelment have replaced traditional DVD discs and players.

In this article, we will only discuss digital karaoke services, as there are practically no alternative systems on the market.

Here are the criteria I, if I was a restaurant owner, would use to choose the equipment.

1. Reliability 🦾

The purpose of karaoke is to boost sales, and if the system is unreliable, it can, in the worst case, permanently drive away customers. Not to mention the loss of sales for that evening. For this reason, reliability is the single most important factor. The same applies to other technology, so invest in the quality and reliability of audio playback, mixer, and microphones as well.

What makes a karaoke system reliable?

1. Works without an internet-connection
The karaoke service must function even if the internet connection is lost. Unlike other karaoke services, Feelment downloads karaoke songs and background music to the computer, making it independent of the network connection. Tens of thousands of songs can be pre-loaded onto the computer, minimizing the impact of the internet connection on the selection.

2. Cloud-based
If a device gets spilled with beer or breaks down for any reason, the evening can turn into a disaster. If the karaoke system is device-specific, singing may not continue that night. Because Feelment is a cloud-based application and operates on the Windows 10/11 platform, the app can be installed on any device. After entering the credentials, everything is back to normal.

3. Connections
The device should have dedicated ports for video, audio, and, of course, power. Adapters are always a weak link and easily break, so favor devices where you can directly plug in the cables.

2. Content, content, content🎤

When your customer requests a rare song and you find it out of thin air, the customer is usually more than satisfied, with a big smile on their face. The more you can offer songs your customers want to sing, the happier the wallets at the counter.

We release Feelment's karaoke statistics annually, and time after time, the trend is clear: Finns sing Finnish songs. Nearly 80% of all sung songs are in Finnish.

While karaoke services boast catalogs in the hundreds of thousands, it practically doesn't matter, as only about 14,000 Finnish karaoke songs exist. If you want to offer your customer the best possible selection, we recommend exploring Feelment's karaoke catalog, which includes over 50% more Finnish songs than other systems.

3. Background music 🎵

Even the top-notch karaoke bar always needs background music, which is the cornerstone of restaurant entertainment. The difference between a good and a great karaoke service lies in the background music. At worst, the 'free background music' of karaoke services consists of a few thousand sung karaoke songs. (Yes, we've seen this happen 😅)

For the karaoke host, it's easiest when background music and karaoke alternate automatically, keeping the atmosphere uninterrupted. This way, the host can use their judgment when playing interludes.

A proper, professionally designed system includes the right background music service that meets all your needs.

4. When 💩 hits the fan

While DVD discs get scratched, digital systems also have their own challenges. Devices need updates, and if not properly maintained, issues can arise. In such cases, it's crucial to have a phone number to call.

Based on our experience, problems are often quite universal and quickly solvable. That's why we've assisted several customers from competitors who reached out to us for support. So, if you can't reach your service provider, you can call us every day of the year from 09-23. We always answer the phone or call you back, that's a guarantee! 🧐

4. Ease-of-use and additional services

Many have chosen Feelment for its user-friendly interface and excellent additional services, such as Digital Ordering and free Digital Signage. We believe this is the latest significant factor influencing the purchasing decision.

It is clear that using the service should be easy and intuitive, but learning is always possible regardless of the system. In addition to the user interface, the device itself plays a crucial role in the smoothness of work. Below is a list of the differences, pros, and cons of the devices.

Desktop

Good: A large screen and a physical keyboard make active karaoke nights smooth, and at the same time, it ensures good ergonomic conditions for work.
Bad: Takes up more space and is harder to move around.

Laptop:

Good: A sufficiently large screen and a physical keyboard assist in the workflow. It moves easily from one place to another or hides neatly under the table when needed. Combining the best features of a tablet and a desktop, it's a versatile all-in-one tool.

Bad: The screen is a bit lower, so it doesn't quite match the ergonomic setup of a desktop.

Tablet

Good: It moves easily and takes up minimal table space, making it ideal for light, occasional use.

Bad: Due to its small screen, touch keyboard, and poor ergonomics, it is poorly suited for professional use. It often requires various adapters, which can compromise reliability.