Drink local, watch local, listen local.

Over the last few months we have been working with quite a few local bars and pubs. It’s become a pretty regular thing for us to look at how a bar uses it’s tech to create an atmosphere, so we thought we would share some of our newly found insight.

Watch Local : TV’s and Projectors :

The big piece of tech that a lot of bars are known for are their TV’s. I’m sure everyone has been to a pub with at least one large flat screen in the corner, my local currently has five wall mounted screens, each of which plays a different sport or horse race. But with the recent advancements in home TV’s it’s becoming increasingly hard to keep up with peoples own systems. Currently our biggest home TV is a 68” samsung, and if that’s coupled with a sound bar or speakers then that 68″ can soon feel like a cinema screen, something your average pub can’t really contend with. So what can a bar offer that a home can’t? In a word, space! The one thing a living room doesn’t have is the space for a projector and screen. Don’t get me wrong, there is always going to be the need for a few wall mounted 40” dotted about the place, but for the euros? The world cup? The Olympics? It just makes sense to have something bigger. Projectors and screens also have the added advantage of coming in at a fraction of the cost of a flat screen, a real benefit in an industry where slightly tipsy people hold large amounts of sticky drinks. The screens can be installed in the ceiling so you can hide them away when you need to, and for things like weddings and other local events the screen can be used to show pictures of the happy couple during their first dance. If you want to have a look at some of the screens we have installed lately have a look at our facebook page: www.facebook.com/wearekino/photos drink local

Listen Local : Speakers and Sound Systems :

Not every bar deals with sports, some want to create a more family friendly atmosphere, especially those that double as restaurants. This is where great speakers really come into their own, the ability to quickly control the volume of a space can be a deal breaker if you cater to a wide audience. Background noise can be a real problem for people with hearing issues and if you have a regular family crowd being able to change your speaker settings at the touch of a button can be a big pull, no one wants to bring their new born to a meal only to have them woken up when the music changes. This kind of versatility can also be a big draw for local events, wedding parties, birthdays etc… The speakers are just another string in your bow, but one that can really work for the right place. Quality sound can be a big draw for some people, your bar might be the start of a night out on the town, or the last stop after a full day at an event. Things like static, bad sound quality and muffled noises coming from your speakers can actually irritate your customers. Think of it in terms of a flickering light, would you sit under one all night? If you feel comfortable in a space you will spend more time there, come back more often and start to recommend it to others. It’s not enough to just think about the look of an area any more, you have to think about sound, lighting, access, safety and so many other factors. You are creating a living breathing space and if you do it right you can create a real local community. If you want to take a look at some of the speaker systems we have supplied to local bars take a look at our facebook page: www.facebook.com/wearekino/photos

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