We all have our favourite venues. If you ask your friends they will always have one, whether it's a huge stadium where they watched their dream concert, or a small venue where they had the best times of their life. What is it that makes a music venue that extra bit special?
It's important to recognise that this is very much a matter of opinion. Everyone has their own preferences. Also, certain venues arguably fit certain genres better than others. Music is made up of many genres and subcultures, and each dances to its own beat. Yet there are certain elements that a decent venue should always have, even if it executes them in its own unique way.
Sound Quality and Acoustics
There's nothing like the crackle of speakers, inaudible vocals from imbalanced sound, and clashes and reverb from bad speaker setups. Yup, nothing will get you out of a venue quicker than poor sound quality. If you're going to have music blasted at over 100 decibels than it had better be crisp.
The actual shape and dimensions of the room will effect the acoustics drastically. There's not much a venue (or the musician who is playing) can do about this other than hope that the room was designed with good acoustics in mind. Yet there's no denying that the best music venues have the built-in acoustics to satisfy fans, whether that means the muddier punky sound of a dingy basement, or the light and airy café vibe.
What the venue owner and musicians do have more control over is the sound equipment. It should be top quality stuff, and also balanced and sound checked by experts so that it is optimised for the artists' performance.
The Space
The space itself is also important. Pop gigs can take place at huge concert halls or even stadiums. Though this meets the needs for capacity, it rarely offers the best experience when it comes to sound quality or space. Stadiums are often better suited to huge sports events, where crowds can spectate and soon bet using FoxBet.
Smaller venues can have their own advantages, bringing more intimacy and energy to a condensed space. Whatever the case, the layout and practicalities of the space matter. Is it easy to get to the toilet and the outside area? Is there seating as well as a dancefloor? Is there enough space for the crowd to move freely? How is the temperature?
You may not consider all of these factors individually on the night, but they tend to contribute in subtle ways to the overall enjoyment of a gig.
Atmosphere
You may go to a gig for the music, but most also go out for the atmosphere. It's the feeling of togetherness and freedom that really brings a dancefloor to life.
Atmosphere can seem like an ethereal concept, and in some ways it is, but actually the venue can do a lot to accommodate the happy feelings of the punters. For example, how are you treated on the way into the club? Are you welcomed or treated like dirt? Are the bar staff friendly and the drinks prices reasonable? Does the night have a sense of creativity and impulsiveness, or is it a generic setup?
Even the way the event is marketed can have a huge impact on the atmosphere. Sure, the idea for any owner is to fill the venue, but the crowd should know what they are getting and come for the right reasons. A corporate attitude and relentless marketing can kill the vibes.
At the same time, organisation is key. This isn't just about the venue team getting the practicalities right, but also about understanding the culture they are dealing with and responding appropriately.
Music and Artists
Finally, a decent venue books the right artists to keep their loyal customers coming back. That way, "We The People" can find what we are looking for and come to know a place as our favourite music venue. It doesn't matter whether it's local talent or international superstars, as long as the talent matches the venue and crowd.
