1. I already explained why.

2. It doesn't have to be, but it stands a good chance of being called "cheesy" or similar by your audience. I'm not making a judgement call on his music, I'm just having an awareness that lots of people would regard that music as cheesy and so it strikes me as rude and ignorant that a bartender would knowingly play it despite that likely reaction.

3. They fucking suck.

1. I don't accept your first explanation. Either elaborate and give me another one.

2. Fair enough. However, as I said earlier, the one caveat is Living on a Prayer, which is a song I've literally never seen go unappreciated and respected in any bar ever. That song is magical and guarantees a magnificent evening.

3.

It's not a proper playlist for a bar without Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town.

This is certainly true in Philly.

"99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall"

I worked in a bustling lunch cafe one time that was playing Sunny Day Real Estate. An older woman, probably late 60s/early 70s, came up to the counter and asked the owner if he would mind changing it. He got all defensive and said "Ma'am, this is my establishment and I'll play whatever I want to hear." What a shitty attitude to share with his guests; he can listen to SDRE when he's cleaning up for the night, or when he's home, or whatever.

Hospitality is about making as many people as comfortable as possible, and that usually requires some compromise on your own level of comfort.

Trag gets it

I mean, I do understand. But that also feels really old and out dated to me. As someone who works in hospitality/customer service (and always has), I gotta say I'm ready for the death of the Disney-concept of hospitality. This whole "the customer is always right" thing needs to die.

From a white paper I just happened to get in my mail, totally relevant to the topic at hand:

"The study thus suggests that consumers are motivated to eat comfort food based on its 'special association with close relationships.'"

Seems like a no-brainer, right?

Sure, I just think it has bearing on what sort of music gets selected.

And to counter my own argument, it might very well be that your establishment's identity rests on Bon Jovi, or Fugazi, or a certain type of music that will draw a certain crowd. But for most places -- those places that seek to attract anyone and everyone -- I think erring o the side of "the most comfort for the most people" is the safe way to go.

Oh, totally. I can see where that connects. What's interesting, at least here in NYC, is how the millennial attitude shifts all of this. They want unique and authentic experiences. There's much more focus here on allowing a space for one to curate their own experience than there is in provided a curated experience. It's really fascinating to witness.

I would tend to agree with you here. Good post.

John I'm only dancing
She said, she said
All the young Dudes

For me, I think it would be mainly 60 years of various rock music. Anything from Buddy Holly to The Rolling Stones, to Jimi Hendrix, to Bowie, Black Sabbath, to Tom Petty, to The Cars, to The Clash, to Nirvana, to Wilco, to MMJ. Maybe some old school hip-hop too, like Eric B and Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, Tribe, Jurassic 5, etc...Probably even a little country like Hank Sr., Hank III, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, etc...

From my scientific research, I've found the Rolling Stones are a great band to listen to while drinking.

I tend to enjoy things with a country bend to them when I'm out at a bar. Singer/songwriter stuff, sure. All the stuff d_v mentioned. But any of the songs by those artists that lean country, I'm in.

Ultimately, for me, if I'm with friends at a bar, I'm too invested in conversation to care too much about the music. And if I'm alone, I usually have my headphones on and I listen to what I want to listen to.

very true, if i'm hanging with friends at a bar, which is most likely, i don't want to be distracted by music. it's great in the background, and to have those little moments where you say to a friend, "Ha, i can't believe they're playing this song"... which might lead you to another path of conversation. but the music should never overpower the crowd.

i don't want to be sitting there with friends, having a good time, and Tool comes on.

Not even Stinkfist?!!!