Pubs and live music are natural partners. In a convivial gathering of people, lubricated by alcohol, it seems natural that music should be part of the picture. Over the centuries, music has played a central role in the life of British pubs, either in communal singing such as the sing-songs around the piano that used to be a fixture of working-class pubs, or in performances by singers and musicians.
The revival of folk music in the 1960s was focused on small clubs, cafés and pubs where travelling singers and musicians would turn up and play a session. When Paul Simon toured the UK in 1964, many of the small venues he played were pubs such as the Cross Keys in Liverpool, which still hosts live music.
Rock and roll bands such as The Rolling Stones learnt their trade playing pubs such as the Red Lion in Sutton, Surrey – now called the Winning Post – which has been preserved thanks to its link to the band’s history (they were spotted there by a promoter). The Who were regulars at the Railway Hotel in Wealdstone in their early years. Meanwhile in the 1970s, London’s pub rock scene emerged as an alternative to what were seen as bloated, out-of-touch arena bands. This tradition is kept alive today by bars such as Ain’t Nothin But the Blues in London’s Soho.
Today, as many pubs struggle to stay in business, pub owners are seeking ways to improve their offering and bring in new regular customers. Hosting live music has been shown to improve takings by up to 48 per cent. If it is a regular event, a music night at a pub can bring customers back week after week. Music can help to spice up cafés, too. And performance poetry is a growing phenomenon that could help to bring in customers.
Licence to entertain
So, what do pubs, bars and cafés need in the way of licensing if they want to host live music? In recent years, the law has become simplified to help smaller venues host live music without onerous restrictions. The key provision of the Music Act of 2012 – which was updated in 2015 – is that any premises can host amplified live music as long as the audience is under 500 people and it takes place between 8am and 11pm. Also, the premises must be alcohol-licensed. The law also applies to amplified recorded music, which means that DJs can play music to alcohol-licensed premises between 8am and 11pm to audiences of under 500 people. A licence is not required for unamplified live music at any place between the same hours – and there is no restriction on audience numbers for music that is not amplified. These rules apply to England and Wales; in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the laws differ.
It’s important, though, to check the terms of your premises licence. And it’s important, too, to make sure that any music performances that you host do not create a noise nuisance for neighbours. There used to be stipulations that doors and windows had to be kept closed; these no longer apply, but it’s still important to use common sense and consideration.
Dancing and wrestling
Other activities have also been de-regulated: you don’t need a licence for Morris dancing. And while this is unlikely to apply to most pubs, you don’t need a licence for a contest, exhibition or display of Greco-Roman wrestling, or freestyle wrestling, between 8am and 11pm before no more than 1,000 spectators.
In almost all of these examples, there is one kind of licence that is mandatory: a PRS PPL licence. This licence collects royalties on behalf of songwriters and performers and is essential if any kind of music is being played or performed in a public place. Until recently, two separate organisations were responsible for this, but now they have formed a joint venture, PRS PPL, and created a one-stop-shop for music licensing, which has simplified the process.
Poetry, meanwhile, is another increasingly popular form of entertainment for pubs and cafés. If you have a mental picture of wistful recitals of romantic verse, think again: today’s poetry “slams”, as they are sometimes called, are vigorous, dramatic and loud; poets take turns to come up and perform, rather than recite, their work, and audience participation is encouraged. Cafés have opened that specialise in poetry, such as the Poetry Café in London’s Soho, home of the Poetry Society, which hosts regular poetry events as well as live music.
The stage is set
So far, so good. What else does a pub, bar or caf need to host live events? One important factor is furniture: your furniture layout needs to be flexible so that your pub and bar chairs and tables can be re-arranged and reconfigured to accommodate performers. Perhaps this would be an opportunity to explore stackable furniture. Today’s stacking furniture is lightweight but robust and easily stored away. A small stage or raised area would help, and when not in use it can be used as a regular seating area. Lighting and amplification equipment will also be needed. Live groups and bands will bring their own amplifiers, but they will normally need an in-house PA system to amplify vocals.
Finding the right performers for your pub
If you are holding a regular weekly blues night, say, or a folk evening or a poetry night, posters around your pub can advertise this, and your social media pages can also publicise events. Booking agencies such as Alive Network can put you in touch with a range of performers, from acoustic singer-songwriters to tribute bands. You could also ask your staff and customers if they know of any acts that could perform. Fees will vary, depending on the act and the number of performers: a five-piece band are unlikely to play for less than £300, but a solo singer-songwriter will command a much more modest fee, say £60, or perhaps less if free drink is offered. Increased takings at the bar, and possibly an admission fee for larger acts, should cover this.
In recent years there has been a rise in the number of music colleges offering courses in music performance and songwriting. If there is one of these colleges in your neighbourhood, you could approach them to see if they have any keen young performers looking to get experience of live performance.
Loud and quiet
Finally, remember that you will have regular customers who just want to sit and have a quiet chat or enjoy a peaceful pint. They may not appreciate their conversation or quiet contemplation being drowned out by loud music. So, unless you want to turn your pub or bar into a fully-fledged live music venue, don’t overdo the music. And it’s best to tailor the kind of music you host according to the audience: a deafening thrash-metal band might not go down well in a traditional country pub.
Perhaps the most fruitful way to go is the singer-songwriter. A singer with an acoustic guitar, or perhaps a piano, does not require sophisticated amplification or lighting (Elton John cut his teeth playing piano in a pub in Pinner), and will not drown out conversation. Nor will they require a large fee. Your customers can either cluster round and listen to the music, or sit on the fringes and chat. That’s how it will have been for Paul Simon when he was touring the UK back in the 1960s.
Do you have a story about how live performance made your pub come alive? Leave a comment below!