A Beginner's Guide to Live Music Equipment for Breweries, Bars, and Restaurants | Blog

Integrating live music into your small independent music venue can transform the customer experience, creating a lively and memorable atmosphere. The right audio equipment not only enhances the performance quality but also helps draw in a crowd, boosting your business. In this guide, we’ll try to help simplify the complex world of music equipment, and help you make more informed choices that best meet your small independent music venue’s needs and your budget.

1. Sound Reinforcement System

A sound reinforcement system is sort of an odd phrase, but it’s the backbone of a live music performance in your space, delivering clear and balanced audio to your audience. It includes mixers, speakers, amplifiers, and microphones, each playing a crucial role in sound quality. Investment in this area depends on the size of your venue and the type of music played, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

Here’s a rundown of some of the equipment you can expect to need here:

Speakers: Depending on the size of your venue, you’ll need main speakers and possibly some monitors. The main speakers project the sound to the audience, while monitors let the musicians hear themselves.
Amplifiers: Some speakers come with built-in amplifiers (active speakers). If yours don’t, you'll need external amplifiers.
Microphones: For singing and acoustic instruments. Start with a few dynamic mics like the Shure SM58, which is known for its durability and sound quality.

2. Cables and Stands

Cables and stands are the unsung heroes of live music, ensuring that everything stays connected and in place. Quality cables reduce interference and preserve sound quality, while sturdy stands provide essential support for microphones and music sheets. Budgeting around $100-$500 can cover basic needs, with higher-end options available for larger setups.

Here’s a short list of crucial components you’ll want to acquire in this category.

Microphone Cables (XLR): These cables connect your microphones to your mixer, to pump sound from the performers, into your mixing board, and into your speakers. Don’t skimp on quality or length here.
Speaker Cables: To connect amplifiers to passive speakers, you’ll need speaker cables. Many speaker kits will come with these, so it’ll be helpful to check if you already have these coming with another purchase.
Mic Stands: Essential for singers and some instruments, you’ll want enough mic stands for as many vocalists as you expect to perform. There’s a variety of styles here, and this is another area you don’t want to skimp on. Musicians know, a sagging mic stand is a special kind of frustration and sadness.
Music Stands: Handy if your performers use sheet music, but some musicians also use them to set their phones, iPads, tuners, extra guitar picks, setlists, and more. These are valuable and inexpensive to add to your setup.

3. Direct Input Boxes (DIs)

Direct Input (DI) boxes are essential for managing different audio sources like keyboards and guitars. They ensure the sound is clear and balanced, especially over longer cable runs. Depending on the number and type of instruments, a basic DI setup can cost between $50 and $200 per unit.

4. Acoustic Treatment

Acoustic treatment enhances the natural sound within your space, controlling echoes and reverberations. This investment not only improves music quality but also the overall auditory experience of your patrons. Costs vary widely based on the venue's size and specific acoustic needs, typically ranging from $200 to $2,000.

Here are a few acoustic treatment options your venue might consider:

Bass Traps: Control low-frequency resonance with bass traps placed in corners or edges of your space.
Diffusers: Break up and scatter sound waves by redirecting sound into different places in your space. Think of these as reflectors to move sound away from where you don’t want it.
Absorption Panels: Reduce reflections and echo with absorption panels. These are stereotypically associated with gray bumpy wall panels.

It’s worth noting that acoustic treatment isn’t a thing you should try to do without any input from a sound engineer or sound professional. And the truth is, some spaces just aren’t worth acoustic treating at all, depending on the materials of your building or the size and shape of your space. Consult a sound engineer to see if making the investment here is worth the money, or whether you should just forge ahead knowing your equipment is giving you the best shot at good sound.

5. Stage Lighting

Stage lighting adds a visual dimension to live performances, creating ambiance and focusing attention on the performers. A basic lighting setup, including spotlights and colored lights, can greatly enhance the experience. Initial investments can range from $500 to several thousand dollars, depending on the complexity and quality of the lighting system.

Spotlights: In small music venues, spotlights are used to focus the audience's attention on the performers, often highlighting the lead singer or soloists. They help in creating a connection between the audience and the performers, making the experience more personal and engaging. Depending on the space though, this might be overkill.
Colored Lights: In small venues, colored lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood and atmosphere of the performance. Use basic LED lights or par cans that can change colors and complement the genre of music being played — for instance, cool blues for a jazz night or vibrant reds for a rock performance. The idea is to enhance the overall sensory experience of the audience without overwhelming the space.
Lighting Controller: A lighting controller is a simple console that might be operated by a member of your staff or even by the musicians themselves. This controller is used to adjust the intensity, color, and direction of the lights during the performance. The simplicity of the setup allows for quick adjustments to match the dynamic nature of live music performances.

It's not uncommon for smaller venues to have a more improvisational approach to lighting, adapting the ambiance to the mood of the music and the audience's reaction, and overall, in small music venues, the focus is on creating an immersive and intimate experience that complements the live performance. The lighting is less about grandeur and more about enhancing the connection between performers and your audience.

6. Additional Considerations

Incorporating elements like feedback control, wireless systems, and headphones can elevate the performance and operational efficiency. These additions help manage sound quality and provide flexibility for performers. Costs can vary, with basic setups starting around $100 and scaling up based on the technology and quality desired.

7. Steps to Set Up

Planning and setting up your live music equipment is crucial. This involves spatial planning, effective cable management, and thorough soundchecks. While the cost here is more in terms of time and effort, professional assistance can also be sought, typically ranging from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars, depending on the complexity of your setup.

If you’ve never done this type of thing before, getting help from a pro isn’t just recommended—it’s essential. There’s simply no point in buying lots of great gear, and then not having the ability to get it all to work together properly and maximize the quality and value of the equipment.

8. “All-in-one” Live Music Equipment Kits for Small Venues

"All-in-one" live music equipment kits are a convenient and efficient solution for musicians and small independent venues alike. With a mixture of gear for different setups, spaces, and budgets, these can be an easy way to get up and running right away, a know that you have what you need for a live music performance out the gate.These kits from Sweetwater, for example, cater to various budgets and performance needs.

Portable Coffeehouse PA - Under $1,000: This kit is designed for quick setups and includes an Alesis GigaMix 4-channel powered mixer with built-in effects, a master EQ, and a CD player. It comes with 200-watt Samson 2-way speakers and a Rock 'n Roller folding cart for easy transport.
Gigging PA Package - Under $5,000: Ideal for club performances, this package features Mackie's SRM450 active loudspeakers, JBL stage monitors, and a 16-channel Yamaha mixer with EQ and compression for sound control. It also includes various dynamic microphones and a drum mic kit.
Road Warrior PA - Under $10,000: Tailored for touring, this system includes rugged Peavey SP 3 speakers and a QW 118 subwoofer for powerful sound. An Allen & Heath mixer with built-in DSP effects, various microphones including a wireless option for the lead singer, and other essential gear are part of this robust package.
House PA - Under $15,000: Suited for larger venues, this setup features an Allen & Heath console with premium mic preamps, Mackie active loudspeakers, Yamaha floor monitors, and a comprehensive selection of microphones, including a wireless option and a drum mic package. It also includes various processors like a graphic equalizer and a feedback suppressor.

Each kit serves a specific performance scale and budget, offering a range of equipment from basic to professional-grade, all designed to simplify setup and enhance live sound quality.

In Conclusion

Delving into live music for the first time, or improving your overall gear at your venue will be an exciting adventure. With the right equipment and planning, your venue can not only host great performances but also offer an enhanced experience that attracts better bands or artists, and more people to come watch them perform.

The most crucial component of introducing live music to your venue is knowing that you don’t have to have everything all at once! Let your performances dictate your gear, and build your collection of live music equipment over time, as your venue continues to book more and different acts. Good luck, and happy gigging.