Hey restaurant owners, I’m talking to you here. In the last couple of years you’ve probably increased your takeout business by about a zillion percent. A lot of those customers have come back to dine in, but a lot haven’t. Now, you know people are going to be waiting when they order something to go. And, you know that TV and music makes that wait go by quicker. The only thing is, you’re opening up a big can ‘o worms when you do that. Not just one, really. Let me explain.
The problem with TV
TV is great for keeping people’s attention. It’s what’s on the TV that can be a problem. Let’s call it what it is, ok? It seems like there are two groups of people in this country who can’t even agree whether or not the sky is blue. So, putting on live TV can be a bit of a problem, unless you can find something that people can all agree on. That isn’t easy, not these days.
Personally, I recommend DIRECTV Satellite for restaurants instead of plain old cable or antenna. Why? Because with more channels you’re likely to be able to find something that you’ll be able to agree on. Yes, you’ll have to avoid the 20 or so news channels if you want to keep the peace. But there are a lot of other options out there to soothe those folks waiting. But really, there’s another option: music.
The wrong way to do music
If you’re going to have music in the public area, there are a few things you have to be aware of. If you use the radio, there’s a chance that people will hear a commercial for your competition. That’s not cool. But, the real problem is copyright enforcement. Technically it’s illegal to play the radio in public spaces without paying additional royalties. Yeah, “everyone does it,” but you have to admit you never know when a cranky, crusty federal agent will stop in for a sandwich and not leave until they serve you with a summons. Don’t laugh, I know people it’s happened to.
You might think that streaming is better in a situation like that. Without commercials, those feds won’t know where you’re getting the music from. Except, you still don’t have the legal right to play music even if you have the physical media with you. What’s worse, when you stream, the streaming service knows exactly where you are and they will find you.
There’s a better way
First of all, cut yourself some slack. Get DIRECTV satellite TV for yourself in the back of the house. It doesn’t cost much… generally about the same as it does at home. Then, use DIRECTV’s Music Choice channels for commercial-free music that’s licensed for public performance. You’ll be safe from the prodding eyes of the feds and you’ll get dozens of channels. One of them is sure to satisfy you and your customers. You can pipe that music out into the public area and enjoy life TV in the back of the house, all for one low price. It’s the perfect option for restaurant owners. You get happy customers, and you get a little bit of live TV for yourself. Who could complain?
All you need to do is call the experts at Signal Connect. Here’s the secret: DIRECTV doesn’t work with businesses themselves. If you call them, they’ll send you to an independent dealer anyway. Why not work with one of the largest in the country! We specialize in customer service and we work nationwide. We’ll show you how a satellite TV subscription can help you in the front AND the back of the house.
It all starts with a call to 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. We don’t run an overseas call center. You’ll reach real experts in our corporate offices. And we’ll take care of you like only we can. So give us a try! If it’s after hours, fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.
