Coffee Shop Music

04neon_07 · Post by **04neon_07** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 4:49 pm

What's up everybody? I recently became manager of a local coffee shop, and I was wondering if anyone had ideas for music I could play? I'm looking for stuff that isn't too hard or too loud. Something you would enjoy hearing in a coffee shop. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:20 pm

Jazz. /thread

I'm talking about real jazz, not Kenny G easy listening shit... I mean some John Coltrane, Kurt Elling, Diana Krall, Miles Davis, Bill Frisell, Oscar Peterson and more.... its pretty non-offensive, simple (but not too simple) and can be both background music and foreground music. Its such a broad category you could do a mix between old big bands, blues, cool, fusion, contemporary, vocal jazz, combos etc. Additionally, with Jazz you won't be catering to a popular music that is over produced. These are real musicians making real music (not that other categories don't contain real musicians... but really... is Britney Spears a musician or a Hollywood tragedy?) , and unlike classical, you don't need to be an elitist to understand and enjoy (okay, maybe I exaggerated the elitist part).

The only real drawback is that it has become the Coffee Shop Cliche.

04neon_07 · Post by **04neon_07** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:22 pm

That's the thing, I play a lot of jazz, but it seems that people come in and go, "Great, just like that last place...." I want to be different, and yet be able to appeal to all customers.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:38 pm

Get into some more ethnic music then as well... Latin American, African, Middle Eastern, Indian....

or something along the lines of Reggae.

Unless your going to Theme your coffee shop, then people expect "just like that last place"... causing you to cater to those people or be so unique people come for that specifically.

krc21 · Post by **krc21** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:48 pm

diana krall nice!

lol

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:59 pm

krc21 wrote:diana krall nice! lol

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh Canada!!!!

I've seen her live multiple times, and all I Have to add is that I'd peal her grapes and give her some frim fram sauce....

mopar4life · Post by **mopar4life** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:20 pm

Dude, metal, must be metal, Slayer, Disturbed, Pantera. No? Well then....... Im fresh outta ideas.

Moparty08 · Post by **Moparty08** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:37 pm

Yeah metal would be good. why not play some Opeth. Their Damnation album is amazing. It's all clean guitars and vocals and great instrumentalization. I could sit in a coffee shop all day with that playing.

Some Katatonia wouldn't be bad either.

J-Villa · Post by **J-Villa** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:54 pm

i was drinkin my coffee this morning listening to winds of plague

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:33 pm

Suicide Silence.

glasswars · Post by **glasswars** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:49 pm

invujerry wrote:Suicide Silence.

Yes please!

But anyway..
I have been working at Starbucks for over a year now..

I repeat ... DO NOT play jazz..
Also do not play COUNTRY...
or SPANISH/LATIN music..

All of the employees hate it, and we've had countless customers asking us to change it... it's annoying when you hear it for more then 5 minutes at a time. Play indie music, soft indie rock, some pop and stuff like that. That usally works the best in coffee houses/shops.

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:11 pm

Actually, on a completely serious note, Deathcab for Cutie would work well, among with anything from The Postal Service.

J-Villa · Post by **J-Villa** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:21 pm

my fav deathcab song is we laugh indoors.

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:31 pm

My favorite Deathcab song is...all of them.

randomZERO · Post by **randomZERO** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:34 pm

Cannibal Corpse or maybe Six Feet Under. I can also get you some recordings of me farting on a Snare Drum, now thats coffee sippin music.

Moparty08 · Post by **Moparty08** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:30 pm

Cannibal Corpse. Just make sure it's with Chris Barnes not George. George sucks. Six Feet Under is sick too.

Mopar_Korean · Post by **Mopar_Korean** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:31 pm

how about a mix of everything? Stuff like Postal Service, Deathcab, some alt rock that isnt so harsh, and maybe some local music. Im sure there is some talented kids in your area?

04neon_07 · Post by **04neon_07** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:10 am

Thank you all for your responses. No, I will not play Metal in the shop. I tried that once.

I'm a huge music lover, as well as a jazz and symphonic musician, and I love helping local kids get their start. But please, dont stop with the suggestions.

Thanks!

w0158981 · Post by **w0158981** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:23 am

jack johnson,red hot chili peppers, modest mouse, sum cover stuff. I spent alot of time at a coffee shop while i was in school and i think that style music really fit the scene, its not jazz but its also not to fast and beaty

01neon01 · Post by **01neon01** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 6:44 pm

invujerry wrote:Suicide Silence.

YES!!! suicide silence ftw at work lol or some emperor or at the gates!

on a seriousnote play the new thrice album. Alchemy idex volume IV Earth. its mellow almost like folk music. or some damien rice and deathcab.

you cant go wrong with some classical music. Even if you dont like it you at least appear more cultured, its relaxing and older people will be able to appreciate it and its not threatening in any way possible.

Nutmeg · Post by **Nutmeg** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:29 pm

hansken_yo wrote:Jazz. /thread

I'm talking about real jazz, not Kenny G easy listening shit... I mean some John Coltrane, Kurt Elling, Diana Krall, Miles Davis, Bill Frisell, Oscar Peterson and more.... its pretty non-offensive, simple (but not too simple) and can be both background music and foreground music. Its such a broad category you could do a mix between old big bands, blues, cool, fusion, contemporary, vocal jazz, combos etc. Additionally, with Jazz you won't be catering to a popular music that is over produced. These are real musicians making real music (not that other categories don't contain real musicians... but really... is Britney Spears a musician or a Hollywood tragedy?) , and unlike classical, you don't need to be an elitist to understand and enjoy (okay, maybe I exaggerated the elitist part).

The only real drawback is that it has become the Coffee Shop Cliche.

There is nothing better than Coltrane's "Sheets of Sound". I love jazz, and it is great for both background and foreground. Don't play any rock, unless it is Jack Johnson/Death Cab/Postal Service- esque.

Another great thing to look into would be satellite radio. I don't know about XM, but Sirius has a "Coffee House" Station that plays music perfect for, well.... coffee shops. And then if you want to change it up, there are many other stations, for example you could do a Sinatra day. Both my parents use satellite radio in their restaurants and it is great.

Oh, one last thing: Don't play anything from the "Top 40". Please.

ThrIsNoSpork · Post by **ThrIsNoSpork** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:25 pm

Dredg. they are amazing. nice slow easy music without that crappy poppy feel

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:55 pm

Jeff Buckley. All of his music.

Tam · Post by **Tam** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 8:55 pm

What kind of people walk into your shop? IS it young teenagers? working adults? elderly senior citizens? I would choose based on the people that come in. Or you can ask the people themselves what they want to hear...like give a survey or something lol.

If I was in a coffee shop, I'd like Amon Amarth, Trivium, Children of Bodom, Lacuna Coil, Arch Enemy, etc. lol

04neon_07 · Post by **04neon_07** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 9:08 pm

Mat666 wrote:What kind of people walk into your shop? IS it young teenagers? working adults? elderly senior citizens?

All of the above.