Pausing a moment, try to recall the last lobby you visited. Was a doctor working at this office? Like a motel? Maybe a trendy co-working space with chairs maybe too fancy to be comfortable? Bet you recall if the music felt strange even if you didn’t notice when it suited the location. That’s the modest office lobby background music, my friend. It makes no difference where you are; those tunes are more vital than most people would have you know – go here.
Of sure, décor adds weight; but, the ambiance of a space may swing in a second with the right chords. Imagine walking into a fancy hotel, rain on the windows, and this small, tinkling melody briefly stopping your anxiety. Try exchanging it with blasting rock; suddenly you discover the closest exit vanished. Even a spa could start to appear like an airport terminal if pop song pan flute versions run too long. Whoever claimed music knew what they were talking about—the universal language.
But planning lobby music calls for more than a quick shuffle and hit play. Not too loud; never dead quiet; voices maintained at a minimum; and a blend between the known and the unexpected produces an undetected dance. Push too far in any direction and you will have guests wrinkled- eyebrows looking at the speakers. Once laughing at a dentist lobby he was waiting in, one of my buddies said the “Jaws” theme was booming. Said carefully, nerves did not get better.
With relation to foot traffic, think about Are you handling business suits clutching coffee, dusty visitors hauling suitcases, or tiny children headed for the play area? The soundtrack has to be friendly to everyone. Jazz for independent or mellow will transform the atmosphere. Change active to subdued. Mornings go well with something vibrant but muted; the heavier stuff should wait for later in the day when people are more awake—or, to be honest, less irritable.
Every place has a unique sound signature. While in metropolitan lobbies smooth electronic can go under unnoticed but yet set an undercurrent of energy; in coastal villages you might pick up lazy beach tunes. Some sites include regional artists, therefore giving guests a little taste of what’s outside without subjecting them to it and adding local flavour. Though there are no specific rules, repetition will push employees and visitors up the wall. That one song playing on repeat? You always will live with it.
Fascinating yet, though. The best playlists are not especially unique; they just help people relax. If you see someone tapping their foot waiting or overhearing a stranger humming, you have found gold. Background music plays the role of that distant relative who knows exactly the right thing to say at family get-togethers: never steal the show, but always make everyone a bit more comfortable.
Making the playlist comes from intuition, feedback, and a bit “does this make me want to sit here longer?” You are following your own tail while everyone else is pursuing approval; nonetheless, getting most people to relax is a reasonable goal. And guests may leave somewhat happier than they arrived if they feel the surroundings are looking out for them—even in terms of carefully chosen music. In every lobby, that represents success.