What are some good ways to bring life back to a tired bar?!
Answers: My friend just bought a little bar, and we are trying to think of some fun hip ideas to bring life back to the bar.
There are so many options...I think in order to get better answers you will need to give a little more info...such as the atmosphere you're looking for, type of clients you want to pursue, money you're willing to spend, what type of location you have, etc.
The best thing to do is to find your own little niche that no other bar in your area has...such as offering a large variety of beers on tap (ie: 20+), having karaoke, having 80's night, quiz night with a local radio station, etc.
live entertainment,
drink specials
prize give-aways
drink specials, theme nights (ladies night, trivia night, one night with no cover and drink specials, margarita night -buy one get one free), kareoke, good music
Promote on Social Sites. I work in a bar myself and i find people find out about the bar via social sites and word of mouth. Use live entertainment and decide on the best genre on people you wish to attract to the bar and work from there. Drink promos are always a good choice.
dart teams/ tournaments, pool teams/ tournaments, meat draws, silent auctions, hire some local bands for weekend live music.
spend a little bit more and hire an interior decorator. have a gimmick that will draw people in, not just booze, maybe free internet, b-b-q sundays?, have weekly entertainment, maybe a weekly contest. anything to get them in the door.-BluRey copy starbucks but add alcohol.
have you seen coyote ugly? ;)
start a few happy hours?...and give away roast potatoes?...
I've seen many 'hole in the wall' bars come back with live entertainment, and theme party nights (techno night, wet t-shirt contest, ladies night). Also cages, and poles are popular. Have drink specials, and a signature drink. Like the bucket of margarita for 10$ . . .
Where are you located? I may be able to help... this is what I do.
(edit)
Thumbs down? I'll tell you what you can do with that...
Basic stuff:
Happy Hours---? price drinks from 4 PM to 6 PM (any later and people won't stay...they'll be faced and won't stay and pay regular prices [profit])
Free popcorn/peanuts---salt makes folks thirsty
Gay Bar? Anybody bar? Ladies night--Tuesday--2 for 1 drinks
Couples night--3 for 2 drinks
$1.00 draught beer/house wine
A pool table never hurts
A TV for sports
Open 7 days a week
Microwave for hot dogs, quesadillas, nachos (cheap to make, high profit)
Jukebox (have the TV on low volume 'til they can't stand it and start throwin' quarters into that jukebox!)
1 page flyers to your target area--see your postmaster for bulk mailing rates...and talk to surrounding businesses to go in on it with you
Lights (like Christmas mini lights) above and behind the bar (I don't know why, but it works)
Smoking section, like a fenced off porch
Bulletin board for customer business cards
Raffle box for business cards--pick 1 a night for a free pitcher or carafe...staple that card to the wall or ceiling
Dart board with darts for rent and some good darts for sale
Pay telephone
Clean restrooms with condom/tampon vending machines
Rotating seat bar stools
Bar logo t-shirts/baseball caps and visors
Birthday nights with free drinks (of course, set a limit to fit your budget) for the person (stamp their hand)---they'll bring friends
You don't have to be hip to be cool!
(|<)>
Host a service industry night once a week. People in the business always refer customers to places that treat them well.
A lot of local bars here have started having Guitar Hero contests. Seems to be pretty popular.
Ha, have you ever seen that Family Guy episode where they have a karaoke night to bring life back to the Drunken Clam? I think it was "Don't Make Me Over". There's a little inspiration for you :)
There are some good ideas already mentioned, but I love Jamy's idea of "service night" for hospitality people. Call it Service Appreciation Night. The best part is that many of us don't get to party on the weekends, so our nights off are Sundays or Mondays. Perfect way to perk up the stagnant nights at a bar. I can only imagine the networking that would go on. "You still work at 123? Coworker just got fired and my boss is paying $xx an hour. I can get you in." Happens all the time in the hospitality industry. That's a good idea for a niche.
strip poles