Celebrities queue up for Zoltar
The right jukeboxes can enhance live music venues
JUKEBOXES
Marc Bird from operator Leisureplay has deployed three of Sound Leisure ’ s Rockboxes over the past 12 months and has found them ‘ perfect ’ for live music sites .
O perator Marc Bird has gone some way to proving that jukeboxes can be suitable - and of financial benefit - to live music venues , using Rockbox . The product is a jukebox specially created by Sound Leisure and Soundnet for sites that specialise in rock , alternative or indie music , for whom a regular jukebox featuring chart
Quality Refurbished Games tracks may not be suitable .
Bird stated : “ Over the past 12 months we have seen an increase in live music venues showing interest in jukeboxes . We have sited three Rockbox jukeboxes , with music profiled by Soundnet in venues that are particularly music-orientated , and this has paid dividends for both our business and the sites themselves .
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This may seem ironic , but in my opinion the reason for the success of jukeboxes in live music sites is that these venues are putting in more effort in to improve their business than most other pub landlords . They are constantly working to advertise and promote their venues , in the hope of getting people out during the week - and it ’ s working .”
Live music seems to really draw in the crowds , believes Bird . He continued : “ As an operator , rather than be deterred by it being a live music venue , we have seen it as an opportunity . Firstly , it ’ s a music venue , so your potential customers are already present . The live music is usually only on for a few hours , so the jukebox is getting well played before , after and in between ( sites use the special events key to put music on pause in between bands playing to save rebooting the jukebox which can take some time ).”
These are busy venues and the jukebox becomes the focal point . Bird profiles the jukebox to maximise the profits adding new music , venue favourites and live bands .
He explained : “ These sites are proactive in promoting events . The ‘ What ’ s on ’ and On-screen advertising gets used to its full potential . Getting the jukebox in the best position is essential .”
The first of Leisureplay ’ s Rockbox sites was a rock pub that insisted on no chart music . “ They were very specific about what they wanted , so to save any disappointment or confusion I emailed the site a list of the music content . I ’ ve never heard of most of these songs or artists but the site was blown away . This is when we realised this jukebox in the right site had massive potential .”
The second lead came when Leisureplay had an enquiry from a site that had a very high standard of jukebox already installed . “ They were deleting unwanted tracks and the music updates they were receiving were not meeting customer demand . The jukebox was taking reasonable money but we knew it was the wrong jukebox for the venue . We installed a Rockbox and the income trebled .”
The third lead came through a site that knew exactly what they wanted .
“ They had done their homework and specifically wanted a RockBox . It ’ s all about choosing the right jukebox for the right venue then working together with the venue and Soundnet to profile the jukebox to its full potential . We take great time and effort to ask the venue what songs they require and to make sure the jukebox is tailor-made to suit that venue by adding venue requests , new music and also local bands . This not only helps increase the revenue but also helps you as an operator maintain the site . When the jukebox is being profiled specifically for them , the site then values the jukebox as an essential part of their business .”
Bird concluded : “ I think there ’ s a misunderstanding that it is all rock music but it ’ s not . You do have great rock music content on there but also a good selection of indie , ska , punk and alternative . There is definitely demand for this type of jukebox .”
Celebrities queue up for Zoltar
DISTRIBUTORS
Leeds-based novelty and amusement machine operator / supplier Harem Leisure has seen a number of high-profile celebrities play its Zoltar fortune telling game lately , but has lamented the loss of the original machine from its rightful place on New York ’ s Coney Island .
The company ’ s Reece Holland told Coinslot : “ Fewer machines have had as much interest as Harem Leisure Zoltar fortune telling machine amongst celebrities .”
He continued : “ The older generation know the machine from the film Big ( starring Tom hanks ) which celebrates its 25th anniversary this month , whereas the younger generation are familiar with the machine through a new cartoon on nickelodeon and a very popular ‘ Zoltar Speaks ’ app on smart phones .
Harem Leisure has had such a great success with Zoltar at the show in London , they receivedsignificant interest from foreign parties that prompt them to show at the IAAPA show in Paris on the 18-21 September 2013 .
Having seen the likes of TV celebs Mario Falcone , Karina Smirnoff and Victoria ’ s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio ( pictured ) play Zoltar , Holland couldn ’ t help but mention that the Zoltar game featured on Big back in the 80s has been replaced by ... a Pepsi vending machine .