TVs in Taproom

I would love to meet the kind of person that would be bothered by having a TV on while they are drinking. It's a bar for God's sake! Best of luck with your business.

 

Have a TV or two for the big games (like tomorrow when the Cubs beat the Pirates). When no games are on leave them off and have strippers.

 

OP. As much as I'd love it to be a pure craft beer experience, it sounds like you need to listen to what your clients want and cater to them. So if you need to carry BMC in bottles or have TVs for big sports games, do that. Above all, you need to be successful or you won't make money, and you'll shut down. I have never been to Pennsyvania but I think sports are a pretty big deal in that state, between all your awesome teams.

 

To me, it opens up the opportunity to promote during sporting events.. UFC, football, playoff, World Series.. You're in Mass.. A massive sports state, especially if you're anywhere near Boston. You don't have to become a "sports bar" per se (they have a much different atmosphere), but it's a way to bring in people who may not be coming just for the beer.

 

You should have a substantial number of TVs but show nothing except Macgyver.
Possible exceptions include when Sri Lanka faces Pakistan in cricket.

 

Since you're asking the question, there's some resistance to putting in TVs. In that case, I would suggest a couple of TVs conspicuously integrated into the design of the place. It would be far worse to have a couple of large TVs sticking out like eyesores when they're off than to not have any TVs.

ETA: No volume is a must at any non-sports bar, except for extraordinary events.

 

Tap rooms, or bars as we know them better as, are appropriate places to have TVs. Turn the volume off so you can make certain you won't miss out on hearing some exhausting twat wax poetic on hop varietals and "barrel programs"

 

In order of preference for things I like at bars: TVs, old school (not internet) jukebox, acoustic guitar guy, open mic night.

TVs can be ignored. Live music, particularly when its bad and it usually is at local joints, can ruin a night quickly. Can't tell you the number of times I've gone "one and done" at a bar after realizing there was live music. Most places don't have the acoustics to support it even if there were talented people involved.

 

Yeah, actually live music is a dealbreaker for me. It's always too loud to talk over. People are talking about TVs hurting conversation where loud enough music literally makes it impossible.

 

I'm going to have to go on the "no TV" opinion. First I think of a sports bar as a place for tvs. The best taprooms I've been too have the minimum of everything ....except beer. And that includes food. Sound like you're on the right track there with "small plates". To me I like the atmosphere of being able to quietly enjoy opinions on beers stories etc. There are more than enough sports bars. As a compromise as someone mentioned you might put a small TV in one corner with the volume off. JMO...good luck.

 

Im going to cellarmaker brewing tonight to load up on a couple growlers for the pirates game tomorrow, it is nice that they have tv's so I can catch the astros/yankees game but for the most part they only turn them on during playoffs, and I like it that way. I really dont need to see sports center play non stop for hours.

 

plus you could always use the tv to display tap options available.

 

Put me down on the no TV side.
I have no problem with myriad TVs in a sports bar, but I think they inhibit conversation in other settings.

 

TV sucks!

 

As someone who often hits up taproom's solo, and who is also a sports fan, having a tv is a definite plus in my book.

 

I'm 50-50. I don't go to breweries or bars to specifically watch games. That's what my Home is for. So when I MAY head out to a brewery and a "big" game is on, the yelling and cheering could be bit addicting, and you want to get involved. But It can also be distracting if only half your customers are watching, while the other half is trying to have their own conversations. You can definitely set the tone you want. Big tvs, smaller tvs. Would you take requests or have sports packages? Muted? Around NM, it seems regulars know the general vibe of each place, and won't bring a group to watch a game and make noise if the place generally won't be accepting. But one solo dude will be happy to catch a bit of one game at a brewery.

The breweries around my area that I go to have one-two TVs, 95% of the time muted. They have sports packages, take requests among regulars, and generally it's a background "issue", if anything. Normal non sports hours, you'll see cooking channel, outdoors channel, or reruns of something on ABC family. In general, there are not too many requests. I have never been to these places during "big" games. So I don't know if the whole place turns into another beast during those 3 hours, or not. I'm generally there on College Football Saturdays, and the vibe is set to where most seem to want to watch, and cheer quietly. But that balance may be tough.

Do what's in your heart.

As far as music? It seems at my local places they go the route of their bartenders itunes playlists

 

a loop of drag racing burnouts and engine explosions and tractor pull highlights

 

I would say keep the sound off period. Or as some bars do, sound allowed only for championship games. Super Bowl, college football national championship, Stanley cup, World Series, etc. but not the Poulan Weedeater Bowl...

 

If an establishment is brewing their own beer, I tend to be ok without a tv. In those cases, I am usually trying to talk to staff about the beer being brewed. I do however, prefer a tv in a bar/taproom. I find it relaxing to unwind with a game or something else in the background, even if I am not actively listening to it. I will stay longer in a place with a tv than one that has an open mic.

 

I'm with those that suggest a TV or 2 for the occasional game may be wise. Feel free to turn them off...

Also, I was in a taproom once that had a couple TVs, smart TVs I think. When they were not tuned into programming they displayed a rotating montage of themed art or graphics. Kind of cool especially if your place will project a certain vibe.

There is something so depressing about walking into a restaurant or bar with televisions tuned into awful daytime programming - soaps or reruns of Empty Nest.