Drinks and Karaoke: How Karaoke Increases Drink Sales
When it comes to boosting bar sales, some venues pour their energy into happy hours, others into food deals. But savvy business owners know there’s one sure-fire way to get people ordering another round and staying longer at the bar: karaoke.
Yes, karaoke. The crowd-pulling, mic-dropping, laugh-inducing powerhouse that’s more than just a side hustle. It’s a strategic tool that turns casual drinkers into regulars, raises the bar tab, and transforms your venue into the go-to spot for after-work blowouts and birthday belters.
Let’s break down why karaoke and drink sales go together like gin and tonic. Here’s how you can tune into this underrated money-maker.
Karaoke + Drinks = A Recipe for Revenue
There’s a reason why karaoke nights consistently outperform quieter evenings. It’s not just about the music; it’s about the experience.
When people sing, they stay. When they stay, they drink. When they drink, they get confident. And when they get confident... well, that mic isn’t going down any time soon.
Unlike other types of entertainment where the audience is passive, karaoke turns your customers into the main event. The spotlight’s on them, and while they're waiting for their song (or their mate's fourth attempt at Livin’ on a Prayer), they’re not heading out the door… they’re ordering another cocktail or sharing a food platter.
Why Karaoke Nights Boost Your Bar’s Bottom Line
1. Longer Dwell Time = More Drinks
The longer someone stays, the more likely they are to order another round. Sounds obvious, but it’s one of the biggest benefits of adding karaoke to your weekly schedule.
A regular weeknight might see punters popping in for one pint and heading home. But karaoke keeps people around. They’re waiting for their turn to sing, clapping for their friends, and soaking up the fun. That means more beer, more cocktails, more snacks, and increased bar revenue.
Top tip: Place your karaoke screen or setup away from the exit to encourage people to settle in for the long haul. That extra hour of dwell time could mean two or three extra rounds per table.
2. It Encourages Group Bookings
Karaoke isn't a solo sport. People show up in groups – birthdays, work dos, hen nights, or just a spontaneous Friday night out. And group bookings equal bigger spend.
When people pre-book, they tend to pre-drink and pre-order. Sharing pitchers, ordering food for the table, and trying out signature cocktails become part of the fun. It’s a natural upsell opportunity, not a hard sell.
Lucky Voice’s karaoke systems make this easy, with flexible setups that suit both small groups and full venue takeovers. Whether it’s a six-person singalong or a private bar event, the setup scales with you – and so does the bar tab.
3. Drinks as Liquid Confidence
Let’s be honest. Most people need a bit of encouragement before belting out Sweet Caroline in front of a room full of strangers. Alcohol lowers inhibitions – safely and responsibly, of course – and that’s why your bar menu plays a starring role in any karaoke night.
Signature drinks named after iconic tracks, themed cocktails, or even cheeky karaoke drinks menus (“The Tequila Swift”, anyone?) help keep drinks flowing without needing to push a hard upsell.
Consider this:
Offer drink deals per round of songs (e.g. 2-for-1 cocktails every five songs)
Introduce a “singer’s special” – a discount for performers
Add a drinks token to karaoke bookings or reservations
When karaoke is part of the atmosphere, people drink not just to enjoy the music, but to be the music.
4. Branded Moments = Social Sharing
In the age of TikTok and Instagram stories, a karaoke night isn't just entertainment, it's content. And content that features your drinks, your setup, and your branding is free marketing with a side of virality.
Make your cocktails and karaoke photogenic. Add neon signs, light-up mic stands, or a dedicated “singer’s corner” with visual flair. The more camera-ready your venue is, the more likely it’ll end up on someone’s story - alongside shots of your drinks menu.
And when the mic goes viral, so do your drink sales.
5. Drinks Pair Perfectly with Food… and Singing
Let’s not forget about the munchies. Singing works up an appetite, and if you’re pairing karaoke with a small plates menu, sharing food platters, or snack deals, you’re increasing the average spend per table. Singing + drinking + grazing = perfection.
If you offer food, karaoke makes it even more tempting. Think nachos and microphones. Wings and Whitney. Fries and Freddie Mercury. You get the idea.
Pro tip: Create bundled packages that combine food, drink and karaoke. It streamlines the offer for your customers and makes ordering easy for staff.
The Tech Behind the Tune: How the Right Karaoke System Helps Drive Sales
All the potential in the world won’t translate into full tills if your karaoke setup is clunky, unreliable or stuck in 2007. To truly hit the high notes on drink sales, your karaoke system has to support the flow of the night – not interrupt it.
Here’s what to look for:
1. Song Selection
The best karaoke systems allow guests to browse and queue songs with a quick and simple search.
Lucky Voice’s karaoke software, for example, lets users search by artist, genre or mood – with thousands of licensed tracks ready to go. Guests can stay seated, keep sipping, and keep the party going.
2. High-Quality Sound for Big Bar Vibes
If your karaoke sounds like it’s being piped through a tin can, you’re not going to keep people singing (or drinking). Investing in quality microphones and speakers ensures that performances sound good and keep the energy high.
Lucky Voice’s Ministation plugs right into your existing audio setup, keeping the sound crisp without requiring a full AV upgrade.
3. Easy Setup for Staff
Let your team focus on pouring drinks, not troubleshooting cables. Your karaoke system should be easy to switch on and off depending on your events calendar – whether you’re running karaoke every Friday or hiring it out for private parties.
The Lucky Voice Singstation is built with venues in mind. Wireless mics, compact design, and intuitive controls make it a breeze for bartenders to run.
Closing Thoughts
If you're serious about increasing drink sales, karaoke should be part of your strategy. But it needs to be done right.
That means:
A high-quality karaoke system like Lucky Voice’s
A well-thought-out bar menu with signature cocktails, beer, and sharers
A setup that’s easy for staff and irresistible to guests
Marketing that promotes your karaoke nights as unmissable
At Lucky Voice Karaoke for Business, we help bars, pubs and venues bring the magic of karaoke to life with plug-and-play systems that turn casual drinkers into mic-dropping regulars. If you’re ready to see how our karaoke systems can boost your bottom line, we’d love to show you how.
