Spring Break
Prof, study say music induces thirst at bars, clubs
Melissa Crowe
Issue date: 9/24/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
Scantily clad girls and boys in popped-collar polos shirts fill the room.
They try to strike up conversation but are quickly cut short.
"Would you like a shot?" the waitress innocently asks.
As lights grow dim and volume is pushed to the maximum, the night officially begins.
In bar situations, "you have lights and you have loud," said James Quinn of the rehabilitation, social work and addiction faculty. "Both are known stressors, and alcohol reduces the mental sensation of stress."
Quinn said it was not the music that affected a person's consumption, persay, "but the volume."
"The bars that I would go to would have nice soft jazz," he said. "People drink more slowly and can have conversation."
Quinn said along with the volume at which the music is played, the genre of music could also impact the number of visits with the bartender.
"Music has a lot of effects on mood and thought," he said. "People tend to use music to reflect and amplify the mood they are in."
Though both are old country drinking songs, Hank Williams, Jr.'s "There's a Tear in my Beer" and Garth Brook's "Friends in Low Places" have potential to leave the listener in two different moods.
Music associated with aggression, sadness or excitement can intensify the frame of mind a person is in, he said.
"The trick is not to play the music that reflects your mood, but play the music for the mood you want," Quinn said.
Denton's plethora of bars, clubs and music venues leave patrons with many opportunities to find a song for the moment. With the availability of online calendars that list nightlife events, fans can find live music for every night of the week.
Megan McCollough, a history senior and bartender at The Boiler Room, said most of the music they played was "loud rock and tejano."
The Boiler Room has karaoke and DJ sets on Mondays and Tuesdays and live bands every Thursday through Saturday.
"When we book bands, we have the incentive of if the band will be bringing in people who will contribute to the business," she said.
They try to strike up conversation but are quickly cut short.
"Would you like a shot?" the waitress innocently asks.
As lights grow dim and volume is pushed to the maximum, the night officially begins.
In bar situations, "you have lights and you have loud," said James Quinn of the rehabilitation, social work and addiction faculty. "Both are known stressors, and alcohol reduces the mental sensation of stress."
Quinn said it was not the music that affected a person's consumption, persay, "but the volume."
"The bars that I would go to would have nice soft jazz," he said. "People drink more slowly and can have conversation."
Quinn said along with the volume at which the music is played, the genre of music could also impact the number of visits with the bartender.
"Music has a lot of effects on mood and thought," he said. "People tend to use music to reflect and amplify the mood they are in."
Though both are old country drinking songs, Hank Williams, Jr.'s "There's a Tear in my Beer" and Garth Brook's "Friends in Low Places" have potential to leave the listener in two different moods.
Music associated with aggression, sadness or excitement can intensify the frame of mind a person is in, he said.
"The trick is not to play the music that reflects your mood, but play the music for the mood you want," Quinn said.
Denton's plethora of bars, clubs and music venues leave patrons with many opportunities to find a song for the moment. With the availability of online calendars that list nightlife events, fans can find live music for every night of the week.
Megan McCollough, a history senior and bartender at The Boiler Room, said most of the music they played was "loud rock and tejano."
The Boiler Room has karaoke and DJ sets on Mondays and Tuesdays and live bands every Thursday through Saturday.
"When we book bands, we have the incentive of if the band will be bringing in people who will contribute to the business," she said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Andy
posted 9/24/08 @ 12:28 PM CST
It's a big racket. Everyone knows that.
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