When last did you actively âlistenâ to the music you are playing in your spa or salon?
Helllloooo my dear {{ first_name }},
Imagine you are lying on a comfortable, cozy, warm treatment bed, receiving an unbelievable massage from a highly skilled therapist. For a change, you are completely relaxed and ready to enjoy every minute. Suddenly, the music goes loud, then soft, then starts glitching repeatedly and gets stuck on a loop of the same 5 or 6 songs. How does this make you feel just reading this? Now, imagine that this is your client.
I recently had this exact experience a few days ago. The therapist was beyond unbelievable—skilled, attentive, and truly exceptional at her craft. However, despite her talents, the fluctuating, glitchy music pulled me out of my relaxed state multiple times, turning what should have been an extraordinary experience into a merely average one.
This experience highlights a crucial aspect of our industry that we've been discussing lately—the Reticular Activating System (RAS) in our clients' brains. The RAS, a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions, acting as a gatekeeper for sensory information. Inconsistent or unappealing music can trigger the RAS, disrupting relaxation and making clients more aware of their surroundings, preventing them from fully unwinding. I know I harp on about the RAS, but this is the kind of trigger you don't want—it's a negative trigger that clients won't forget.
On another “sound” note, last week when I was at Grotto Spa in Cape Town, I happened to be at the front desk and answered the phone. A gentleman inquired about our services, and I casually mentioned that we use Spotify, allowing clients to choose their own music. He was absolutely blown away by this simple, yet thoughtful touch. In fact, he was sitting with his friend who was joining him at the spa, and I heard him excitedly tell his friend, “We can choose our own music—they have Spotify and Bluetooth soundbars. How cool is that?” It reminded me just how much clients value the ability to personalize their experience.
So, what can we do to ensure that our clients have the best possible experience?
- Curate Your Playlists Carefully: Avoid repetitive loops and ensure a smooth, relaxing flow.
- Offer Choice: Allow clients to select their preferred genre or specific songs. Services like Spotify or other music streaming platforms can make this easy.
- Maintain Consistency: Ensure that the volume and quality of the music remain consistent throughout the treatment.
By paying close attention to the music we play, we can create a more immersive and relaxing environment for our clients. Music has the power to enhance the overall experience, making it memorable for all the right reasons.
Let's not underestimate the impact of these small details. After all, it's the little things that often make the biggest difference. I encourage you to take a moment to review your current music setup and consider how you might improve it. Your clients will thank you for it.
To help you out a little, I follow Brian d’Souza from Swell Studio and absolutely LOVE how he pairs experiences with sound. Do yourself a favour and follow him on Instagram.
Here is the link. He just launched an app called SwellSpa available in the App Store! He worked with the university of Art’s MIMIC lab, which specialises in music and AI to work on their groundbreaking algorithm, how exciting!
https://www.instagram.com/swell__studio
"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything." – Plato
Until next time, keep the good vibes rolling and the music soothing.
Chat soon, hugs,
Marisa
