Essentially a bar, grill and smokehouse, Sam & Maxies offers a subtle, more mature offer of 'Americana' but is not overly themed. Targeted at families, especially those with children of a school age, Sam & Maxies is an elevated offer of the typical American restaurants found within the UK today, with the children's menu being a scaled down version of the adult menu. Music is an integral part in establishing an appropriate dining experience and James Horler, chief executive of La Tasca Group, turned to tsg and its candyrock music programming arm. Having previously worked on both the La Vina and La Tasca brands, candyrock's music programming team listened intently to the brief and began working on a musical signature that helps to define the Sam & Maxies experience.
Paul Beech, tsg's director of Media Programming describes the Sam & Maxies profile as "music to appeal to a wide age range which includes tracks from the 1960s right through to today's contemporary artists. It specifically features songs that will appeal to children visiting with parents and includes a fair amount of American songs, yet is not overtly themed".
James Horler commented on the completed candyrock music profile by saying "We recognise the part that music has to play in a restaurant environment and I am pleased to say that the candyrock profile is great and hits the brief bang on."
To ensure clarity, punch and intelligibility of the music profile, tsg installed an audio system comprising Ecler amplification, a Cloud mixer and 14 Sound Advance ceiling loudspeakers. The audio system was specified and project managed by Philippe Stevenson, tsg's technical manager, who was tasked with ensuring that the audio system and it's installation was to be robust, discreet and in tune with the décor.
(Lee Baldock)
