Hard Rock Cafe is a symbol for many things all around the world. It stands for All-American food/culture and Rock and Roll. Since the Hard Rock was first started in London, a theme has been carried out. The Rock and Roll theme comes out in the memorabilia, and the general design of the space. No matter where on the planet you are you can count on two things: good food and a homage to rock and roll.
The above picture is of the largest Hard Rock in the UK, located in Manchester. One of the elements that is symbolic of being on stage is the lighting and the sound system. The lighting is mostly spot lights reminiscent of the ones used to give a lead singer a more prominent place. The lighting is used to highlight all the artifacts that have been collected throughout the years.
The memorabilia/artifacts of a Hard Rock are the most symbolic part of the space. They make you think about when Rock was just beginning and youthfulness. The memorabilia is also connected somewhat to the area where the restaurant is located. For instance, the Hard Rock's in the UK would have several things that related to the Beatles, while ones in the South would have artifacts from Lynard Skynard. The use of regional artifacts helps the customer to connect with the specific Hard Rock and see it as a bit different from all the rest. You can also count a very interesting entrance and something that really stands out in the space.
Why do you think Hard Rock has been able to span the globe, even though it serves American cuisine? Have you ever felt that Hard Rock's were all the same, or do you see each one as an unique place? Are Hard Rock Cafes something unique or are they just another theme restaurant?
I think that Hard Rock has been able to span the globe not for the fact that it serves American cuisine but because it is an icon. The Hard Rock does serve food but it’s more about the experience from the music that draws people in. In my option all Hard Rock’s that I have been to are all about the same design with the same materials and same feel. The only thing unique about each place is what Sara said about the memorabilia being connected somewhat to the area where the restaurant is located. In some ways Hard Rock Cafes are something unique, being the only restaurant being centered on rock and roll, or music for that matter. Yet, in the grand scheme of things Hard Rock Café is just another restaurant centered on something else different from the restaurant next door.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Hard Rock Cafe's have been so successful globally because, no matter where you are in the world, there is rock music and the history of the rock and roll lifestyle. Sure, they might serve traditional Americana cuisine, but it's not all about the food--it's about the experience. It's about experiencing the phenomena that was the Rock and Roll lifestyle, through music, memorabilia, cuisine and just overall ambiance of the cafe/restaurant itself. In some cases, memorabilia is location specific in terms of popular musicians in that location, which does make that hard Rock unique and connected to its location, but there is also general rock and roll memorabilia that rotates between different places. I know that when I visited the Hard Rock in Times Square NYC this summer, that there was alot of Red Hot Chili Peppers memorabilia mixed in with Beatles memorabilia. So it is unique in that fact that there is a wide variety of popular musician memorabilia.
ReplyDeleteThe Hard Rock was definitely thought of and designed to create a unique experience that you really can't get in many other places. Personally, I love Hard Rock Cafes!! I highly recommend the one in San Antonio and NYC.