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I know this works - it's the same reason restaurants fill window tables first - but I've never really understood why this motivates people: a huge queue is, wit

I know this works - it's the same reason restaurants fill window tables first - but I've never really understood why this motivates people: a huge queue is, without fail, a massive turn-off for me. I suppose popularity is interpreted as a signal of quality/excitement but, to me at any rate, it's usually a signal of boredom and frustration. It works better with restaurants: I mean I want to see there's somebody in there eating the food but if it looks too busy, I'm out.

athenot 8y ago
I understand the feeling and mostly share it. But if you are wise about that, would I be mistaken in assuming you are also wise with your spending? Perhaps wiser than what the restaurant owners desire. Therefore it's probably in their best (financial) interest to select for those who will look for popularity and happily blow away money on high-margin items on the menu.
- ljf 8y ago
  I used to notice this in shops too, as a teenager. We had a sort alternative mini shopping zone, like a slightly upscale indoor market. As soon as me and a couple of guys went into any empty stall, within a couple of minutes other people would crowd in too. We'd then pick somewhere else and watch the same thing happen. Always amused us.
wlll 8y ago
You're talking about Social Proof: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_proof https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_proof
saiya-jin 8y ago
My own opinion - this comes down to sheepish mentality of majority of the people, maybe combined with rather extrovert personality. Many people want to be told what to wear, what to listen to and watch, and generally what is popular and 'in'. These people feel great in the crowd, so what is better than seeing a big crowd already trying to get to some bar? They can't be all wrong, right? I am same as you, too many people put me off(not afraid of the crowds in any way, it just means loud subpar experience). And I agree that totally empty places feel a bit weird (that's probably a tiny sheep in me)
- dhimes 8y ago
  Could it be linked to the "Fear Of Missing Out" as well?
empath75 8y ago
People go to nightclubs to hook up. They want to know that there are going to be lots of options before paying a cover. I used to do event promotion and in a real sense the crowd is the product, not the music or the drinks or anything else. What you work really hard at is cultivating a loyal audience who will show up week after week no matter who you book, and who know how to dance and bring energy in with them. Clubbing is about people more than anything else.
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tracker1 8y ago
I have a general rule with restaurants, I won't wait an hour to just be seated... I don't feel that any restaurant is worth that. In general, I'd rather go to #2 or #3 on the list and get in faster. It just depends. It's kind of like when you get middle of the road food, but the price is right, and you get in and out fast for lunch. My time has value... often more than the price of the restaurant.

athenot 8y ago

I understand the feeling and mostly share it. But if you are wise about that, would I be mistaken in assuming you are also wise with your spending? Perhaps wiser than what the restaurant owners desire. Therefore it's probably in their best (financial) interest to select for those who will look for popularity and happily blow away money on high-margin items on the menu.

ljf 8y ago
I used to notice this in shops too, as a teenager. We had a sort alternative mini shopping zone, like a slightly upscale indoor market. As soon as me and a couple of guys went into any empty stall, within a couple of minutes other people would crowd in too. We'd then pick somewhere else and watch the same thing happen. Always amused us.

wlll 8y ago

You're talking about Social Proof: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_proof https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_proof

saiya-jin 8y ago

My own opinion - this comes down to sheepish mentality of majority of the people, maybe combined with rather extrovert personality. Many people want to be told what to wear, what to listen to and watch, and generally what is popular and 'in'. These people feel great in the crowd, so what is better than seeing a big crowd already trying to get to some bar? They can't be all wrong, right? I am same as you, too many people put me off(not afraid of the crowds in any way, it just means loud subpar experience). And I agree that totally empty places feel a bit weird (that's probably a tiny sheep in me)

dhimes 8y ago
Could it be linked to the "Fear Of Missing Out" as well?

empath75 8y ago

People go to nightclubs to hook up. They want to know that there are going to be lots of options before paying a cover. I used to do event promotion and in a real sense the crowd is the product, not the music or the drinks or anything else. What you work really hard at is cultivating a loyal audience who will show up week after week no matter who you book, and who know how to dance and bring energy in with them. Clubbing is about people more than anything else.

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tracker1 8y ago

I have a general rule with restaurants, I won't wait an hour to just be seated... I don't feel that any restaurant is worth that. In general, I'd rather go to #2 or #3 on the list and get in faster. It just depends. It's kind of like when you get middle of the road food, but the price is right, and you get in and out fast for lunch. My time has value... often more than the price of the restaurant.