Parties usually start off a bit awkward. Guests will slowly trickle in and it takes about two hours for everybody to get acclimated. First they greet the host/hostess and engage in small talk. Then they approach the bar and timidly order their first round for the evening. It’s usually during the third hour or after the fourth round, that the party FINALLY gets started. An average party lasts 4-6 hours which means the guests are only having fun during the last few hours. What a waste!

Ambassador of Fun, enter stage right.

It is your duty to usher the party to a more euphoric phase by helping the guests feel at ease. First of all, don’t ever underestimate the power of a smile. When guests approach your bar, please show your pearly whites. There is nothing more annoying, and a bigger buzz kill, than a grumpy bartender. Greet every guest like they were your long lost friends and you’re insanely excited to see them. Smile and look like you’re having fun! As cliche as it sounds, a smile truly is contagious. And we all have our bad days, but the show must go on. So fake it ’til you make it!

Second, you must create an instant connection with every guest. Whether it’s a simple introduction or complimenting them on their fabulous party outfit, make sure you are not just pouring them their drink. Come on folks, we’re not robots. We’ve all been blessed with the ability to engage in social human interaction. So let’s do it!

Last, but certainly not the least, you have been armed with gallons of liquid courage. Use it! Make those

cocktails a little stiffer and the guests will surely reach their euphoric phase a lot sooner. But please pour responsibly!

Now for the real-life experience!

I had the privilege of bartending at an 80’s party this past weekend and it was awesome! I made lots of money and everyone had an amazing time! Here are some scenarios from that evening:

1) The hostess proudly introduced me to her mom at the beginning of the party. She simply said, “This is my mom!” I smiled and said, “Hi mom!” For the remainder of that evening, I always addressed her mom as “Mom”. It was so simple and they loved it! Mom started the night with a diet coke and eventually worked her way up to a shot of tequila. Her daughter told me that she’s only seen her Mom drink twice. Once at her daughter’s wedding and now! So when Mom ordered her first shot, I invited 5 other people to join her. Mom ended up taking at least 5 shots that night and she never took one alone!

2) A lady walked up to the bar and pointed to her husband who was emersed in a conversation across the room. She told me that he’s bald but decided to wear a blonde wig for the 80’s party and he was definitely enjoying all the attention his new hair do was getting. Ten minutes later, the husband approached the bar and before he even had a chance to say anything I said, “Wow! Your hair looks amazing! How often do you brush it?” A smile crept up on his face and he replied, “100 times before I go to bed.” Right then, a connection was made. Throughout the evening, the daily maintenance of his lustrous mane became an ongoing joke between myself, the bald man and his wife.

3) Fueled by Mom’s active participation during the evening’s debauchery, I created a rule: Each time someone

ordered a shot, everyone within five feet of the bar would have to take one too! By the end of the night, I was making 15 shots of kamikaze every ten minutes. The raucous cheers from the bar drew more people each time.

I walked away from this gig with $500 in my pocket! And did I mention that there were only 30 people at this

party? It just goes to show you that you don’t need a lot of people to have an amazing party. Just an amazing Ambassador of Fun!

Good luck on your next gig!

Cheers,

Dhale Bautista