VIDEO POST: The Logo Contest WINNER!

Yay! We have a winner for the Business Logo Contest! Watch the video below to see if you were the winner!

Also, the video is very informative in terms of how to create your professional bartending business logo!

Enjoy!

A Bartender Anomaly: How could this happen?

There is 1 and a half hours left of my birthday and I have taken the ENTIRE week off to celebrate, reflect and relax…

…but the strangest thing happened while on this hiatus of mine…

On September 18th, I loaded a VIDEO to Metacafe of me fooling around doing some “flair” and magic (NO! I am neither a flair bartender nor a magician!) anyway, I hadn’t checked it until Today(Sept 24th), and guess what…

…I had OVER 19,000 views!

Think about that for a second, in less than 6 days, I had close to 3,200 people A DAY watch my 36 second little video!! Crazy huh?

How did this happen?!

I have really have NO IDEA how this many people could have seen my video soo quickly!! I am so stoked right now! So…I might as well keep that number growing, right? You can click the link below, or watch the video on this page:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1756105/learn_flair_bar_magic_increse_your_tips/

Learn Flair & Bar Magic Increse Your Tips! - Watch the top videos of the week here

Frankly, I think this video shows that I simply have TOO MUCH time on my hands! (Haha!)

Help Me Out!

So, I would LOVE to see this video hit 25,000 hits, that would kick ass! If you click he link above, it will take you to Metacafe to view the video. PLEASE help me out and do so!! You know what would be even better, throwing in a comment (like how I have funny facial expressions whenever I toss a bottle) or BOOKMARK the page on Digg (DIGG IT!)

Thank you so much for the support I really, REALLY appreciate it! You guys rock!

Dedicated to Getting ya drunk,

James Wedmore
Bloggin’ Bartender

P.S. Check the video out here: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1756105/learn_flair_bar_magic_increse_your_tips/

The 80/20 Rule & Bartending

Have you ever heard of the 80/20 Rule? Also known as Pareto Principle, or the Law of a Vital Few, it states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. This simple, yet powerful Rule can apply to almost every aspect of your life. Today we are going to apply it to Bartending.

80/20 Bartending

This takes me back to last Saturday night’s bartending gig at a clients home. The event was actually a charity auction that took place on their tennis court. (Yes, they had a tennis court and a HUGE home!) Over 200 guests showed up to get drunk and bid on some ridiculous stuff-one LIVE auction item included Mike Eisner’s old Mighty Ducks Box seats and another was an Andy Warhol original.

I had a tip jar out and I was working my butt of to keep these thirsty guests happy. I was “in the zone” as I like to call it. Just as you finish pouring those last cocktails, another guest has given you a big order. You just have enough time to wipe your brow, clean your shaker and keep moving! The music is blasting behind you and everyone gathers to watch your hands move like lightening. I love it!

The tips were coming in pretty steady, but nothing to be too excited about. I would say every other guest put in a dollar or two guaranteeing me a $100-200 for the night (not bad, right!) Well…then something happened!

80% of Your Income comes from 20% of your Clients

The 80/20 was in Full Effect! A gentleman came to the bar who I had been serving all night. This was his 4th glass of Chardonnay for the evening and he opened up his wallet to dig for a tip.

“Looks like this is your lucky night,” the patron said as he dropped a Fat Hundy ($100 dollar Bill) into my bar! Lucky night, indeed!! I was stoked!

But wait, it gets better…

Two minutes later another gentleman comes up to the bar. He actually asked, “How you doing on tips tonight?” as he peered into my jar. That’s when his eyes caught sight of the $100 bill! “100! Mike (name’s have been changed) gave you this, didn’t he?!”

“Yep!” I said.

“Well, I can’t let Mike show me up like that.” This guy whipped out his wallet and threw in another hundred dollar bill!! WOOHOO! $200 in less than 5 minutes!

The Lesson Here:

So Why am I telling you this? If you think it’s to brag about how much money I make…you are Dead Wrong!! It is the 80/20 Rule. 80% of my tips came from 20% of my customers (or just 2 guests!) Every other guest there didn’t tip over a dollar or two, but these two guys happened to give me a combined total of $200! The 80/20 Rule is all around you in every aspect of your life, you just need to be aware of it!

So…next time you are bartending, keep in mind, there are a few potential guests out there who will make the different between an “average night” and a fantastically-successfull evening!” Keep an eye out for these individuals. They are your VIP’s!

VIP Hunting: Finding that 20%

VIPS are extroverted, wealthy drinkers. They usually are males with loud, tacky shirts (this is just from my personal experience). They frequent the bar often and want to know your name. The VIP of the party is THAT guy who would be the FIRST one to jump in behind the bar if you were to suddenly vanish or something. The VIP of the party is an ALPHA MALE. Treat him so.

If you want to get on the good side of a VIP, treat him (or her-sometimes) like royalty! Make their drink EXACTLY how they want it with plenty of liquor. They are the life of the party, help propel them even more so! Use their name often, point them out in the crowd, and become their best friend!

One Final Thing…

I first learned of the 80/20 Rule in Tim Ferris’ book The 4-Hour WorkWeek. I LOVE that book and have read it 3 times! I highly, recommend you pick up a copy and read through it. I only bartend a few gigs a week, so I have the 12 hour work week, not four…but I’m working on it!

Bartender Interview: Miss Cheryl Charming

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years, then you have undoubtedly heard of Miss Cheryl Charming, a celebrity bartender, author, webmaster and host of the Annual Cocktail Film Fest. I was fortunate enough to sit down and have a one-on-one Interview with Cheryl herself.

Cheryl Charming
(aka: The “Martha Stewart” of Modern cocktail Culture)
Experience: 28 Years in the Food & Bev. Industry
Books (9 Total): including, Miss Charming’s Guide for Hip Bartenders and Wayout Wannabes, & The Everything Bartender’s Book
Coming Soon: Knack Bartending Basics: More than 400 Classic & Contemporary Drinks for any Occasion
Websites: www.MissCharming.com / www.CharmingResumes.com

A Great Interview:

You can imagine that 28 years of experience behind the bar can make you an expert in your field. Miss Charming is no exception. In just a short hour, we discussed some great topics ranging from How to Get the Bartending Job of Your Dreams, Great Stories, Lucrative & Popular Bar Tricks, and how to become a Successful Bartender and so much more!

It was such an honor to speak with her and in such a short time, she shared so much valuable information that I know will make me a better bartender, and I hope it will make my listeners better bartenders as well!

James, How can I listen to this Interview?

Well…great question! I did record the entire interview and I am including it FREE as a Bonus to my NEWEST product: Tip Attraction: The Definitive Resource for Increasing your Tips and Becoming the Life of the Party which is LAUNCHING in just a few short days!! Check it out at www.TipAttraction.com.

Visit www.TipAttraction.com for more info!

For those of you who sign up and submit your e-mail address, you will get your copy of Tip Attraction at 50% off with ALL THE BONUSES! (yay!) And don’t worry, I will send everyone an e-mail letting them know when Tip Attraction is finally available to the public!

I will have TONS more to report in just a few short days so check back soon!

Cheers,

James Wedmore
www.Bartend4Profit.com

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