Do you have what it takes?

I get this question fall of the time and it kills me that this misconstrued perception stops people from ever becoming a mobile bartender!

How much experience do you really need?

Time and time again I have had bartenders tell me that they do not have enough experience to do what I do!!

WHAT?! That is Loco! Each and every one of my bartenders that works for me, had ZERO bartending/serving experience before they started.

I trained each and every one of them in one afternoon. They had some drink recipes to memorize as well as a few other crucial elements, but every single one of my bartenders already had one key ingredient that made every host and customer LOVE them after their very first event.

They are personable!

When it is 12:30am and you are drunk, does it really matter if the bartender makes the best Dirty Martini in the world? He has been making you laugh all night and taking extra special care of you to make sure you feel like a king!

So…when I get that question, “How much experience do I need to start mobile bartending?” the answer is

NONE!

The Bartend-4-Profit System even includes a Bartender Crash Course which teaches you everything you would ever need to know to become the best damn mobile bartender!

Think about it! At a bar or restaurant, bartenders are forced to memorize specialty drinks, make blended cocktails, work a POS, serve food, restock everything, change kegs, and handle money! That is hard work!

At a private party, you can get paid WAY more to poor beer and wine and a few basic cocktails all night. No cash, no credit cards, no restocking, and no complaining customers!

It is so easy you have no idea! I love my job!

Actually, the only tricky (yet fun) part comes in your marketing. How can you book more gigs, charge more money, and pick the best clients & parties?! Oh! Don’t worry I teach you all of that!

For now, take a look at your current situation. Is the only thing holding you back from becoming a mobile bartender the fact that you feel you are not “qualified?” If you’ve learned anything from me, you will know that that is crazy!

Some Tips on Self-Teaching:

If you want to jump right into Mobile Bartending, but do not have the “bartending experience” or you havn’t purchased The Bartend-4-Profit System yet, here are some great tips on how to teach yourself how to bartend!!

• Don’t waste your money on bartending schools!
• Frequent bar & restaurants during peek hours and WATCH!!
• Come back to these bartenders when they are NOT busy and ask as many questions as possible!
• Pick up a drink recipe book and start learning the POPULAR drinks only! A few martini-style drinks, simple built ones, and any other one that sounds familiar
• Practice at home with old vodka bottles filled with water (get speed pourers)
• Practice with the REAL THING and enjoy! I your cocktails are too strong/weak, adjust!

That’s about it! Learn how to open beer and wine, and you are ready to start bartending private parties and events!! Now get your butt out there and start making some money!

Lessons Learned While Drunk

As you may or may not know, I was in Texas this past weekend for one of my good friend’s weddings. It was really great to be on the OTHER side of the bar for a change and drink heavily and enjoy good company!

Well, one of the benefits of stepping outside of your bartending position and putting yourself into the shoes of your customer, is you get a REAL feel for what defines a GOOD Bartender. Well in this case, I was easily able to identify what defines a BAD bartender.

Why this Bartender Sucked MORE than “Meet The Spartans”

Excuse the obscure movie reference, I can rant about my disdain for that film in another post, but none of the groomsmen and I liked this bartender one bit! Ya he was old, creepy looking, and lacked any real personality or energy (everything that a bartender should have) but here is where he sent me over the edge:

My buddy Drew and I walk up for our 3rd Margarita in less than the first thirty minutes of the ceremony (in my defense, it was hot, I was thirsty, I like tequila…what?!) and here is what our friendly, neighborhood bartender said to us:

“Alright boys, you’re on the clock” (As he handed us number three)

I exchanged glances with my drinking buddy and decided I wasn’t going to just walk away from this one with a curtesy smile.

“I’m sorry…what clock would that be?” (Ya, I’m a sarcastic drunk)

Well, the bartender proceeded to tell us how he had noticed that we had been drinking rather quickly and that we were on his “watch list” (wtf?). If we kept drinking at this rate, he would have to “cut us off” WOW! The three words that NO patron ever wants to hear…and he just went there! Oh Snap!

Ok, ok, so even though I was proud that someone had taken notice of my drinking talents, I was still perturbed by his comments…thus he was labeled by me and Drew (and all the groomsmen) as a BAD BARTENDER.

So, What Should you NEVER do?

Before this post looks more like a big whiny complaint from a guy who actually had an amazing night (I later bypassed the whole bartender thing and found my own bottle of tequila, it never left my hand…”classy!”) there is something of value here that I want to share with you….really…

Do not condescend your patrons and convey your opinions of their drinking habits to them-especially in the first 30 minutes of the party! You are the LIFE of the party-not the DEATH of it! Now don’t get me wrong, “cutting someone off” is serious business and when it needs to be done, only a select few bartenders can effectively do it without any confrontations. And when it needs to be done, it should NOT be avoided by any means. BUT, for someone to warn you, and threaten to cut you off is GRATUITY SUICIDE!

In short, if you say “I’m going to cut you off,” you better just go ahead do it right then and there!

More NO-NO’s

Well, while we are on it, here are a few more things that a GREAT Bartender should never, ever do. Most are quick and easy and you probably already know them! I would LOVE to hear your comments, please feel free t add to the list!!

• Never Count your Tips in front of Guests
• Never turn your back to a guest while making his/her cocktail
• Never chew gum/eat food while working (I didn’t say drink!!!)
• Never leave your bar a mess-I hate that!
• Never use the glass to scoop the ice!
• Never arrive un-groomed and untidy
• Never talk politics or religion
• Never bring your baggage/BS Drama to work
• Never be the DEATH of a Good Party!

…I dunno, that’s all I got for now, anybody else?

Hope you enjoyed the post…cheers!

James Wedmore
www.BartenderforProfit.com

YES! As a private party bartender working at different events, weddings, birthdays, etc, a portable bar is a great perk for your clients, but it can also make you a lot more money! It shows that you are professional and prepared, plus you can charge your clients more for using one!

In this video, I describe 2 of the portable bars that I use on a weekly basis. You need to decide what is the right bar for you based on determining factors such as your budget and vehicle capacity (car or truck?). I created a detailed list of different portable bars and how to obtain them in a budget range of $100-$2,500. All of this is located in The Bartend-4-Profit System Home Study Course.

Sure you can still bartend without a bar, but watch what happens when you get one! You will see the difference in your tips, your base pay, the way your clients treat you, and the level at which you perform. I hope you find this post helpful and informative.

Build Your Own Bar at www.barplan.com

Oh No! He’s Rambling Again!

This weekend I enjoyed the beautiful Summer Sun at Hotel & Casino Morongo in California as I celebrated one of my good friend’s bachelor party. Needless to say, I drank too much! But there was a point in the night where I got really philosophical…you know that drunken state: you analyze and question everything and give new perspective and meaning to mundane things…ya well I go there often!

Well, when it came time to pay my bartender (BTW: it was GREAT being on the other side of the bar for a change!!) I made sure he was taken care of…I mean REALLY taken care of!! WHY?!

Why is it that the best tippers are those that have had experience in the service industry where they had to survive on the gratuities left by others? There are lots of reasons of course: there is a mutual understanding as well as a deeper appreciation for the work that goes into a server or bartender’s daily routine, but I’ve got a new reason…

Why YOU should take care of your BARTENDER!

Ok, maybe I was drunk and having a great time, but I came up with a little something I like to call KARMA TIPPING! It’s the whole principle of “Give and You Shall Receive!” I know you are familiar with it in every other situation, by why not tipping? In a nutshell:

Tip Well and Take Care of Your Bartender, and it will come back around tenfold!

I Don’t Believe That James! You’re Crazy!

You’re right, I am crazy! But I would like to believe that if I take care of my bartender, I will be taken care of by my future customers! And at the very least, I do feel good when I have been rather “generous” at the end of the night.

But don’t get me wrong…your bartender/server must deserve the tip you are giving them. Poor service begets poor tips (and vice versa!)

So Today’s Lesson (I’ve Got Two!)

1. The obvious one: When you go out, tip well! Do it because it feels good and because you expect to be treated the same way. But remember, when you are going out, you are not trying to save money, you are looking to be entertained…that costs money! If you want to SAVE: stay home and buy a 6 pack!!

2. Ok, here is another great lesson…as a bartender, you always strive on improving your “skill.” (whatever that means!) But either way, people label bartenders as “good” or “bad” and you NEVER want the latter! So, if you are working in a bar 4-6 nights a week, or performing private events every weekend, it is always great to take a step back for a moment and sit in your customers shoes (alternate: “…or sit on your customers stool”) In other words, make sure you are going out! What do YOUR bartenders do that you enjoy, and more importantly, what do they do that pisses you off?! What can you bring back to your bartending “skill-set” so you can worry less about being “bad” and concentrate more on being the best!

See! I Told You!

If I weren’t so hungover, you’d think I were drunk…because this is what happens when alcohol touches these lips: I get all deep and analytical. I’m like a drunk Buddha! Anyway, take if for what its worth, but consider both of my lessons and ALWAYS strive to be the BEST!

To your Bartending Success,

James Wedmore
Bartend-4-Profit
www.BartenderforProfit.com