Note: This article was written for Mobile Bartenders-those who choose the adventurous lifestyle of working at private parties as a Bartending Business Owner!  I have made over $950.00 in tips just from one New Year’s party, and that did not include the commissions I made from other parties I booked that night.  The following article will tell you a few tricks on just exactly how I did that.

The Craziest Night of The Year:

Welcome to New Year’s Eve!  It is no question that more people party of New Year’s Eve than on any night of the year…AND the party harder than ever before!  What does this mean for you as a Mobile Bartender?  Well, if you play your cards right: more work & more money!

As Demand Increases, So Does Our Rate:

Remember High School Econ’s Supply & Demand Curve?  The MORE people want a product or service(demand), the more the market is willing to pay for it (the price increases!).  That means good news for YOU!  New Year’s Eve is the one night of the year where you can double-or triple your bartending rates and people will easily pay them!  WHY?! Two Reasons:

1. People want the BEST Party ever & are willing to pay for the best help!
2. It is NOT easy to find a bartender who is willing to work on New Year’s Eve!

How Much Will You Charge?

You probably became a bartender because you love the nightlife!  That means it may be hard for you to pull yourself away from the biggest party night of the year so you can “work.” (Like this is actually work, right?!)  Well, putting that into the equation, that should make it easier for you to charge $250-450.00 JUST to show up for five hours!  Because what’s the worst that could happen?  You DON’T book a gig and you end up having a great time with family & friends!

Bottom Line: Do NOT be afraid to charge double/triple your standard rate for New Year’s eve!

A Tip on Tips:

If your host is shoveling out +$300 just to have you pour a few drinks, they might get a little stingy on a tip at the end of the night (uh-oh…problem!)  So…I always REQUIRE a tip jar on the bar for my New Year’s parties! If the client says no, you have two options:  a) Say goodbye; b) Pass it off to another bartender

What About Extra Bartenders?!

Whether or not your business has grown to accommodate additional bartenders, THIS is the night to start thinking about additional bartenders…because you will have more than one client calling you for this night!  And remember, we can’t be in two places at once (duh!) And we don’t want to just trade time for dollars, right?!  What if we could get paid an extra $100 just for booking one of your friends?!  Now multiply that a few times and New Year’s is starting to look pretty good, yes?!

Attracting High-Paying Clients:

A lot of my New Year’s parties come from past clients and referrals which is great.  If you have been private party bartending at LEAST 6 months, you will start to see the “Word-of-Mouth” take effect.  BUT I also get clients from my advertising efforts.  How do I advertise?!  Well…I have a few secrets, but GOOGLE is the big one!  Your client will type in “Los Angeles Bartender” and click the first result they find in Google!  Is that result you?!  It should be!  Do you even have a website?!  You better, it’s a MUST!

When clients call, I always let them no we are in high demand for New Year’s, if they try and hang up to “think about it,” you have lost them!  Let them know the spot will probably be filled because you get several calls a day or week for bartenders!  Get them to say “YES!” now, before you are SOLD OUT!

A Final Thought:

Yes, you have the potential to make a TON of cash on New Year’s if you play your cards right!  But what any bartender will tell you is this: don’t worry about the money/tips while you are actually bartending…focus on giving excellent service!  People are at this party to have the most incredible night of their lives…GIVE IT TO THEM!  (…they may just compensate ya for that!)

Be safe, make some money & have fun this New Year’s eve!

Cheers,

James Wedmore

This is a very late post, and New Year’s Eve is QUICKLY upon us! If you are a Mobile Bartender, I hope you have booked a gig for New Year’s! This final day of the year is the ULTIMATE celebration for both you and your guests, and you are Guaranteed to make a TON of MONEY if you plan your night correctly! Below is a quick list of tips and tricks that my bartenders and I use at our New Year’s Events to insure success!

1. Dress-Up! It’s New Year’s! Dress up and look great. I always like to add a silly hat or glasses to my attire to help get in the mood and show everyone that I am the “Life of the Party.” Everyone else will be in the mood to party like there is no tomorrow, so be prepared to do the same! Wear something, beads, “2009 Glasses” or a crazy hat to show you are ready for a great night!

2. Bring Props! Add a little flair to the night with some noise-makers, poppers and other do-dads! Keep some for yourself, but share the love and pass them out to eager guests. When that clock strikes Midnight, it will be THAT much more fun to have everyone using your toys and gizmos and even the host will appreciate it! (More Tips)

3. CHARGE DOUBLE: This is my most important tip! You must charge AT LEAST double your normal rate for New Year’s Eve..your reasoning: “It’s New Year’s!” No one wants to work on this night unless it is really worth it! So make the price you charge high enough so there are no regrets! And don’t forget gratuity!

4. The Tip Jar: No one is found at home doing nothing for New Year’s, so chances are, you will have MORE guests at your event than most other parties throughout the year. Imagine if everyone in the room of a 100 guest party just gave you $2.00 a piece. Not bad, right! Well, get that Tip Jar out on your bar and make it visible to everyone. For New Year’s this year, I found a GIGANTIC glass Champagne Glass that will be just PERFECT for my Tip Jar. Having a Tip Jar this New Year’s is a MUST and make sure you dress it up so guests have FUN giving you money!

5. Champagne anyone? New Year’s Eve is all about celebration! 2008 is gone, and 2009 is upon us! And what better way to celebrate than with a full glass of bubbly! No matter what, make sure you host is supplying champagne for their party! Imagine being the bartender at a New Year’s party that DOESN’T carry champagne! BONUS: Why not add a few other Champagne drink options to the menu like Mimosa, Kir Royal, etc.

6. The New Year’s Kiss: Great conversation always leads to great tips. Ask your guests if they have that special someone to kiss when the clock strikes midnight or what their New Year’s Resolution is. Who knows, you just might find yourself kissing a guest at Midnight too!

7. Just Have Fun: As a Mobile Bartender, sometimes we get stuck at uptight, stuffy parties where the liquor is NOT flowing, and the guests are NOT having fun. A New Year’s Eve party is ALWAYS the exception. Be prepared for guests bringing their “A Game” and their “Party Hats!” So have fun, relax, drink a little, and enjoy your New Year’s!!