How to hire a bartender for your next event.
Seven tips on what you need to know & what you should ask when searching for the right bartender for your big event.
Hire a professional.
Whether you are planning for a corporate mixer, a launch party, or your wedding day - having a professional bartender at your next event is a must! Not only will having an experienced mixologist at your event elevate your guest’s experience, but since Covid-19, ensuring everyone is safe especially around food and drinks is a huge priority. With a professional bartender at your event, you can rest assured that they can keep things clean and organized!
Check with your venue.
If you are booking a venue to host your event, double check with them if they have any rules or restrictions. Some venues only work with specific vendors or will only allow you to use their vendor. Every place has their own rules and you should know what they are before you book with your bartender.
Be ready to answer questions about your event.
When you are shopping around for the right bartending service, be sure to have some answers ready. Some standard questions you may be asked are:
What is your guest count?
What are you planning to serve?
What type of event are you hosting? (wedding, launch party, etc.)
How long is your event?
Do you have any special requests?
Ask questions.
The consultation is all about making sure you are a right fit for each other! So be ready to ask some questions. Feel free to ask about anything that is important to you. Here are a few suggestions of things that are good to know to get you started:
Do they have liquor liability insurance?
Do they charge by the hour? Or a flat fee?
What is included in the fee?
Ask about glassware. (See below)
What will you (as the host) need to provide?
How do you reserve the date with them?
What types of drinks do they suggest you serve?
Will they have a tip jar out?
Glassware.
Some vendors have their own glassware that they will use during the event, others use disposable cups. Depending on what you want or expect for your event, this should be a question you ask during your initial consultation. Just because a vendor doesn’t offer their own glassware, doesn’t mean you can’t use them! The vendor should be able to refer you to a local company that you will be able to rent the glassware of your choice.
Determine how much alcohol you will need.
Your bar professional will be able to help guide you with this part, but you know your crowd best. A good base to start with is 1-2 drinks per person, per hour. It is a good idea to consult with your bar professional, as a lot of factors can come into play as far as heavy or light drinkers, the type of event, what is being served.
Remember: It is always better to have some left over, than running out during your event! Some liquor stores will allow you to return unopened bottles for events, so check with the store ahead of time.
Compare Quotes
I recommend collecting a few quotes. Not only to compare prices, but you can gather a good sense of how your experience will be when working with the bar service you are going to hire just through the initial interactions with them. Remember, it is all about making sure you are hiring the right fit. The professional you hire is there to make your life easier!
You should feel confident when booking your professional bartender at your event. At Bar Coco, we strive to provide the absolute best service from our first phone call to your event’s last call. Feel free to check out our bar packages to get an idea of what a company offers, what is included in each package, so you have a better idea of what to expect when searching for your perfect fit bartending professional.
Here is an example of our bar packages, what is included, and what to expect.
