Every single one of these tools is strongly recommended for event bartenders. During the event, it is all in the hands of the bartender to craft fast, delicious, and beautiful beverages. It is their way of entertainment. The guests get amused by the bartender’s talent of how they craft individual cocktails, and how many flavors of cocktails they can make.
Event bartenders are like a walking mobile bar. Being a mobile bartender requires you to care for and carry around all essential bar tools. There might be 20-30 different types of equipment.
Keep it in mind, event bartenders are not the same as a bartender from restaurants or local bars.
Below we will mention all the common tools that an event bartender should have and how they should carry. The tools mentioned are strongly recommended but not limited.
What event bartenders should have bar equipments:
- Big clear container โ the container should be able to store and organize all of your equipment. A clear container required to allow visibility of all equipment. This will ensure that you are not missing anything when you are in a rush to an event.
It may sound absurd, but it will also prevent any false accusations by the host or their guests towards bartenders.
Recommended size: 72qt/18-20 gallon
- 2-3 Shakers – Cocktail shakers are used to chill the beverage being served and for mixing the content well. Since many different cocktails will be served in an event (Sour, sweet, spicy, milky, etc) at least 2-3 cocktail shakers are recommended to not change the flavors of specific cocktails. Also, you donโt need to wash the shakers all the time because in most cases event bartenders do not have access to a sink.
Learn more about Boston Shakers
- 2-3 Strainer โ Strainers are used to separate the shaken beverage from the ice.ย Since many different cocktails will be served in an event (Sour, sweet, spicy, milky, etc) at least 2 strainers are required to not change the flavors of specific cocktails.
Learn more about Hawthorne Strainers
- 2-3 Jiggers โ Jiggers are used to measure the ingredients properly. Since many ingredients will be used throughout the event at least 2 jiggers are required.
Learn more about Jiggers
- 20 to 30 Pour Spouts โ Pour Spouts are needed to place on liquor bottles or other bottleneck bottles. It helps to make pouring easier while making cocktails. Since many liquors and ingredients will be used, 20 to 30 pour spouts are required.
Learn more about Pour Spouts
- 5 to 6 Juice Pourers โ Juice pourers are used to fill up juices to make it convenient for the bartenders to place in their speed rails. Juice Pourers can be bottleneck bottles, clear juice carafes, or any other type of bottles that can be used conveniently and professionally while bartending. 5 to 6 will be required due to the different juices that will be provided.
Learn more about Juice pourersย
- 2 Small Bar Knives โ Knives are used to cut and prepare garnishes. Since a variety of garnishes may be provided (for example, spicy, citrus, sweet), two knives are required to not change the flavors of the fruits.
Learn more about Bar Knives
- Fruit twist knife – This tool will help you to nicely and efficiently achieve citrus peels.
Learn more about Fruit Twist knife
- ย Cutting Board โ Cutting board is required to cut garnishes on a clean, sturdy surface such as a board/mat and to avoid a mess on the bar. If you are using a cutting board to cut spicy types of garnishes, and you also have to cut something sweet it is best to have 2 different boards or as an alternative, it can be flipped to use the other side of the board.
- Learn more about Cutting Board
- Rimmer โ A rimmer is used to rim glasses with salt, sugar, tajin, or any other type.
Learn more about Rimmers
- 2 Bar Spoons โ Bar spoons are used to stir cocktails or mix ingredients in the glass. Since many ingredients will be used it is required to have at least two bar spoons to not change the flavors of the cocktails.
Learn more about Bar spoonsย
- 2 Muddlers โ Muddlers are used for smashing fruit and other ingredients together. Since many ingredients will be used it is required to have at least two muddlers to not change the flavors of the cocktails.
Learn more about Muddlerย
- 1 wine & 1 bottle openers โ Wine openers are used to unscrew corks out of wine bottles. Wine openers can sometimes be fragile therefore, it is best to take a spare in case it breaks during the event. Bottle openers are used to open beer bottles and puncture/open cans. Usually, they are very sturdy therefore, one bottle opener is recommended. Please note that many wine openers are also bottle openers.
Learn more about Wine & Bottle Openers
- 2-3 Spill Mats โ (2 count of 18×24 is the best option for a standard bar, however, if smaller than that size have more than 2 mats) Spill mats areย helpfulย for catching liquid drips while making and serving drinks.
Learn more about Spill Matsย
- Cocktail Blender with Two Cups โ A blender is ideal for making blended cocktails, or slushie beverages. It is best to have a small blender with 2 blender cups in case you are to blend multiple types of cocktails.
- 1 Ice Shovel โ An ice shovel is used to scoop ice from your ice container. Use sturdy shovel. *Using a plastic or glass cup to scoop ice is unacceptable due to hazardous risk.
Learn more about Ice Shovel
- 1 Tip Jar and Money Bagโ A tip jar/vase is used to collect gratuity from guests. A money bag is helpful to collect the tip money when you want to empty the tip jar to make space for more tips. Please note when people notice your tip jar is full, they tend to give fewer tips away.
- Bucket for rinsing toolsโ This type of bucket is used for rinsing out your tools throughout the event. Sometimes you may not have access to a nearby sink and it is convenient to have a bucket/container filled with water to clean your tools.
- Container/bucket for ice – This type of bucket is for keeping the ice used to make cocktails near the bar area in case the freezer, or stored ice is far away.
- Garnish Trays/ Garnish Jarsโ A garnish tray or jars are used to display cut fruit for garnishing beverages. It will keep your fruits organized and presentable for guests to see. At least 4 to 5 jars, or garnish stray slots will need.
Learn more about Garnish Trays/Garnish Jarsย ย
- Garnish Tongsโ These types of tongs are used for picking up garnishes. At least 4 to 5 will need to match the same amount of garnish jars/tray slots.
- Straw/Napkin Holderโ A straw/napkin holder also commonly known as a bar caddy is used to display napkins and straws for guests to grab for their beverages.
Learn more about Straw/Napkin Holder
- Rags/Paper towels โ Rags and paper towels are used to dry up spills, dry your equipment, ย or for anything that needs to be quickly cleaned up. It is very important and useful to have, especially since you are constantly working with liquids. At Least 1 roll of paper towels or 3 to 4 rags will need.
Every event takes place in different locations. Every Time you have a different bar, or just a table to work with. Sometimes, you will only use 25% of the tools, sometimes 50%, or sometimes 100% of the tools. It will depend on the event. Having all these tools makes you professionally prepared to handle any event.
F.A.Q Section about event tools
Usually, event bartenders work at private events where no sinks or indoor facilities will be available to them. Therefore, it is important to carry all of the essential tools plus some extra in case one gets too dirty or breaks while on the job.
A storage container is big enough and deep enough to store all the equipment nicely. You can keep them nicely organized in the container and have them ready to go when you leave to go bartend. It should be a clear container because the host and guests will be able to see through and have a clear mind that the bartender is not taking something that belongs to them. For example, if the host supplies the bar with very expensive liquors, they will not wrongly accuse the bartender of taking any of their alcoholic beverages after the event.
On average it should cost from $200 to $600 to purchase all bar equipment. Price will vary depending on the quality and brands of products you choose to purchase.
ย Hygienic things to have:
Bar equipment is important to have for a mobile bartender. However, it does not end with that only. There are other things to have for hygienic and safe measurements.
Trash bags โย You never know if a host will be providing a trash bag. If you have your own just in case. It will benefit you. Plus, the host will appreciate it. Also, the trash bag can be useful to put your used tools into a trash bag to not get your container dirty and wash them when you have time at your home.
Sanitizer Wipes โ Have some sanitizer wipes. These types of wipes are very convenient to have to clean up and sanitize quickly.
Hand sanitizer โ wipes are good to clean surfaces but sanitizer is good to quickly clean your hands. Also, you can display the hand sanitizer on the bar for the host and guests to use. It will let them know that you are a clean bartender.
Gloves โ Hand sanitizer is good. However, it will not fully clean your hands. Gloves are convenient to keep your hands clean and guests will love to see that you are mindful enough to wear gloves while serving.
First Aid kit โ You never know, you might cut, or burn yourself. People you are working with might have their first aid kit. However, do not count on it. It will be easier if you have your own to quickly take care of your needs.
Suggestion:
Other products to have while bartending
Your talent can determine by how many tips will receive. A bartender crafts beautiful cocktails, a mixologist makes unique cocktails. That uniqueness will determine the person behind the bar.
Try experimenting with some dry or fresh herbs. Use some unique tools, for example, spray bitters. All of those fancy herbs and tools can make a difference between a mixologist from just a bartender.
โSurprise meโ cocktail
There will always be guests that will want something different from others. They call it โsurprise meโ. If ย guests ask you to make a โsurprise meโ you better do it. That is your time to shine. That will determine total gratuity by the end of the event.
To sum up
Event bartending can be hard due to carrying a lot of tools with you. To carry all the tools may require vehicle transportation. Plus, there will be a lot of dishes to wash after the event.
Is it worth doing it? Our response is yes! Event bartenders tend to make 3 to 5 times more tips than a regular bartender at the restaurant or local bar.
Most event bar services are open bars. Everything needed will be provided by the host or bartending company that you will be working for. All the event bartender will have to do is impress the guests with their creative cocktails.
The bartender does not have to do any transaction charges or cash bar. Therefore, people get everything for free and they tend to be more generous to the bartender.
Also, event bartending can be some sort of adventure. Almost every event will be taking place in different locations. People tend to get tired from sameness, but not with event bartending.
