How do you bartend at a private party? | Party Shakers

There are many types of events that can be requested for bartenders. Some are going to be open to the public, others will be private, some will be larger and some small. The main thing to consider is that there are certain demands that apply to all of them. In turn, some things can change in some types of events.

Bartending a private party is all about engaging in an insightful conversation with the client before you begin. There will be many steps to take into consideration. With that said, the main goal is to customize the experience for the guests.

Most rules change during private events

One of the things that bartenders notice when they are working at private events is that most rules will change. For example, if the party is private, the bartender will be more likely to receive specific instructions.

This means that bartenders for private events always have a broader set of requirements. We are going to go over those common requirements one by one to ensure that the outcome is as expected.

The drinks

The first one is that the client is likely to have a specific expected set of drinks. This means that it is very likely that the bartender is going to have a list of drinks for the event. This is very common to see at private parties.ย 

When this happens, the bartender should be the one to tell the guest what ingredients are needed. The quantity should also be calculated based on the number of guests and the length of the event.

This is going to be very important and it will help define the most basic aspect of the bartending process. Any private party that doesnโ€™t have a customized list of preferred drinks is risking supply shortage.

The general rules of engagement

The way you deal with drunk guests in general is not the same in private events. Just like the amount of drinks you can serve to a guest is not the same in private events. You should always consider consulting with the host.ย 

The general rule is that people who are unable to walk on their own should not be served more drinks. This is regardless of the event being private or public. The main thing to always remember is that this information is going to determine the approach.

Keep in mind that bartending private events is always about the rules that the client sets. When it comes to public events, there are more generalized rules on the approach. This is the reason why it is always important to define this with the client.

Flair bartending

While this is not a request that bartenders get all the time. There will be some cases when flair bartending is a request and it is a great type of entertainment style to have flair. For those who do not know, flair bartending is a type of bartending that involves tricks and stunts.

The popularity of bartending in private events is quite high and it is expected. There are many people who find this to be the kind of service they want for a party. It can certainly make the bartending service more exciting and fun.

Photo booth services for private parties

The Photo Booth is a great addition to private parties and it is one that clients often request or approve if offered. This is why it is always a good idea to have this kind of service available. When you can have this for any event, it becomes much easier to achieve the right kind of results.

The beauty of the Photo Booth is that it provides a great way for the bartender to promote the services. Many people who take their photo on these booths are going to share that on social media.

This is very important and useful as it creates a reliable and powerful result. The way that social media interactions are encouraged with these booths is a very strong promotional effort. Not only that, but it also makes the guests feel more involved and entertained.ย 

Sometimes all that it takes when you are involved in any kind of event is to add that extra touch. The extra entertainment value of the photo booth can be a huge success. This is the main reason why it is so widely recommended for private parties.

The general rules of engagement | Party Shakers

The emotionally sound bartender

There is one thing that is always important for a bartender to have and that is emotional control. When a bartender is able to handle any kind of situation with a guest properly, the results are truly unique.

You need to make sure that you can provide the right kind of results from your efforts as a bartender. There are many things that can happen during a private event. Some of them can be a true test that you need to pass.

Situations that can tests your emotional intelligence include:

  • Drunk party guests that become confrontational
  • Impatient drinkers demanding a quick service
  • A client that yells or demands things
  • Guests that donโ€™t follow basic safety requirements

The situations we mentioned above are just some of the most common. With that said, there are many others that you can expect to deal with at some point. The main thing to remember at all times is that all of those things can test your patience.

The idea is for a bartender to always have the emotional intelligence to avoid losing control. The more you learn how to restrain your impulses to become angry or impatient, the better your career will evolve.

Working for extended periods of time

When you are bartending a private party, you can expect some of those parties to go the extra mile. This means that a party could start in the afternoon and end the next morning. This is the reason why a bartender needs to prepare for the long haul by getting plenty of rest the day before the party.ย 

Some parties are not just going to end at the break of dawn, but the demand for drinks could keep going all the way to the last hour. That makes it important for you to have the required energy to make it to the end of the party.

There are many bartenders who will feel too exhausted when having to work twelve hours or more with no breaks. This is not a common thing to see, but when it happens, itโ€™s important to be ready to handle it.

Bringing a team of bartendersย 

Some bartenders will take the time to do things on their own and ensure that the outcome is great. The biggest issue with this strategy is that it can be impossible in some scenarios to do it all by yourself.ย 

This is the main reason why making use of a team of bartenders can be the best decision.ย  You want to make sure that you are able to work with a team of reliable bartenders. The bigger your bartending crew, the more work you can get done.

That is a solid explanation on why hiring the best bartender service is also about hiring team efficiency. If you have a very large number of guests to a party, you canโ€™t expect one bartender to handle this alone.ย 

A great team is not easy to find and it is going to be a determining factor for longevity. The best bartending teams are the ones that have people who are just as passionate as the team leader.ย 

There are many people who are bartending, but they do not share the same passion as other bartenders. A great way to make that passion grow is to remind people of the many advantages of bartending.ย 

A bartender has to create a business that offers a team of bartenders who are all efficient and professional. Doing this is always going to guarantee the best results when clients expect a group of bartenders for their event, not just one.ย 

The important aspects that allow someone to become a great bartender | Party Shakers

The important aspects that allow someone to become a great bartender

There are many things that are going to be important and useful in order for someone to become a bartender. Not just a bartender, but one that is truly going to create a reliable service. One that is going to be in high demand and one that will be requested by everyone.

The following are going to be some of the most important things that any person needs. All of them are required in order to be a great bartender. It is essential to remember that they are not in a particular order because they are all just as important.

The four main traits of a great bartender are:

  1. A great personality
  2. Knowledge of all 77 cocktails
  3. Great social skills
  4. Emotional control

All of these are extremely important traits that all great bartenders have. All of them are also equally relevant and important. The biggest issue with this is that many bartenders lack at least one or two of them. This is why it is so hard to find a team of bartenders that share all of these traits.

The more that people are able to fine tune those specific things, the easier it is for them to bartend. For example, a great personality is going to give a bartender a likable presence. Then you have the fact that a bartender with knowledge of all 77 cocktails is very efficient. This bartender is never going to be caught by surprise with a drink request.ย 

Having great social skills is going to be a huge plus in all cases. One that will determine many things in a bartenderโ€™s career. Social skills allow the bartender to create pleasant and entertaining situations as they serve drinks.

It is important to remember that emotional control is also crucial. This is going to allow a bartender to create the longevity that is expected in order to thrive in this business. When a bartender can do this, their reach is going to be expanded in many ways.

When a bartender is able to master emotional control, there is nothing stopping their career. You have to think of the value of emotional control and how it affects everything. It is not just something that affects a bartender at the job. It is something that affects a person in every aspect of their life.

Questions and answers

Is bartending for private parties good business?

Yes, bartenders for private parties can make a lot of profit as long as they are able to do this frequently. Private events are usually more profitable than public events in terms of the payment. With that said, the public event is better for tips.

Are bartenders required to wear masks at private events?

It is strongly recommended to wear a mask. It should be an item for any type of event regardless of it being public or private. The pandemic does not discriminate or change in any way due to an event status. This is the reason why it is a good idea to always wear a mask.

Are there many bartenders who practice flair?

The art of flair bartending is not an easy thing to master. The truth is that not that many bartenders know how to flair at a professional level. Those who do can find more work as the demand for flair bartending is growing. It is also more likely that the bartenders who practice flair find work for private events.

Final thoughts on bartending for private parties

The world of bartending is very extensive and there are many types of events. With that said, the main income in bartending is in many ways found in private events. The possibilities are endless when a bartender offers his or her services for private parties.

Now you have a better idea of the importance and value of bartending. You can hire bartenders for private events at Party Shakers. The entire team offers the best bartending services in Los Angeles.ย