What ever you do, don't use your caterer to also bartend your event. Heres why
You wouldn't use your caterer to DJ your event. You wouldn't use your caterer to be the photographer for your wedding. So why would use your caterer to bartend your event? If you want someone to dispense drinks to your guest then the caterer is your man. But, if you are looking for a little more in your bartender then your caterer just isn't going to deliver. Just how anybody can click a picture on a camera, a professional photographer brings a level of excellence to the pictures. The caterer's reputation rests on the quality of food he prepares not on the bartending skills of his bartenders. Matter of fact, most caterers bartenders are really food workers that slide over to the bar when needed. And, what do they do? Set up a folding table, cover with a table cloth and call it a bar.
Anyone can learn a few drinks and call themselves a bartender. But, I do not take that approach. I train my bartenders to be much more. The bartender deals one to one with most every guest at your party. In many ways we are like a host. Most everyone has had an experience with a bartender that sets them a notch above the others. They make you instantly at ease, they make your drinks with a special twist or suggest something just a little different. And in general that bartender made a memorable experience for you at the bar. And, this is a tangible thing. You want your guests to enjoy themselves at your party. You want everyone to remember how much fun your party was. A good bartender makes a large part of that happen! I can't remember how many times we have been invited to the "after party" for events we have bartended. What this means is we have developed a solid rapport with the host and guests at the party. I work with my bartenders on a multitude of facets to be much more than a dispenser of alcohol but more like the host of the bar. From setting up a beautiful bar to welcoming and putting your guests at ease to helping with toasts, to creating and suggesting new and different cocktails to serving responsibly, we want as much as you for the party to be a success. So, what ever you do, don't use your caterer to bartend your event.
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Often people use the food caterer to also supply the alcoholic beverages and provide the bartenders for the event. Isn't it more cost effective to use the same caterer for both the food and alcohol?
Please compare what Bourbon Street Bartending offers versus any caterer in town. We offer a better selection of better quality alcoholic beverages than any caterer in town. We offer top shelf liquors and wine for the price other caterers charge for bottom shelf liquor.
People like the "one stop shop" and like to deal with one business for food and bar services. You may see this as a good thing but I do not. Instead of having two minds working hard to make each part excellent. You get one person, the caterer covering both area's. And, let me guess which area gets ignored. And, you'll have to settle for a second rate bar. I would rather have one person who is solely dedicated to making the bar service be the best it can be. Let the caterer concentrate on food, that is where his concentration will be anyway.
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I simply need someone to serve my guest's drinks, most guest's will probably be drinking beer anyway. Why do I need a professional bartender?
A good bartender is worth the extra money spent. I will give you three reasons.
1. Liability. Everybody drinking and getting drunk is all great until you are the host of a party. The host and bartender have certain responsibilities concerning their guests. This responsibility turns into liability if you proceed to continue serving drinks to someone who is obviously intoxicated and may jump into his or her car and plow into someone on the road. Lawyers of the injured will sue anybody and everybody connected to this tragic event. Bourbon Street Bartenders are T.I.P.S. certified( Training in intervention procedures). John Faler is a certified T.I.P.S. trainer who trains other bartenders around the Tri-state area.
Bourbon Street Bartending is also fully insured with a $1,000,000 liquor liability insurance.
2. Professionalism. When you have a Full open Bar, most people will drink mixed drinks. I guess it is the fact that drinks are free, but even people who normally drink just beer will opt for liquor drinks. I tell people who hire me this all the time, people who normally buy beer will be drinking mixed drinks at your party. For this reason, it helps to have someone who can make excellent drinks. Drinks made overly strong or weak or simply made with incorrect portions of ingredients just do not taste good. Pouring ingredients into a glass with ice and giving a quick stir to a drink that requires shaking will produce a poor drink. Someone who can provide suggestions of a new drink or a different twist on an old drink can enhance the experience and enjoyment for your guests. You are the host, poor service from the bartender reflects on you.
3.People will spend much time searching out a DJ that is personable and can make their party enjoyable to the guests. But who interacts and talks to just about every guest at your party and will do so throughout the night? The Bartender!, not the DJ and not the Caterer. In many ways the bartender is the representative of the host. The bartender can make you look good or make you look bad. The bartender will interact with more of your guests than probably even the host. When people hire a food caterer to also provide alcohol and bartend their party, do you get to meet the bartender and find out about his or her qualifications and if he or she would be a good representative of the host? Of course not. Bartenders for catering companies are rarely expert bartenders, usually someone who knows just enough to get by. After all, a caterers reputation is built on the quality of their food. Bartending is a side business with usually little thought or effort put into the work. Bartending is Bourbon Street Bartending's only business, we can provide a level of service few can achieve.
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Is Bourbon Street Bartending insured with liquor liability insurance to cover alcohol related incidents?
Yes! Bourbon Street Bartending has a $1,000,000 liquor liability policy and $1,000,000 general liability policy. Many establishments require that you hire a bartending service with liquor liability insurance, for the protection of you, the reception hall and Bourbon Street Bartending. Most caterers and other bartending services do not have any liquor liability insurance, they may have general liability but this explicitly states this does not cover alcohol related incidents. You can have a piece of mind knowing your bartending service is insured and not gambling on everything going well. The insurance is there so that you the host can enjoy your party. But, we do ask, please do your part to promote responsible drinking of your guests. We can submit proof of insurance upon request.
Bourbon Street Bartending also uses TIPS certified bartenders, trained in alcohol awareness and intervention procedures. John Faler, owner of Bourbon Street Bartending is a certified TIPS trainer. He trains other bartenders in the Cincinnati area.
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Can we have a cash bar?
In general, the answer is no. Unless you are a non-profit organization that applies for a temporary permit from the Ohio liquor commission. Fee's for this are $50.00 for a Beer permit and $150 for a full liquor permit. Non profit organizations are allowed two such temporary permits each year. If you are a non profit organization and would like to apply for a permit, you need to apply at least 3 weeks prior to your event. We can assist you in the application process if needed. We have worked with numerous non profit organizations setting up many different scenarios for the bar. Fundraisers, Club parties, Non profit organization picnic's, Golf outing are some of the events we have worked.
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