Business of Private Bartending. Resource for the private bartender for hire business.: 2015

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Yelp To the Rescue!!

and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp.

At the beginning of September I moved here to Arizona to live with my fiancé. As part of that move I also had to change the business address for my mobile bartending business. When updating all the information at the various institutions, I also to notified Yelp.com that I was moving.

Yelp has a function that users can submit information from a companies review page to say the company has shut down or relocated. However this caused potential customers to leave my page and not contact me. A few customers actually contacted me to say they saw I had closed down. To try to prevent confusion with customers, I searched trough the Yelp.com business portal for help with updating my page information and not have a banner across that top saying I shut down.

I called the generic customer support and was advised I would have to make a new Yelp.com page for my new location. This did not make sense to me. My business is a mobile service not tied to a specific location. The quality and service do not change based on geographical location.

So I contacted my Yelp.com account manager for help. Rosalinda was so much help. I emailed her with my situation. I explained that my business is mobile and not a retail or restaurant that is location specific. I am more like a catering company that delivers to various locations. I travel to my clients locations to provide my labor service. I didn't think I should have a different Yelp.com page just for moving. She saw my viewpoint and agreed to submit my case for review.

Within a a couple days I received a call from her saying that the case was reviewed and my page was reinstated and I would not have to create a new page and lose my current reviews. I was so relieved and appreciative. Rosalinda kept me updated daily, she called and emailed communications appropriately and was super customer friendly. She was personable and easy to talk with.

If any business owners out there are in doubt of the benefit of Yelp.com, let me be the first one to say that Yelp.com is an incredible asset to your business. My experience with their customer support system has been incredibly easy, they are supportive, and they take the time to listen and grasp the situation to help as best they can.

I totally recommend being involved with Yelp.com. They even offer business owner webinars to help you get th most from your yelp business page.

THANK YOU Yelp.com for helping this little guy survive in such a big business world.

Note: Copyright © 2004–2015 Yelp Inc. Yelp, Yelp logo

and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp.

What would you like me to post about? Do you have any questions or requests, email me at vince@bartendervince.com

For inquiry on having Bartender Vince at your event, visit BARTENDERVINCE.COM or email me at vince@bartendervince.com

For other blogs with helpful information go to
http://www.weddingsbybartendervince.com
http://www.portablebarreview.com

For reviews of my service visit http://www.bartendervinceonyelp.com

For bookings http://www.Bartendervince.com

User reviewsYelp http://www.bartendervinceonyelp.com
L.A. Thumbtack http://www.thumbtack.com/ca/torrance/party-planners/event-planning
Phoenix Thumbtack https://tack.bz/2fFTk

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Sunday, September 27, 2015

Starting over in Arizona.

Ok. So now I have moved to the city of Surprise, in Arizona. The city is small but nice. It gets an influx of population around this time of year when people are coming back from their other homes. There is a large amount of retired community and they will usually leave the area during the hottest parts of the year, then return when it starts to cool down.

Now I have to start over building my business. Which I think shouldn't be as difficult and I could do it quicker this time around. I've been able to get Yelp to transfer my Los Angeles page of reviews to my new location. This is because I am a mobile bartender and my service isn't dependent on a location as with restraints and other business with a brick and mortar stationary store.

Click here to visit my Yelp reviews.

I've also created a new Thumbtack page for the Arizona region. They recommended a new location page rather than updating the Los Angeles page.

Click here to visit the Arizona Page.

Click here to compare to my Los Angeles Page.

My problem I'm encountering is how to promote and get the word out. Out here, the demographic is more of retire aged people, so my usual marketing on Facebook, yelp, and other digital based media seem to not be as effective.

Im struggling to determine how to break through this hurdle and get clients in the area.

I will post more as I work through these struggles.

Vince.

What would you like me to post about? Do you have any questions or requests, email me at vince@bartendervince.com

For inquiry on having Bartender Vince at your event, visit BARTENDERVINCE.COM or email me at vince@bartendervince.com

For other blogs with helpful information go to
http://www.weddingsbybartendervince.com
http://www.portablebarreview.com

For reviews of my service visit http://www.bartendervinceonyelp.com

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Better bartending display

So this past weekend I used my new to me portable display wall. I really wanted to take and use this but wasn't sure how I would transport everything in my little Toyota Matrix. I ended up fitting it all in.

Previously when bartending at large venues like Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles, I would bring my portable bar and tables to set up the bar area. While this worked and was completely acceptable, I felt I needed a better defined space in such a large venue. The result was this display wall with light up marquee letters. I was able to find these letters at my local Michael's craft store. I was not able to find all the letters I wanted initially, however on my recent trip to Arizona I was able to find the remaining letters I wanted.

I was able to spell out, "Bar is open" and then change it to "Bar is over" at the end of the night.

How I did this set up?
The wedding was going to be on a Saturday. So I went Friday to set put the area. The bride and groom were there setting up so I was able to get their input on where exactly they wanted the bar.

I then placed the portable bar int he area we both wanted and build the bar environment around my portable bar. This process seemed to work well.

My bar at crafted. back bar, and side self serve table.

The bar with the back wall looks better.

How I didi it. So I purchased the letters and Michaels while they were on 50%off sale. I then purchased wide, adhesive backed velcro hook. I then placed the velcro at different spots on the back of each letter. I wrapped the velcro around the side of the letter, ran it across the back and attached it to the other side body.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

VENUES - TOYOTA AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM - TORRANCE, CA

I was fortunate enough to be chosen as a vendor for GPSTEP.org, a Non-Profit organization charity fundraising event at the Toyota Automotive Museum located in Torrance California.

The venue has a collection of Toyota cars from the fist one made to todays current cars to a couple future cars. Its really cool and a great place to visit if you can get in. Toyota diehards and automotive buffs will love to see the cars as well as enjoy the history of the company.

The walls have plaques that give the history in a time line manner.

The venue has a large open space when you come through the entrance. This area is great for having presentations consisting of large groups. They have a conference room as well for smaller meetings.

Toyota Museum hall floor plan. Courtesy of Toyota Museum website.

To hold your event contact the Toyota Museum by clicking here.

What would you like me to post about? Do you have any questions or requests, email me at vince@bartendervince.com

For inquiry on having Bartender Vince at your event, visit BARTENDERVINCE.COM or email me at vince@bartendervince.com

For other blogs with helpful information go to
http://www.weddingsbybartendervince.com
http://www.portablebarreview.com

For reviews of my service visit http://www.bartendervinceonyelp.com

For parts to repair your automobile, check out amazons automotive section.

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Creating a more professional service

Over the last year I have been working at some rental venues that are rather large. I have felt that while my portable bar is good and delivers more than customer expectations, I have felt that I need to further polish and better define the bar area while at these large venues.

My bar at crafted. back bar, and side self serve table.

So to do that I have now purchase a 10FT Black Portable Pop Up Trade Show Booth Kit with Spotlights . My idea is to use this wall behind my back bar table to better define the space I'm using visualy.

Creating a more defined bar are using the back wall.

My thought is to use the wall to attach signage saying "Congratulations", for events like weddings and graduations. I also want lighted signs or letters to say BAR OPEN. Something like that. Gonna spend some time planning it out and finding print shop.

I was fortunate enough to find a used trade show event display wall on Craigslist.org. From the description and the research I did on Amazon.com and just the web in general, this seemed like a good deal.

Found on Craigslist and available on Amazon.

I decided to put it together today. Get some practice with it and check out the contents. I'm so glad I did. I got to put it up and see the points of difficulty, as well as found the broken pieces.

Setting up the frame.

Finished putting up the frame and the vertical magnetic bars.

Hanging the center panels.

Putting up the end panel.

Broken pegs that hold up the black carpet type panels.

Pegs on the left side are present to hold carpet type panels.

Smoothing out the panels on the finished wall.

Here is sample layout of what can be done.

The case for the wall kit can be used for a podium. There is a panel the wraps around the body of the case and is velcro compatible. I'm standing next to it in this picture.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

How I transport everything

So I thought those of you mobile bartending business new comers might be interested in knowing how I transport my Flairco Portable Bar and everything that I need for my gigs.

I own a 2004 Toyota Matrix. Base model. Manual transmission. It was purchased used and in pretty rough shape back in 2012. The previous owner was a dog owner so the interior stunk like dog, had enough hair in it to make 3 more dogs, and was left outside with the windows down to "air" out. Which also meant the elements could get in. The front window was cracked, the only key that worked with the car was the ignition key, and lots of the pieces of the car needed repair or replacement. Luckily I'm and automotive professional by trade so I took care of all the repairs myself.

Pictures at purchase.

Dog smell interior and lots of hair.

Dents and dings everywhere.

Body damage

Missing pieces and non functional handles, locks, etc.

GROSS

Broken windshield, not good.

Car today-

Clean, shiny, tinted windows so no once sees my gear.

After steam cleaning, and complete disassembly for cleaning, I installed covers.

Much more enjoyable to drives. Smells good too.

Once I started my mobile bartender for hire business I used my awesome little car to transport everything. Luckily, over the years I have gotten the packing down to a near science. I can haul enough supplies to bartend for parties of 50 - 250 guests.

I place my bar kit on the floor behind the passenger seat. This is to stabilize the Folding Table 6ft I place behind the seats next.

Bartender Tool kit placed on floor in back of drivers seat.

Next I place the Folding Table 6ft behind the passenger seat. I know the picture shows drivers seat but I have since refined how I do it. The passenger seat can be slide forward and tilted to allow more space. The drivers seat can't because I don't like to be squished while driving. I can place 2 Folding Table 6ft behind the seat. Behind the drivers seat I put my trash can with my citrus juicer in it and trash bags. (not pictured)

2 Folding Table 6ft behind the seat.

Folding Table 6ft behind passenger seat.

I then place my large Igloo Quick & Cool Cooler (150 qt) marine ice chest behind the front two seats, on top of the folded back seats.

Igloo Quick & Cool Cooler (150 qt).

I then pack in my Flairco Portable Bar, Igloo Polar Cooler (120-Quart, White) (for when I need extra ice storage for large parties). In the picture there is a red bag I use to transport supplies like cups, napkins, straws, ginger ale, etc. Now I use Clever Crates Collapsible 46 Liter to transport my supplies. They stack on each other and then fold for easy storage. To get everything to fit I put all gear in as shown in the picture when using the second Igloo Polar Cooler (120-Quart, White).

When I don't use the cooler, the Flairco Portable Bar is laid flat then the Ice Buckets are stack on top of it. the blue Clever Crates Collapsible 46 Liter are placed to the left like normal.

Flairco Portable Bar

The Igloo Quick & Cool Cooler (150 qt) can be used to store supplies for transport. ( Juice pourers, wine ice buckets, condiments, etc.)

On the passenger front seat I use to place Ice Buckets with my water dispenser stored inside.

Ice Bucket , Beverage Dispenser , Condiment Holder 6 pint .

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