Business of private bartending: What's in my bartending tool kit.

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One of the most important things when having a premium bartender for hire business is to have the tools needed to tackle even the most difficult event.  I've set up and refined my bartender tool kit to be functional, complete, and visually fast to find what I need.

A breakdown of my gear:

1. Jiggers- 0.5/1.0oz, 0.75/1.5 oz
2. Pour spouts- standard bottle and oversize bottle sizes
3. Strainers- julep and Hawthorne 
4. Muddlers - both flat and toothed style
5. Bar spoons
6. Wine keys 
7. Metal tins
8. Mixing glasses - I prefer mixing glasses as opposed to the metal tins.   I want guests to see what I'm putting in and how much.  I'm asking people to put something into their bodies I have created.  Why wouldn't I build that layer of trust and connection by letting them see exactly what's happening.   If there is something they don't like, want or allergic too, they can stop me right there and I can adjust.  
9. Knives
10. Cutting boards - I like the thin flexible ones.  They take up minimal space, and are easy to clean and can be replaced pretty cheap.  
11. Wood matches - I have these for two reasons.  1 - when flaming a citrus peel over a drink they do not leave a chemical taste like a gas lighter does.   Considering my whole goal is fresh and natural as possible, why use a gas lighter.  2 - When a guest asks for a light to go smoke I can give them a match.   This shows how prepared I am for anything and let's them leave the  area to light up in an appropriate area instead of at my bar with other guests.   I don't smoke so I prefer they not light up next to me and my ingredients. 
12. Wood toothpicks
13. Can openers
14. Tip jar
15. Hand juicer
16. Bottle openers
17. Straws
18. Angry birds stickers. - yes I said Angry Bird stickers.  Why you may ask. These are to mark my gear. Sometimes at a client home someone will ask to borrow something, then during the night it doesn't come back.  With stickers marking my gear, I know it's mine and it can easily be returned.   Transformers stickers are great too.  Autobots, let's roll out!

My full kit!

You can see my YouTube video here: http://youtu.be/8TVPDWlbums

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All items can be found on Amazon.com.  Click here PrivateBartendingGear.com

Juice press video on YouTube to help your business of private bartending

On Valentine weekend I worked a Valentine party in Beverly Hills.  I needed about 48 ounces of lemon juice and of lime juice for the cocktails on the menu for the night.  

So I juiced 5 pounds of lemons to make 32 ounces of juice.  The rest of the juice would be squeezed at the event when needed.  This would allow me to show the clients and guests that I really do value freshness in my cocktails and keep ingredients as natural as I can.  

This juice press is the heavy duty version available through Amazon.com or any restaurant supply company.  It is made of heavy steel and is chrome plated.  Real chrome, not the cheap plastic imitation chrome.  It has rubber feet that seem to have a little suction cup effect to help stability.  

I've noticed on mine that the hinge bolts start to come a little loose after a while, so you need to pay attention to that.   It's good practice to just make sure all the bolts are secure.  I suggest a little thread locking compound to prevent them from coming out.  

The cup that the fruit sits on is nicely designed to come apart easily.  There is the top hat, the cup, then the cone inside.  No tools are required. They just line up via some cut outs and dimples.  The top hat threads into the draw bar and just goes hand tight otherwise you may not get it back off.  

I decided to post a couple videos as a reference to help your business of private bartending.  When your a bartender for higher, you need to have many skills.  Thus is just one more tool to add to your tool box.  

Click here to visit the video on Youtube    Using a juice press.

I have included links in this post in order to make it easy for you to access and review them.  If you make a purchase from Amzon.com I will receive a small portion.  You can just as easily purchase this or any other item I use at your local restaurant supply store as well.  

Do you have any questions you would like answered. Email vince@bartendervince.com

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Valentine party in Beverly Hills.

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Last night Valentine party was such a pleasure to have been a part of.

The crowd was made up of family and friends of a wonderful couple.   The host were so much fun to work with.   They really recognized and appreciated many of the little touches I include with my service.  When you get such great clients it is a true blessing.   They were so gracious to leave a review on yelp for me too.    I'm so fortunate to be apart of such great people's lives.  

  

To read this or any of the FIFTEEN 5 star reviews you can visit Bartendervinceonyelp.com

Recent reviews - I'm truly fortunate and blessed.

This week I received 2 reviews on Yelp! of my service.   These clients are so kind and gracious. I'm  truly blessed to have been able to work with them    Thank you so much.

I cannot stress high enough how important client feedback is.  Whether it be through Yelp, Thumbtack, or direct discussions.   You will always get something out of it that will either help you improve, or reaffirm you are doing things right.  Do remember that even constructive or "negative" feed back is always a golden nugget waiting to be acted upon.   It is your learning lesson.

Remember that in order to be considered in high regard you must be Truely interested in making the clients event successful.  Theses people are depending on you to deliver, so deliver more than they expected.

What are your thoughts?

Nuts and bolts - Clear ice bucket and tea lights I use.

I have included links in this post, to these products in order to make it easy for you to access and review them.  If you make a purchase from Amzon.com I will receive a small portion.

I love thisProdyne Iceberg Party Tub -It is strong. Has a great thickness to the material. I think the the design is versatile to use at weddings and at birthdays.   They nest together for easy storage and portability.  I use these for chilling wine and beer.  It will hold about 5 bottles of wine or about 8-10 bottles of beer.   You just need to pay attention how far you fill it with ice.  The handle cut outs are below the top of the Prodyne Iceberg Party Tub ;so if you don't pay attention ice will fall out of them.

When you drop in Submersible LED Lights the edges and shape make the light reflect in the water with a cool effect.  It  adds a nice touch for weddings since it is usually dark.  

One trick I discovered is using the tea lights in the large tubs I use for beer and sodas at night.   When you drop in the lights it makes it so much easier to see what's in there.  Makes a huge difference for back yard parties.   I also drop them into containers with dry ice fog to give a great effect.