Bartending FAQ’s and General Information
Do I need a liquor license for my event, and/or does my bartender need one?
In the State of Colorado you do not need a liquor license to serve alcohol at events, but you do need a license to sell alcohol. The state does not issue liquor licenses to caterers or mobile bars.
In translation, this means that as long as you (the client) purchase the alcohol, we can serve it to your guests, however we are not allowed to sell it (charge any money for it). As a result, for weddings and parties we work with the clients to determine what alcohol, and how much, they wish to provide for their event, and we put together a list. We then submit that list to a local supplier (liquor store, craft brewery ect) and you (the client) pay for it. Once its paid for, we can then pick up the alcohol and bring it to the event for you and of course serve it to your guests as long as we do not charge them for it. If you do wish to sell alcohol at your event you will need to apply for a special event liquor license through the CO Dept. of Revenue.
What is included in the Bartending Service?
Our bartenders will set-up the entire bar, ice beverages, prepare garnishes, and manage cocktail ice and plastic/glass wear. We will serve throughout the contracted time frame then clean up the bar, remove trash, and pack up any remaining beverages. Bartenders will come prepared with the following equipment; coolers, freezer, or ice caddies, bar caddy with straws and napkins, ice scoops, pitchers, cutting board, knifes, wine openers and bottle openers.
How many Bartenders do I need?
The number of bartenders needed depends on several factors, including the number of guests, the size of the event space, the type of beverages being served, and the length of the event. We recommend (1) bartender for every 50 guests and usually require a (2) bartender minimum. For example if you are expecting 150 people we recommend (3) bartenders. However more or less staff is acceptable depending on the specific circumstances and how efficient you desire the service to be.
How Much Alcohol do I need?
The amount of alcohol you should order for your event depends on several factors, including the number of guests, the duration, and the type of event you’re hosting. Generally, you should plan on providing about 1.5 drinks per person per hour, bare minimum. For example, if you have 100 guests and the event will last 4 hours, you should plan on providing a bare minimum of 600 drinks (100 guests x 1.5 drinks per hour = 150 drinks per hour, x 4 hours = 600 drinks per person).
It is always a good idea to order a little extra, just in case. Its not uncommon for guests to average more than 2 drinks per hour! It’s better to have a little too much than not enough. Keep in mind that some guests may not drink at all, while others may drink much more than you expect.
It’s also important to take into account the type of event you’re hosting and the guests you are expecting. For example, a formal corporate event will typically have less alcohol consumption than a casual party or a wedding. You may also want to take into consideration the time of day, a morning event will have considerably less drinking that an evening one.
What type of cocktails and drinks do you serve?
We streamline your event bartending service by working with you to determine a drink menu. We are delighted to help you with this and share our most popular drinks tailored to your occasion. The drink menu will then be displayed at the bar for your guests to see and choose from.
We cater this menu to your specific needs including cocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic options. When deciding upon cocktails we love to make recommendations but ultimately we can mix up whatever you desire. To streamline service for crowds and the rushes that happen at events it is best to use quality pre- mixed ingredients and also provide simple options like whiskey coke, vodka tonics, etc. We can absolutely work with you to make more elaborate cocktails, but being that they are multiple ingredients involved, the amount of these cocktails you want available to be served will need to be estimated. With large events we sometimes “batch” these cocktails into quantities. This allows us to serve the cocktails more efficiently preventing long lines.
Do your bartenders serve Non-Alcoholic beverages and/or water?
Absolutely! Of course this just needs to be discussed when we put together your purchase list and drink menu so we can be prepared. We do not however have the resources to serve hot beverages like coffee and tea, as this is usually the responsibility of the food caterers.
Does your bartenders provide champagne service?
We are happy to include a champagne service but this requires at least one server to be hired alongside the bartending staff, possibly more depending on the amount of guests. This also needs to be noted when creating your drink menu and we a prepared and informed for when you choose to have it.
What is the pricing for the Bartending Service?
We charge $45-$60 per hour, per bartender, with a (3) hour minimum. Time can be extended to the 1⁄2 hour or full hour. Most events require a bartender up to (6) hours, some a bit shorter and some even longer. For example an event requiring two bartenders for (4) hours starts at $360 for the bartenders. You have the option to supply your own plastic/glass wear, garnishes and ice or we will supply that to you at cost. In addition to the bartenders hourly rate we require mandatory gratuity, different bar options to choose from, our setup fee and mileage fee (see below for more info).
Tip Jars and gratuity?
“Tips” are how bartenders support themselves and their families. The minimum wage for bar staff in Colorado is $11.79, we pay our bartenders more, but ultimately our paid wages and operating costs dictate our pricing. We need to stay competitive in order to stay in business and we also need to provide for our professional staff accordingly.
Gratuity is required starting at 25% (this is industry standard). It is suggested to allow us to display an event-appropriate tip jar so that guests can tip the bartender as well, if they please! We have the best bartenders around, and this is a rural area and they often have to travel from afar, and so please be generous when you receive great service.
What is the Setup Fee?
Our staff arrives at your event 1-2 hours prior to the beginning of your service and it takes on average 1 hour to breakdown and pack up. Upon arrival we start to set up the bar, our bar back area and all our tools for the job. We organize the liquor and wine, beer and non alcoholic beverages, ice, garnishes, mixers, plastic or glass wear and of course everything necessary. We set up the bar caddies, decor, familiarize ourselves with the menu, and prepare for the initial rush. We cut and prep garnishes, set up trash and complete our checklist to make sure our services run smoothly. At the end of the service we need to neatly organize your leftovers, breakdown our supplies, dispose of trash and store/clean our tools and dirty supplies. There is also the behind the scenes process where we organize our supplies for your event prior and we clean and restock for the next event. Because this is a time consuming and laborious process our staff needs to be compensated appropriately. We determine the cost of the setup fee for your event based on the guest count and your menu but it is generally $175-$350.
What is the Mileage Fee?
Because we work in such a rural area we often have to travel long distances for jobs. It is not uncommon for us to travel 1.5 hours one way for an event! The only way to fairly estimate compensation for our fuel costs is to determine a mileage fee for different locations. Alamosa is home base and the mileage fee accrues at 75 cents a mile (one way) from here.
When is payment due and what if I need to cancel?
We require 50% down payment upon booking to reserve your date. The remaining 50% is due no later than 7 days prior to service. The down payment cannot be refunded. We are booked out and most weddings and parties schedule their bartenders far in advance. Our services are in high demand but are rarely booked last minute and so when we reserve dates we rely on your booking.
Can you provide servers?
We can provide servers for cocktail tables and casual buffet style dinner service. If your event requires a dedicated server for every dinner table, then this is best hired through your food caterer. At least (1) server is also required if you opt for a champagne service. The pricing for servers is the same as bartenders.
Can I request a specific bartender?
Absolutely! If you experienced great service from one of our bartenders in the past or even if you personally know a bartender you want to work your event this should not be a problem, providing they don’t have any scheduling conflicts for your chosen date.
What do your bartenders wear?
We provide 2 standards for you to choose from. 1) Casual western, includes jeans paired with a collared western style shirt. 2) A long sleeve black collared shirt paired with slacks.
Who provides ice and how much do I need?
The industry standard is to be prepared with a minimum of 1.5lbs of ice per guest! So for an event with 150 guests that is (150 x 1.5= 225lbs of ice!) This can vary depending on factors like weather, types of drinks served and how long the reception lasts. Obviously cocktails will require more ice than beer and outdoor events in hot weather will require more ice than an inside event in a climate controlled room.
Ice is an additional charge to our bartending hourly rate. When you determine your drink menu we can decide how much ice you need and provide you with the cost. You do have the option to provide your own ice, but we do not profit from ice and we are happy to supply it for you.
Who provides glassware/plasticware?
We provide all plastic cups, we do not have glassware. The industry standard is 16oz beer cups, 9oz cocktail tumblers, and 8oz stem-less wine glasses. If champagne service is requested then we provide the industry standard plastic champagne flutes. Accordingly all drinks are served with a napkin and stirring straws.
We provide the plasticware for an additional material charge to our bartending hourly rate and we can provide you with the cost when we determine your drink menu. We do not profit from our plasticware and we purchase it in bulk quantities for a discounted rate so usually our clients will save by having us provide it for them, but of course you are welcome to supply your own.
Some of our clients prefer glassware. You are welcome to provide your own glassware or we can look into supplying it for you but we will need to sub rent it and compose a cost estimate for you.
Do you provide garnishes?
Yes, garnishes such as limes, cherries, salt, etc. can be determined with your drink menu and we will provide them and prep them while setting up the bar.
Can I return unused alcohol?
Since you will ultimately be purchasing the alcohol for us to pick up this will need to be discussed with the store that you purchase it from.
How far do you travel?
The San Luis Valley is a very rural area that has more square miles than the State of Rhode Island! And so we travel 1-2hrs from our home-base on the regular!
Is there anything you wont do?
We cannot offer hosts or guests rides, so please make sure everyone has a way to get home at the end of your event. We also do not offer hot beverages or provide any food or snacks, we leave that up to the caterers. We also can only clean up our bar after the event and cannot clean up the venue after your guests. If any individuals are visibly intoxicated, we are required by law, and our own ethical business standards, to refuse them service, and accordingly we have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.