A Bartenders Introduction To Banquet Bartending

Banquet Bartending – the most under appreciated type of bartending ever! Banquet bartending is a great place to get your bartending start – and add additional income to your monthly salary. Watch the video below, and then see my additional notes.

There are only two lessons in Section 14 here: This Introductory lesson and Lesson 2 that really gets into it. The reason that it’s a shorter section is that there is so much about banquet bartending that is the same as regular bartending. BUT – there’s some really cool stuff that’s new in the next lesson and I really want you to consider banquet bartending as your first position.

So, why don’t more bartending schools suggest this type of bartending? Because they’re in on the hype:

• You can be a nightclub bartender in one week!
• Earn $500 per shift bartending!
• I’ll show you how to get your first bartending job in 24 hours!
• You don’t need any bartending experience (Party true – with caveats)
• We’ll provide you a list of bartending jobs! (Neglecting to add banquet bartending jobs)

It goes on and on. But allow me to let you in on a little secret: Banquet bartending jobs can be easier to get (especially for those of you with no experience), they have more flexibility, and you can, many times, make much more money in a shorter period of time.

Banquet bartending is a huge business. Get a piece of it!

So, what is banquet bartending? Banquet bartending is very much like regular bartending except that you work events or functions instead of a regular shift behind the bar. And, you’ll probably be working at a Hotel. It’s that simple.

Advantages of Banquet Bartending

• Shorter shifts
• Easier to get a bartending job – even with no experience
• Very easy to get your foot in the door (in different positions)
• Easier to transition to the front bar
• Consistent wages/salary
• Much more diverse customers
• Tip Pools (Yes, sometimes tip pools are a huge “plus”)
• Networking opportunities are fantastic
• New laws forbidding management and supervisors in the tip pools

Below is a general list of the types of functions (or events), who offers banquet-style bars, and positions you can start off at to springboard into bartending.

Who Attends Banquet Bar Functions?

• Weddings
• Bar Mitzvah
• Quinceañera
• Sport Groups
• Car Fanatics
• Most any type of Professional Groups
• Accountants
• Real Estate Agents/Brokers
• Insurance Agents
• Ceremonies
• Any kind of Celebration
• Charitable gatherings
• Birthday parties
• Workplace training sessions
• Formal business dinners
• Academic conferences
• Any type of social gathering

Types of Places that Have Banquet Bars

• Hotels
• Motels
• Sports Arenas
• Conventions
• Fairs
• Racetracks
• Hotel off-site functions
• Local city/town gatherings
• Amusement Parks
• Colleges/Universities
• Parks & Recreation Departments
• Golf & Tennis Clubs
• Regular bars may have a “banquet” room
• Private house/gatherings

Below is a List of Positions at Most Hotels/Motels

I have posted this elsewhere in the course, and it doesn’t hurt to jog your memory here. Any of these jobs can be a springboard to a good bartending position:

• Food Server
• Cocktail Server
• Cook
• Prep Cook
• Dishwasher
• Busser
• Barback
• Host/Hostess
• Expediter
• Anything in “Banquets”
• Room Attendant
• Valet (Parking)
• Houseperson (sets everything up for a banquet/event)
• Front Desk Agent
• Reservations Agent
• Concierge
• Bell Attendant
• Pool Server
• Banquet/Event sales position
• Maintenance Person
• Janitorial/Custodial Person
• Front Office Employee (Almost any position)

If you really need a job fast – go out and apply at a hotel!

In the next lesson, I’m going to give you a run-down on what banquet bartending is all about – the similarities as well as differences to “regular” bartending.