Bartending: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What bartending is

A bartender mixes and serves drinks at your event, bringing tools, garnishes and know how, and following the local rules for serving alcohol. Hosts hire one for weddings, parties, corporate events and any gathering where the guests expect a bar and a steady line.

Signs you need it

  • Your event has a bar and you need someone who can serve the drinks while you host
  • The guest count is large enough that one friend behind a bar will be overwhelmed
  • You want signature cocktails or a drink menu made to order
  • You want the bar set up with ice, glassware and garnishes ready before the guests arrive
  • The venue requires bartenders who are trained and insured to serve alcohol

What the pro does

  • Takes the guest count, the drink menu, the bar hours and the glassware needs
  • Checks the venue's rules on alcohol service, ID checks and last call
  • Sets up the bar with ice, mixers, garnishes, glassware and tools
  • Mixes and serves the drinks, checks ID and keeps the line moving
  • Stops service when guests are intoxicated or when the event's rules require it
  • Clears the bar, returns the rental glassware and removes the leftover ice

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of bartenders and the hours of service
  • Drink menu, including signature cocktails, beer, wine and non alcoholic options
  • Glassware, ice, garnishes and mixers the bartender supplies
  • Bar setup, including the bar itself and any rentals
  • Whether the bartender checks IDs and manages the cash
  • Travel distance and the time the bartenders must arrive before the event

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of bartenders and their hours, including setup and breakdown
  • The drink menu and which items are included in the service
  • Glassware, ice, garnishes and mixers, and who supplies each
  • Who checks IDs and who is responsible for cutting off guests
  • What happens if the event runs past the agreed hours

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Are your bartenders trained in responsible alcohol service, and what card or training do they hold?
  • Does your company hold the license or permit this event needs, or do I?
  • How do you check IDs and handle a guest who has had too much?
  • What non alcoholic drinks do you offer, and how many people should I plan for?
  • Who supplies the ice, glassware and garnishes?
  • Do you carry liability insurance that covers alcohol service?

Red flags

  • Says the license is not needed without checking the rules for the event
  • Cannot say who checks IDs or who cuts off guests
  • Asks you to buy the alcohol and says the bartender will not track it
  • Has no non alcoholic drinks or water on the plan
  • Will not provide proof of insurance that covers alcohol service

What you can do yourself

A host can serve a simple set of wine, beer and a non alcoholic punch at a small party, keeping drinks chilled and using clear cups. Serving alcohol commonly needs a license or permit, and it carries real responsibility for the guests. Hire a trained bartender when the guest count is large, the drink menu is complex, or the event requires an insured, trained person to check IDs and stop service.

Licenses and permits

Alcohol service commonly needs a license or permit, and the rules vary by place. Bartenders may need their own training or card. Ask whether the license is held by you, the venue or the bartending company, and check with the local office that oversees alcohol service before the event. If food is served as well, food businesses commonly need a health permit or a food handler card from the local office that oversees food safety.

Bartending questions

Do I need a license to serve drinks at a private party?

Alcohol service commonly needs a license or permit, even at a private event. Check the rules where the party takes place, and confirm who holds the license before the day.

How many bartenders do I need?

Ask the bartender for its advice based on your guest count, drink menu and the time of service. A busy bar with a long line needs more hands than a simple wine service.

Can the bartender cut off a guest?

Yes, and the bartender should. Agree on the rules for cutting off guests in advance, and make sure the host understands them.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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