How to Hire a Bartender for a Party

The ideal bartender keeps more than cocktails and wine spritzers flowing. A skilled professional can interact affably while moving at warp speed to keep up with thirsty guests and avoid a bottleneck at the bar.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get recommendations from friends, caterers or party planners. If your search comes up short, go online to find a nearby agency.

2. Check that the bartender has his or her own bar kit. Pros travel with their own wine opener, pour spouts, cocktail shaker, strainer, long-handled spoon, towel and knife for cutting garnishes. You provide the blender, beverages, glasses and ice.

3. Test expertise, since good bartenders know major mixed-drink recipes by heart. Ask how many years of experience the bartender has and of what kind. A tap person used to working in pub-style establishments may not know cocktails.

4. Quiz prospective bartenders on how they set up their bars and how they cope with nonstop drink demands and empty glasses and bottles. They should be in command of their work space, trash containers, and supply of glassware and beverages.

5. If you're planning the party yourself rather than hiring a caterer (see How to Hire a Caterer), ask the bartender's advice on what to order. An experienced bartender can help you calculate how much and what alcohol you'll need (see How to Stock Your Bar).

6. Avoid novices or anyone fresh out of bartending school. Look for a tidy appearance and attire.

Tips & Warnings

• Good bartenders ask about guests' ages and tastes, and know which drinks different groups favor. A bar mitzvah calls for a different approach than a wild crowd of 20- something revelers or a relatively sedate gathering of over-50s.