Bartenders

Is he licensed as a bartender? Obviously this is based on region, but every bartender I know makes a lot more than 25/hr for weddings.

I wouldn't expect someone to come in early and stay late and not pay them for their time. I get paid for the hours I work, as do most people. Setting up and cleaning up is work.

Can you clarify what you mean by "plus tips". Were you planning on putting out a tip jar? That would be an etiquette faux pas. Tipping is the responsibility of the hosts not the guests.

View Quoted Comment No he is not licensed but the place that I am having it at does have a license so we don’t have to have one and I told him that the bar would be set up just come in a serve.

View Quoted Comment He is not licensed but the place he will be bartending at does and we have to get the license there at the place in order for him to bartend. And I’m not aware of the payment but when we talked about it he said 25 an hour was fine for him but as far as cleaning and stuff like that I would like for him to clean up but if not then I will have someone that can clean up it’s not that big of a deal just thought I ask and get an opinion about it.

View Quoted Comment He would be getting a tip jar and I think I answered your question wrong that was to someone else but anyway if he came in an hour before and he already set up he wouldn’t have to do much. He was talking about cutting up fruit and that would take 2 hours to do as well as some other stuff that he didn’t go into details about. I’m just trying to get advice on what I should do about it.

If you’re having him set up the bar, you need to pay him for the time it takes him to do so. If he isn’t a licensed, professional bartender who has a lot of experience, set up will obviously take longer than usual.

If you want him to Do set up and clean up, you have to pay for that time. I am paying our bartender less per hour than you, but he/she is getting paid for 6 hours for a four hour event with set up and breakdown.

Personally, I wouldn't put out a tip jar. People who want to tip still will even if there's no jar. But he really shouldn't be asking your guests for tips.

He deserves to be paid for ALL of his time. U can't count his tips as part of what ur paying him. Maybe u need to price what a bartender makes if u had to hire as a vendor.

We paid $100/hour. $25 seems like a steal! He should get paid for clean-up time because if the venue provided one, they would pay him or other staff to clean up. That means you’d be paying it anyway as part of your venue service fee.

No tip jar, please. Not appropriate for a wedding. The couple pays all vendor tips.

Yes he does and I agree to that I didn’t say I want going to pay him just asking what I should do I never had to hire a bartender before which is why I needed advice about it. Of course if he came in early I would pay him for his time. But we are talking about it on Monday to make sure that what we are deciding on the right things and the right price for it. I wouldn’t do anyone like that when they are doing an event for me.

You need to pay him for the whole time he is working for you, not just the hours spent actually serving. Set up and clean up are both labor and his time, and all count as time
he is working for you

Thanks everyone for your comments I appreciate them. Will be having a discussion about this with him to make sure everything is good to go by that time.

He should get paid for all of his time. Thats a steal for you that he is accepting $25 an hour.

View Quoted Comment Well that was for him to serve not including the set up as well as clean up cuz I can have the bar set up and I can have someone to clean up as well and he can just come and serve and it’s not an issue at all. My father in law said that he would bar tend but I didn’t want that because he suppose to enjoy himself not work and do drinks.

View Quoted Comment Okay no tip jar.

Let me get this straight
No licensed bartender
Trying to not pay for hours of work
Paying very little overall
Tip jar
Cash bar

Did I get everything? You need to rethink your plan. Find money in the budget to hire a licensed professional, cover all your guests beverages, and to pay a tip

View Quoted Comment First off I did t say I wasn’t trying to pay him I was asking advice about it and my guest beverages are paid for its the alcohol that I am trying to get straight. And that is not very little for what I understand yes I realize that it is a steal but at the same time it is someone that I work with and I asked them was it okay. If they didn’t wanna do it then all they had to say was I’ll pass but they didn’t. You don’t have to be licensed as long as the place has a abc license which is what we have. And yes I am doing a cash bar I know a lot of people that have done that for their wedding so I don’t see the big deal as far as tip jar goes I won’t do that.

Thank you for everyone and they point of views about the situation it will be handled accordingly and also please don’t come on my post talking reckless and judging me. This is my first wedding and first time asking advice about bartending. I am getting different replies about it in different forms but I don’t need anyone coming on my post being disrespectful. You come to my post calm and collective and I will respond calm and collective. If I feel like you are getting out of hand I will address you accordingly thanks.

View Quoted Comment You did say you weren't going to pay him for the set up and clean up, so hours of work. Is he even a bartender? Does he know how to cut people off when necessary? I still think hiring a professional is the way to go, as is an open (even if limited to beer and wine) bar. Just because you've attended cash bars doesn't mean you can't do better. Good host, whether at home or a rented venue, dont charge their guests for anything. You wouldn't have your guests pay for the salad or the protein (meat or other option) on their plates. Why are beverages different? They're not

View Quoted Comment If you say so but like I said I am doing it the way that I am doing it and their have been plenty of people who have done it the way that I am doing it and nobody is charging an arm and a leg. I don’t know what wedding or event you been to that don’t charge people for drinks after the open bar but from where I am from and other places they charge for drinks after the fact. And I never said that I wasn’t going to pay him for his work that’s the point in asking for advice it’s not even stone yet and yes he does know the limit to cut people off. He has done this many of times and events. But okay I am done communicating with you about the matter thanks for your advice and I know what to do about the situation. Thanks