The Guide to Hiring Your Mobile Bartender

Hiring a private bartender for the first time can be overwhelming. You may be asking yourself, what do I need to provide, do I need to have a license, can I have an open bar, and generally, how does this all work? I’m here to provide a detailed overview explaining everything to consider when deciding to hire a private bartender for your next birthday party, wedding reception, cocktail party, cocktail class, corporate event, garden party, networking event, etc. 

First, and most importantly, it is crucial to hire a bartender who is TIPS certified. This is a certification many venues require bartenders to have, and it gives you as the host a level of protection. The second is insurance. Many venues also require a bartender to be fully insured to cover any potential liabilities. This is also nice to have as it adds a layer of security for you as the host. NoCo Cocktail’s bartenders are TIPS Certified and fully insured.

Another question we are often asked is if you as the host can offer an open bar. For NoCo Cocktail to serve alcohol to guests, the venue itself either needs to have a liquor license or you as the host are not allowed to ask to be paid by guests for alcohol. The same applies to events held in private residences. That takes care of the liability requirements, now onto the fun stuff! 

The next part involves your vision or expectations for the event. At NoCo Cocktail, we ask our clients several discovery questions to better understand their expectations in hiring a private bartending service. I’ve outlined them here: 

1. What kind of event are you having and what are your thoughts on the menu? This is good to know so that we can make recommendations. For example, do you like bourbon and want 2-3 bourbon cocktails on your menu in addition to wine and beer? Maybe you are really into tequila and want to do a whole tasting of cocktails that only involve tequila. There are so many options and ways to customize this based on your preferences! 

2. How many guests are you expecting at your event? This helps us understand how to help you tailor the menu and the estimated quantity of alcohol/mixers to buy. It also helps us understand if you will need more than one bartender for your event. We like to have one bartender per 50 guests. 

3. What is your budget? We want to work with the budget you have allocated both in terms of the alcohol cost and the cost of service. We give very detailed quotes on alcohol estimations in addition to the charge of the service itself. 

4. Are you holding your event at a venue or a private residence? We ask this because we want to understand what resources will be available during the event. For example, will there already be a bar setup, or will we need to provide one, is there a wet bar available? Is there a fridge or freezer available for use? 

5. Would you like to take advantage of our packages? We offer several packages, from our Signature to our Craftsmanship, all to fit the specific needs of your event. In this way, it is important to know if you would like NoCo Cocktail to provide ice, straws, napkins, coolers, ice chests, a bar menu, disposable cups, etc. 

6. We also offer a glassware add-on for $75. This is available for events of up to 30 guests. 

All of the above questions will help us in giving you the most accurate quote for your event. We hope this guide helps answer questions you have and that we get the opportunity to work with you. If you are located in the Denver area and want to book us for your next event, send an email to cara@nocococktail.com or fill out a free quote request HERE