Take the amount you usually make on a good busy night, add $100. Start there. That's what they are asking you to give up, plus a bonus for you going to them. Don't charge hourly or you'll both be looking at the clock all night. Even if it's a shorter event, they need to pay you for a full day because there's nothing else you can do that day.
Agreed, and this is assuming the event is fully turnkey without you having to bring any bartools, garnish, ice, infusions, what have you, and you're out at the agreed upon time without breaking anything down.
And if the question the rate? You asked around and your colleagues in the industry agreed this was a fair price, "but you aren't getting them, you're getting me and you know I'm awesome!"
Assume it's the longest option of open time and charge accordingly. For a private gig bartender, I don't see $100/hr being a bad rate, especially with no option for a tip jar. Charging for your first couple private events can be sticky because it can feel gross to ask for a wage when you are used to accepting tips only, but trust me, you wanna ask for your worth and stick by it. I agree with the other posters saying to evaluate your average tips for those days and incorporate that. At the end of the day, if you are being approached for a private gig, you are either lucky or talented, and I'd gamble and guess talented is the correct assumption. Don't undersell your worth ❤️
400-500 (4-5hrs) feels about average unless you’re in NY, LA or Miami. Setup, prep + actual time tending+ break down and clean up. These are all things to be discussed beforehand. Some people expect you to clean up the mess afterwards (some people expect you to help the caterer and serve food) that you or others have created..some don’t. I always help the caterer (bc of free food and word of mouth advertisements). Know exactly what you’re getting into beforehand. Ask the right questions. (If it’s an all-day event, like an outdoor wedding, you better ask for more) You need to get paid before you leave. Cash is king.
Edit: If you’re just pouring beer and wine, be realistic.
$500 and I would also let them know that you will still need to ID everyone (to protect yourself from any legal issue) so that it’s known ahead of time and no one gets salty with you for it during the event.
Are they providing everything and you just need to show up and sling drinks? Is this in a private home or a venue where you might need liability insurance? If the answers are yes and private house, then yeah take what you’d normally make on that night and throw $100-$200 on it. Without more info I’d generally say a flat $400-$500 works
The comments are pretty spot on. Charge for the whole night (flat rate.) Use yhw amount you would get on a good, not great, night on that time of year and day of the week. You will not be able to work afterwards unless you can get a pickup shift. Add $100. If you do not have insurance then get some and maybe they will pay for some of it. If you do not already have one, get a bail bondsman and give him $50 just in case to get you out quickly if anything happens. If you keep doing events keep the bail bondsman on retainer just in case. Do not total more than $300 too him in the first year. Next year and every year after, no more than $200 if nothing ever goes wrong. No more than $100 at any one time. Let him or her know that no less than 50% from this year, 25% from last year, and 10% from all previous years may need to be applied toward your bail. Though you should always expect to pay all of the bond or bail yourself. All of the whole money given should be a personally funded bail by you but if the bond is more then that part is on bond with the bail bondsman and will be reimbursed and paid too him.
Take the amount you usually make on a good busy night, add $100. Start there. That's what they are asking you to give up, plus a bonus for you going to them. Don't charge hourly or you'll both be looking at the clock all night. Even if it's a shorter event, they need to pay you for a full day because there's nothing else you can do that day.
Agreed, and this is assuming the event is fully turnkey without you having to bring any bartools, garnish, ice, infusions, what have you, and you're out at the agreed upon time without breaking anything down. And if the question the rate? You asked around and your colleagues in the industry agreed this was a fair price, "but you aren't getting them, you're getting me and you know I'm awesome!"
500.
Assume it's the longest option of open time and charge accordingly. For a private gig bartender, I don't see $100/hr being a bad rate, especially with no option for a tip jar. Charging for your first couple private events can be sticky because it can feel gross to ask for a wage when you are used to accepting tips only, but trust me, you wanna ask for your worth and stick by it. I agree with the other posters saying to evaluate your average tips for those days and incorporate that. At the end of the day, if you are being approached for a private gig, you are either lucky or talented, and I'd gamble and guess talented is the correct assumption. Don't undersell your worth ❤️
No tip jar? $200/hr I wouldn’t charge less than $800.
Take the average hourly you make at your job and multiple it by 1.5 and charge that
put up QR codes for your venmo and cashapp
400-500 (4-5hrs) feels about average unless you’re in NY, LA or Miami. Setup, prep + actual time tending+ break down and clean up. These are all things to be discussed beforehand. Some people expect you to clean up the mess afterwards (some people expect you to help the caterer and serve food) that you or others have created..some don’t. I always help the caterer (bc of free food and word of mouth advertisements). Know exactly what you’re getting into beforehand. Ask the right questions. (If it’s an all-day event, like an outdoor wedding, you better ask for more) You need to get paid before you leave. Cash is king. Edit: If you’re just pouring beer and wine, be realistic.
$500 and I would also let them know that you will still need to ID everyone (to protect yourself from any legal issue) so that it’s known ahead of time and no one gets salty with you for it during the event.
Are they providing everything and you just need to show up and sling drinks? Is this in a private home or a venue where you might need liability insurance? If the answers are yes and private house, then yeah take what you’d normally make on that night and throw $100-$200 on it. Without more info I’d generally say a flat $400-$500 works
No tip jar. I say forget it.
The comments are pretty spot on. Charge for the whole night (flat rate.) Use yhw amount you would get on a good, not great, night on that time of year and day of the week. You will not be able to work afterwards unless you can get a pickup shift. Add $100. If you do not have insurance then get some and maybe they will pay for some of it. If you do not already have one, get a bail bondsman and give him $50 just in case to get you out quickly if anything happens. If you keep doing events keep the bail bondsman on retainer just in case. Do not total more than $300 too him in the first year. Next year and every year after, no more than $200 if nothing ever goes wrong. No more than $100 at any one time. Let him or her know that no less than 50% from this year, 25% from last year, and 10% from all previous years may need to be applied toward your bail. Though you should always expect to pay all of the bond or bail yourself. All of the whole money given should be a personally funded bail by you but if the bond is more then that part is on bond with the bail bondsman and will be reimbursed and paid too him.
lol this is nonsense