barbacks – Shaken Not Stirred in LA

Venice Beach Corporate Event

November 19, 2015 shakennotstirredinla

Wednesday Shaken Not Stirred provided bartenders for a large corporate event in Venice Beach. This was the first of many holiday company parties Shaken Not Stirred has contracted to do in the next month and a half. The Venice event required two bartenders and two barbacks to provide service for approximately 300 guests. ‘

I worked extensively with the company party planner developing a drink menu and shopping list. She wanted Thanksgiving themed cocktails and chose a Cranberry Old Fashioned, an Apple Cider Moscow Mule, and an Apple Pie sparkler as a mocktail. Now, how to serve these moderately complex drinks to 300 people in three hours.

I normally don’t recommend serving drinks that require any muddling, fresh fruit, or four different ingredients to large crowds. We worked it out. Otto, a veteran Hollywood nightclub bartender was working with me and he showed me how to muddle fruit, sugar, and bitters in masses, so all we had to do was add a spoonful to each Old Fashioned and mix the drink.

Corporate Event Bartenders

Company holiday parties
Client appreciation
Grand Openings
Screenings
Product launches
Conferences

I had my barback putting ice into glasses and booze and then I mixed the drink. I saw the line circulating three or four times throughout the night. Only one bottle of whiskey was left at the end and about a case of wine. My shopping list was pretty accurate for 300 people for three hours.

On Saturday I will stay in the San Fernando Valley and bartend a birthday party in Reseda. On Monday I will bartend a cocktail party in Westwood, and then on Thursday I will spend Thanksgiving with my family. I had requests for bartending gigs on Thanksgiving, but I am sorry – I worked too many holidays when I worked in the restaurant industry. This Thanksgiving I will be with family.

Baptism Party, Wedding Bartender

Culver City Wedding and Tarzana Baptism Celebration

October 19, 2015 shakennotstirredinla

Outside bar at Big Daddy's Antiques — Outside bar at Big Daddy’s Antiques

Shaken Not Stirred stayed close to home this weekend and worked a wedding party in Culver City Saturday night, and then on Sunday bartended a baptism party in Tarzana. Both events went very well, and that was due to planning and preparation. Once again, I was reminded that all kinds of problems can be avoided when I show up plenty early.

The wedding party in Culver City was held at Big Daddy’s Antiques. It is a real antique store that is full of all kinds of cool stuff. I bartended another event in Santa Barbara at a similar type of place. There are so many cool things there, but most of the items at Big Daddy’s are the huge and made of stone, so not easily breakable. I had a crew with me – one more bartender and two bar backs. I’m sorry that I didn’t get many pictures I was so busy.

Nikki and Pia working the inside bar at Big Daddy's — Nikki and Pia working the inside bar at Big Daddy’s

When I arrived at Big Daddy’s I found out we would be working with two separate bars, which I was not previously aware of. That was not a problem, because I arrived early enough to call my other bartender to pick up some extra supplies that we needed. I brought 8 20 lb bags of ice, which we discovered as the party went on, that we needed more. I sent one of the barbacks out for 4 more bags, which was enough.

The bride and I had conversed several times planning the event. We made a specialty cocktail that was a hit. It is called the Flamingo, and it is made with muddled cucumber and mint, watermelon juice and vodka. My crew, Nikki, Pia, and Maria all did an excellent job and was proud of all of them. I think the bride and groom were very happy also.

On Sunday I traveled to the hills of Tarzana to bartend a baptism party. This is a second such party I have done recently. One very cool thing happened – I saw a photographer, Mark Cano, working the party who I had seen at another party. It turns out he was hired because I had linked him to this blog. I link caterers, Dj’s and all kinds of vendors to this blog, and this was the first time I heard about somebody being actually hired. Very cool.

I served Moscow Mules, which have become very popular lately, Mojitos, and variation of drinks. I poured a lot of shots, and the shot of choice was Pineapple Ciroc. They served traditional Filipino food that was excellent. It was a perfect day for a party as the weather has finally cooled down in the San Fernando Valley.

Next weekend I will travel back to Coachella to the Corona Yacht Club to bartend another wedding with my associate Mia Martini. I have already booked a New Year’s Eve party in Los Angeles, and have booked a few other holiday parties, but still have many dates available in December.

Special Event Bartenders

Hollywood Champagne Reception

March 9, 2014 shakennotstirredinla

Last night I assisted pouring champagne for 150 guests at the Harmony Gold Theatre in Hollywood. The Center for Spiritual Living of Los Angeles was celebrating their 25th anniversary and they hosted a champagne reception for their members after their Saturday night service. I helped set up and pour the champagne, so it would be ready when all of the guests poured out of the theater. While this was an easy gig for me and probably anybody could have done it – I have poured champagne so many times at various events, it helps to have a little experience. They set up hors d’oeuvres that were made by Diamond Bakery on Fairfax and they were just excellent.

I listened to the service while we were setting up and I must say that the Center for Spiritual Living had some excellent music. As soon as the service was over, the people poured out of the theater and the glasses of champagne I had poured went fast. I poured ginger ale into champagne glasses for non alcoholic drinkers. We went through 18 bottles of champagne for 150 people. A few people came back for a second glass.

It was nice to do a gig in Hollywood after being in Palm Springs last weekend. Next weekend I am doing a wedding in Mira Loma, and the weekend after that I am doing another party in Los Angeles. Someone called me last night and wants me to do a birthday party in Woodland Hills next month. He found me off of a Google search, which means that this blog is working. I am showing up on the first page of many searches now. It takes awhile. I used to get many gigs off of Craigslist, but that doesn’t seem to be working now, and I think it’s because you can’t click through the links from Craigslist any more.

This is my second year of doing this as my own business, and I couldn’t be happier. I am getting jobs pretty consistently every weekend, and I am starting to get some repeat business. I am doing an engagement party next month in West Hollywood that is a repeat client. I have probably helped over 100 clients, and so far, knock on wood, have not had one bad experience. I have several girls that help me as servers and barbacks and I am getting more requests for that. Three gigs I have scheduled next month, I will take extra staff with me. It is going to be a good summer bartending in Southern California.