Tag: bartending

Bartenders and Hospitality Workers: 5 New Year’s Resolutions You Can Actually Keep

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Upselling_BarLas Vegas kicked off the New Year in high style with parties at all of the hottest spots around town. Now, it’s time to get back to work! 2018 can be the year to resolve to make changes in your career, education and business. Still thinking about what your resolution will be? We have some ideas to get you started. Here are our suggestions for meaningful New Year’s resolutions that you can actually stick to:

  1. Renew your TAM Card and get trained the right way, with the best curriculum available. Whether you’re renewing your expiring card, or getting your very first TAM® Card, get your mandatory alcohol education at one of our online or on-site classes.
  2. Expand your draw with new bartending skills. Try learning some simple flair bartending techniques to add another job skill to your tool belt, and impress your guests with your new talent.
  3. Resolve to begin the search to find your dream job. Start out by watching for local job fairs, or take your resume to establishments you would be interested in working at. Read out blog post “Job Searching in Las Vegas? Ace Your Next Hospitality Industry Job Interview” for tips on making the most of your job search and nailing the interview. And remember to check out the local job posting board at our office when you come in to pick up your TAM Card. We work with lots of local employers to share their hospitality job openings with our TAM students.
  4. Take your customer service skills to the next level. Wow both your patrons and your boss with a fresh new outlook, positive attitude, and dedication to providing excellent service. As a bonus, projecting a positive attitude will help YOU to relax and enjoy your job! Read “Qualities of a Top-Notch Service Professional” for more tips.
  5. Brainstorm new ideas, deals, or events for your establishment to kick start sales and draw in new patrons. There are many reasons why establishments can see a sales dip, but hard work and creative thinking can pay off big for your business. Start by making a list of holidays that could merit a celebration, new menu items to promote with special deals, and make sure you have an active and effective presence on social media channels to connect with your customers. Check Out “Are Your Happy Hour Deals Falling Flat? New Ideas to Boost Your Bar Sales”  or “Promotions and Marketing: Hosting a Bar Trivia Night” for more ideas to help you get started.

Wishing a Happy New Year to all from TAM® of Nevada. What is your New Year’s Resolution?

Alcohol and Energy Drinks – A Dangerous Cocktail

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We have all heard the sayings about popular “alcopops.” They are like a binge in a can, are marketed to teens, and worse. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration declared alcoholic energy drinks to be a public health concern and concluded that caffeine added to malt alcoholic beverages was an unsafe food additive (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). However, that doesn’t stop bartenders and consumers alike from mixing up their own alcohol and energy drink cocktails for a quick pick-me-up. Unfortunately, research has found that users who mix alcohol and energy drinks are three times more likely to binge drink than users who do not mix alcohol and energy drinks (CDC). For even more information on the dangers of mixing alcohol and energy drinks, check out the following video from Discovery News.

This should serve as a reminder for all hospitality professionals to serve responsibly, monitor your patrons carefully, and be extra vigilant if you are serving beverages mixed with energy drinks or highly caffeinated beverages (ex. Vodka and Red Bull).

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New Video: How To Get a TAM Card Online

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The process to obtain a TAM® Card is simple! Check out our new video, which shows exactly how easy it is to obtain your TAM® Card online from TAM® of Nevada! Questions or comments? Let us know in the comments section below.

Make sure to also visit TAM of Nevada’s YouTube channel. We often hear from our students that they not only learned a lot from their TAM class, they enjoy the additional tips, news and humorous videos we share socially.

Make the Most of the Halloween Season at Your Establishment with Safe and Profitable Themed Events

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Halloween_CocktailFall has officially arrived and with it comes the opportunity for celebrations and events to increase sales, and to engage and entertain your guests. Halloween is always a popular celebratory event for restaurants and clubs, because it offers the opportunity for themed promotions and menu items, contests and special events, and more. This year, take the opportunity to experiment with Halloween-themed offerings at your establishment, and apply any lessons learned to other holiday-themed celebrations in the future (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and more). Successful events will have your guests waiting with anticipation for your next celebration.

Here are some ideas on how to make the most of the Halloween season, and get more patrons into the door.

The party never stops in Las Vegas, but make sure your customers are served safely and responsibly. In 2012, almost half (48%) of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities on Halloween night (6 p.m. October 31 to 5:59 a.m. November 1) involved a drunk driver. In 2012 alone, 26 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night (NHTSA). The City of Henderson reports that Henderson Police officers will be joining forces with officers from neighboring jurisdictions to step up enforcement from Sunday, October 19 through Monday, November 3 looking for impaired drivers. Remember:

  • If any of your costumed-patrons are wearing masks, they’ll need to take them off when you are checking I.D. Also make sure that you are not over-serving your guests when you are featuring special drinks. TAM® of Nevada will train you and your co-workers to provide a great celebration that will keep your patrons safe and willing to come back and party at your next holiday event.
  • The best treat is a safe and sober ride home after a Halloween party. Keep the number to cab companies at your bar so that you can make the call whenever necessary. Companies like Designated Drivers, Inc. provide a responsible alternative to driving while impaired. A driver will be dispatched to take your patron home in their own vehicle, no worries about retrieving their car after they sober up.

How are you planning to kick-off the festivities this season?

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