Tag: cocktail waitress

Upselling to Increase Profits and Net Better Tips

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

Upselling_BarWorkers in the hospitality industry often depend on tip money for the majority of their income. Looking for ways to increase your earnings? When coupled with great customer service, a higher tab almost always equates to a higher tip, and what service professional doesn’t want to increase bar sales, and in turn, their own tips? There are several ways to net bigger tips, wow your guests, and impress your manager by netting bigger sales. Nightclub & Bar recently released an article titled, “5 Tips in Training Your Staff to Upsell,” and we here at TAM® of Nevada wholeheartedly agree with their suggestions. You can read the full article here, and check out a few more suggestions for TAM® Card holders that we’d add to the list:

  1. When done correctly, upselling is one of the most effective ways to increase your earnings potential. For example, if a mixed drink comes in a standard size or large size, it would be acceptable to ask your guest if they’d like to order the larger size. Just remember to keep an eye on any patrons so they aren’t over served. A larger drink will contain more alcohol than a standard serving size. Similarly, try and promote your top shelf liquors. If a patron asks for a mixed drink, ask them if they’d like to select the premium option. A simple suggestion such as, “Would you like your drink with Grey Goose?” is an easy way to upsell your offerings without being pushy.
  2. Suggest premium beverages or signature drinks over well drinks to increase sales. A patron can get a well drink anywhere, suggesting one of your establishment’s popular signature cocktails can instantly boost the bar tab, and your customer gets to try something new and exciting.
  3. Drink sales aren’t the only item to focus on; you can also upsell food items on you menu. Try offering your bar patrons an appetizer or entrée to go with their drinks. A simple, “Would you like to try some buffalo wings to go with your beer?” is always a good tactic.

Providing excellent customer service in addition to responsible beverage service is one of the most important duties of a bartender or server. What other tips about suggestive selling and upselling would you add to the list?

Resources

© 2013 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

2012 Consumer Electronics Show Comes to Town

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Take the Opportunity to Promote Las Vegas as a Safe Vacation Spot and Make the Most of 150,000 Visitors

The Consumer Electronic Show (CES) is one of the biggest draws of the year in Las Vegas. Why not make the most of being on center stage to show visitors from all over the world all that Vegas has to offer? Taxi companies are planning to get more drivers on the streets, hotel room prices have skyrocketed for the week, and establishments all over town are preparing to face huge crowds of patrons looking for food, drink, quality service, and a good time.

If you’re planning to work during the course of the event, it presents a great opportunity to make a king’s ransom in tip money, and wow your guests at the same time. Are you looking for ways to get bigger tips? One thing that can set you apart from other cocktail servers and bartenders is sharing some of the Vegas inside scoop with your guests. Your guests may be in town for a business function, but you can help make their visit memorable with prompt service, extra attention and a few simple suggestions. Your guests will certainly appreciate your ability to make recommendations on parties, places to go to after dinner, or any packages or special events for conference attendees.

  1. Promote Las Vegas as a safe vacation spot. Helping to steer visitors towards sights and attractions that are fun, appealing and safe is a great way to share all that the city has to offer. With safety first in mind, encourage visitors not to walk alone at night and to stay on the strip. The Nevada Commission on Tourism’s website also has a wealth of helpful information and resources for popular attractions. Hopefully, visitors will return home to tell their friends what a great time they had! By sharing what the great state of Nevada has to offer, you can not only impress your guests and help them to enjoy a memorable experience, but hopefully they’ll spread the word, and that benefits everyone in the long run.
  2. Make suggestions to your guests for visiting popular spots around town. As a local, you can capitalize on your knowledge of what is going on in and around town. You may want to suggest use of the Las Vegas monorail, trolleys, free trams, and free shuttles. Visitors will expect crowds and having a variety of options to get around will be helpful. And, why not promote the free shows and attractions around town? Suggest checking out the fountain shows, the Fremont Street experience, the Volcano at the Mirage, the Show in the Sky at the Rio, and any other free or low cost attractions that might be worth a visit. Many guests will also appreciate your insider knowledge about where locals like the hang out, off the beaten path sites to visit, etc.
  3. Always practice safe alcohol sales and service. The lessons you learn in your TAM® course will help you to serve responsibly. A well-educated server is familiar with alcohol’s effects on the body and can recognize the dangerous signs of over-intoxication. Watch how much you are serving and how often. You can help to cut down on the number of over-intoxicated individuals who ruin the atmosphere for others, or potentially harm themselves. Also, call a cab for any inebriated drivers on your premises. Keeping them off the road helps keep us all safe.

How are you planning to make the most of the CES crowds?

Resources

© 2012 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Are You Ready to Take an Alcohol Awareness Exam?

Published on by TAM of Nevada3 Comments

StockSnap_BBX50H7QEZRead on for tips on how you can prepare for your final exam.

The State of Nevada’s Commission on Postsecondary Education requires that students pass a supervised exam with a 75% or better before being issued an Alcohol Education Card. What does that mean for you? If you complete your TAM® training online you must physically go to the provider’s approved school location to take a proctored exam after finishing the online training. If you opted to complete the course in a classroom setting you will take a test immediately following the training session.

Are you nervous about taking and passing a test? Fear not! TAM® of Nevada has been helping students prepare for their exams for over 25 years. Before you come in to our official training to obtain your TAM Card, read on for more tips on making sure you’re prepared to pass with flying colors. Rest assured the training you’ve completed with TAM® will leave you prepared to ace your exam, and excel at practicing safe beverage service techniques on the job.

How long is the exam? The exam is 25 questions. It takes approximately 15 minutes for you to take your exam and have your picture taken for your TAM Card. Most students find the test to be a breeze after participating in TAM training; all questions are a review of the material you covered during the course.

Is there a Practice Test? You bet! Students who elect to complete TAM® Card online training will take a practice test at the end of their online training. This is one of the best ways to prepare for your proctored exam; you’ll get an idea of the types of questions that will appear on your final exam and have the chance to complete a final review before taking the real thing. If you’re planning to wait a few days to take your proctored exam, you can refresh your memory on the material covered by going through the TAM Student Manual before leaving for our office.

What if I take a classroom course? Traditional classroom training will leave you equally prepared for your test as the online option. Feel free to take notes and ask questions during the class. Our instructors are there to help and make sure you’re comfortable with all of the material. They love being able to answer questions and discuss the particulars of safe beverage service with students!

Relax! Take a deep breath and focus on the questions. You’ll do great!

What other ways do you like to prepare before taking an exam?

Resources

Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Come Prepared and Ace Your Next Hospitality Industry Job Interview

Published on by TAM of Nevada1 Comment

So, you’ve obtained your TAM® Card and Health Card, you’ve gone scouting for a job, and now you’ve got an interview lined up… What’s next? Searching for hospitality industry jobs in a down economy can be challenging and stressful too. It’s important to remember that landing an interview is only the first step; now you have to impress hiring managers with your winning personality, great attitude and industry know-how. Are you prepared to put your best foot forward and land your dream job?

A great way to prepare for your interview is to think about common questions that are likely to be asked, and how you’ll respond. Think of it like a practice test. Wouldn’t you want to review what’s going to be on your quiz before you sit down to take it? Hospitality Job Site features a great article with common questions that hiring managers like to ask job candidates in the hospitality and nightlife industry. You can read the article titled, “Common Interview Questions,” and use that as a starting point for your preparations. Still feel like you’re not quite ready? Consider asking a friend to give you a mock interview. You can practice answering questions and gain helpful feedback about your answers and your demeanor.

When you get to your interview remember to:

  1. Arrive on time. Allow yourself extra time to get to the interview just in case, and be prepared to fill out a formal application once you arrive. By arriving a few minutes early, you’ll be ready to meet with a hiring manager at the scheduled time, and won’t keep them waiting while you finish paperwork.
  2. Be confident. Smile and sit up straight. Be sure to project a positive attitude.
  3. Thank the interviewer for their time. Be sure you leave on the same positive note you came in on.

You should now be well on your way to acing your next interview. For more tips to making the most of your job search, check out our blog post, “You’re Hired! Landing a Job in the Hospitality Industry.”

What tips have you received for making a great impression in an interview?

Resources

• Health Cards – Southern Nevada Health District

• Common Interview Questions – Hospitality Job Site

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada