Category: Alcohol Sales

Back to Basics– Five Strategies for Becoming a Better Bartender

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

Bartending BasicsThere are a lot of things that go into a great bartender: a winning personality, an attention to detail, and a dedication to public safety, and the legal and moral issues of serving alcoholic beverages. Looking to improve on your own marketable bartending skills? Read on for some tips on putting your best foot forward.

  1. Get TAM® certified. Nothing is more important to your success as a hospitality professional than responsible service to ensure the safety of your patrons and to reduce the liability and risk for yourself and your business. Carry your TAM® card to show you received the best possible training, and sign up for one of our online or onsite classes today.
  2. Brush up on the latest cocktail and mocktail trends as well as any ‘back of the basics’ techniques you need practice with. A great bartender will draw in more customers, making more money for the bar, and themselves. You’ll need solid working knowledge of bartending skills, plus lots of practice, so it’s important to learn how to mix drinks correctly, and build up your bartending know-how of tips and techniques. Check out blog post “What’s On Your Summer Reading List? Best Books for Bartenders” for some reading suggestions that might help you to increase your knowledge and skill level.
  3. Keep your bar well stocked, your work area clean and neat, and have glassware, liquor and bar tools in the most functional place possible. By having a clean, efficient and streamlined work area, not only will it set the stage for your guests, it will make it easier for you to do your job well and turn out orders efficiently and effectively. At the start of your work day, make sure everything is in its place, and when you have down time between mixing drinks, make sure to keep things neat and tidy.
  4. Excellent customer service comes easier if you keep a cool head under pressure. Providing the best customer experience possible will be much easier if you are able to keep calm on those busy Saturday nights behind the bar. Don’t over-commit yourself, if you feel yourself getting stressed, take a few deep breaths. Examine what tasks you need to complete, prioritize them, and eliminate any tasks that aren’t necessary. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Your supervisor and coworkers are a part of your team and want to see you succeed, and your guests leave happy.
  5. Recognize your weaknesses and strive to improve. Nobody is perfect; maybe you’ve gotten constructive criticism from your manager in your last review, or maybe you’ve examined your own work performance and know areas you need to improve on. Whether it’s improving on multitasking, working under pressure, basic techniques, or something else, it can be done. Just remember that approaching your work with a glass half empty approach is never a good idea. Sometimes it can be difficult to see the good in a difficult situation, but do your best to think positively and work to make necessary changes.

You should now be well on your way to making positive improvements in your work performance. What other advice would you give to someone looking to improve on their bartending skills and techniques?

© 2012 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Las Vegas Job Market Shows Improvement for Hospitality Industry

Published on by TAM of Nevada1 Comment

Are you a job seeker in Las Vegas? Then you probably know the labor market is still very competitive right now. While we’re not out of the woods yet, according to a new report from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, the Nevada job market is starting to show some modest improvement over the same time last year (DETR). Perhaps even more interesting, the largest job gains were shown in industries that staff TAM® Card holders and other service professionals. The leisure and hospitality industry had 262,600 workers in January, 10,500 more than the same month a year ago. Food service and drinking establishments added 5,400 jobs while casino hotels and gaming establishments grew by 4,700 (8 News Now).

Are you doing all you can to maximize your employment search? Be sure to check out our blog posts “Looking for a New Career? A Job in the Hospitality Industry May Be Right for You,” and, “Landing a Job in the Hospitality Industry,” for additional tips on finding your dream job in Southern Nevada. Remember, you’ll also need to obtain your TAM® Card prior to serving or selling alcoholic beverages in Southern Nevada. Get a jump on the competition and visit our website to register for one of our online or on-site alcohol awareness classes today.

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© 2012 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Laying the Foundations for Success – Great Traits for Bar Managers

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Hospitality Managers have the difficult job of balancing the wants and needs of establishment owners, employees, and customers. A great manager can juggle customer satisfaction with a multitude of ever changing tasks each and every day, all while helping to support a busy staff, boosting sales and performance, and keeping an eye to the health and safety of patrons. Nightclub & Bar recently released an article titled, “How Bar Managers Can Succeed,” and we here at TAM® of Nevada wholeheartedly agree with the attributes they list as key for bar managers. You can read the full article here, and here are a couple more qualities that we’d add to the list:

  1. A passion for excellence. A great manager not only has a desire to lead, he or she takes pride in the service or product offered, and inspires the staff to put their best foot forward.
  2. Flexibility. In a busy and fast-paced world like Las Vegas’ hospitality industry, a manager who can roll with the punches is invaluable. Not everything will always go according to plan, and a manager who is adaptable and can be flexible is in the best position for success.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. What insider tips would you give someone looking to excel the in hospitality industry? What tips would you give someone looking to improve their management skills?

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© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

 

It’s Tax Time – Are You Properly Reporting Your Tip Income?

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

It’s that time of year again, you should have received your tax forms; and, this year you’ll have until April 17th to file with the IRS. As always, servers, bartenders, performers, and anyone else who receives tips on the job will have extra work to do in correctly reporting their income. Questions about how much of your income needs to be declared are easy to answer: All of it. We’ve all heard the myths and bad advice from others that servers can get away with reporting a fraction of the tip income they bring home, but this is simply not true. Keeping accurate records will make things much easier at tax time!

Employers should be aware that, according to the IRS, “employees who receive tips of $20 or more in a calendar month while working for you, are required to report to you the total amount of tips they receive. They must give you written reports by the tenth of the following month.” (IRS.gov). Check out the article, “Don’t Forget Uncle Sam When You’re Counting Your Tips,” for more information on how to keep track of your tips throughout the year, and how to report them at tax time.

Also, if you want to familiarize yourself with the basics of tip reporting, here’s an excellent article by The International Guild of Hospitality & Restaurant Managers titled, “8 Tips for Employers and Employees on Reporting Tips.” For more information on reporting to the IRS and filling out “Form 4070A – Employee’s Daily Record of Tips,” refer to IRS Publication 1244: Employee’s Daily Record of Tips and Report to Employer. When in doubt, always check with a tax professional to make sure you’re in compliance.

Have you starting working on your taxes yet?

Resources

© 2012 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada