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TAM® of Nevada $250 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

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Gift Card Giveaway
Find us on Facebook and sign up!

We’re rewarding hardworking Nevada locals and industry professionals with a Facebook giveaway. Have you entered yet?

TAM® of Nevada is dedicated to providing superior education and service to Nevada’s hard working service professionals. We are happy to be a provider alcohol awareness education and alcohol education cards for over 25 years now. In addition to this, we are happy to now have the opportunity to connect with industry professionals socially, and invite you to join us! We’re announcing a new giveaway to show our appreciation to TAM® students and Facebook fans for their and positive comments and suggestions.

If you are a Facebook user, please connect with us by visiting us on Facebook and ‘Liking’ our page. After visiting and liking our page, you’ll have the option to register and enter the contest for a chance to win a $250 Visa gift card. Already connected with us on Facebook? No problem, just visit our page and fill out the entry form. We’ll be randomly drawing two winners, one at the end of August, and one at the end of September, so sign up today!

Even if you’re not interested in entering to win, we invite you to connect with us socially on Facebook. TAM® of Nevada is always interested in keeping touch with current and prospective students. By joining us, you can be the first to learn about any coupons and deals available only to our social media followers, plus additional TAM® tips, Las Vegas news and happenings, industry events and more.

Resources

TAM of Nevada Facebook Page

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Las Vegas Restaurant Week is Coming. Are You Ready for the Crowds?

Published on by TAM of Nevada1 Comment

Las Vegas Restaurant WeekLas Vegas Restaurant Week is returning to town once again from August 29th through September 11th at many of the area’s hottest restaurants.

Now in its fifth year, this event continues to be a resounding success and something for diners to look forward to. Restaurant Week offers up the chance for diners to check out some of the most popular eateries on and off the strip if they haven’t had the chance (or the budget!) just yet. Additionally, a portion of proceeds from each meal sold at participating restaurants will go to support Three Square Food Bank. How cool is that?

What does that mean for hospitality professionals? Prepare to be VERY busy! Expect crowds of hungry diners eager to sample cuisine from the over 80 participating restaurants over the two week period. Diners are heavily encouraged to make reservations, so that removes the element of surprise for many establishments.

If you are a service professional at a participating restaurant, make sure you are familiar with the prixe fixe menus and are able to answer questions about Restaurant Week options (ex – Menu substitutions, exclusions, etc.). Need a little more advice on how to keep your cool during this busy period? Make sure to read our blog post, “Feel Like You’re Stuck in a Pressure Cooker? Managing Stress on the Job.”

To learn more about Las Vegas Restaurant Week, Three Square Food Bank, and participating restaurants, you can visit the event website here.

Is your establishment participating in Restaurant Week? Which restaurants are you most excited to dine at?

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

What’s On Your Summer Reading List? Best Books for Bartenders

Published on by TAM of Nevada1 Comment

We’re well in to summer, and hope everyone is enjoying the warmth and sunshine. Have you had the chance to do some summer reading yet? Whether you’re planning a beachy vacation getaway or just some downtime at home, the relaxed summer months are a great time to curl up with a good book. Instead of the usual bestsellers, why not pick up one of the many great books out there for bartenders and other hospitality professionals? Whether you’re looking for a good book to explain the basics, insight into the industry from bar gurus, or just a light and fun fiction novel set with a bar as the backdrop, there’s something out there for everyone. Here are some suggestions from TAM® of Nevada to help get you started:

  • The Joy of Mixology: The Consummate Guide to the Bartender’s Craft by Gary Regan – A must-read guide to bartending and mixology by a fantastic author. Gary Regan’s book is a classic for any bar professional and will give insight and tips on not only how to memorize drink recipes, but begin creating your own. With insight into cocktail history, advice on bar etiquette and insights into his own experiences in the industry, this is a fun and entertaining read. If you’re impressed with this book, you should also pick up Regan’s newest follow-up book, The Annual Manual for Bartenders – 2011.
  • The Modern Mixologist: Contemporary Classic Cocktails by Tony Abou-Ganim – A guide to cocktails and creative and fresh bartending techniques from Las Vegas resident and bartender extraordinaire Tony Abou-Ganim. This book is a great read for novices and professionals alike. The Modern Mixologist is another great account of the industry from one of the most well-known bartenders in America. What better way to learn your craft than with the insights of a great professional?

Looking for even more suggestions on good reads for bar professionals? Check out Jack Robertiello’s suggestions in his article, “Books for Bartenders,” for Nightclub & Bar. What are you reading this summer?

Resources

Books for Bartenders – Nightclub & Bar

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Tending Bar… With a Little Flair!

Published on by TAM of Nevada4 Comments

Flair bartenderLearn a new bartending skill and stand out from the pack.

There 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. Think you might be right for the job? To get a leg up on the competition, being able to entertain patrons with flair bartending techniques can be the cherry on top. And the best part? A flair bartender can do pretty well for themselves, especially if they can entertain while serving. A flair bartender will draw in more customers, making more money for the bar, and themselves.

Flair bartenders are known for using bar tools and liquor bottles as props to entertain while they are mixing drinks. It can be quite a sight to see someone juggling liquor bottles, mixing drinks behind their backs, carefully setting fire to mixed drinks, and more. Las Vegas is home to some of the best flair bartenders in the country, and boasts several bars and clubs that showcase their talents. If you’re considering a career as a flair bartender, Las Vegas is the place to be. Make sure to check out Vegas.com’s article, “Behind the Scenes: Flair Bartending in Vegas,” for a video interview with Rock & Rita’s flair bartender Anthony Pullen.

So you’re ready to become a flair bartender? TAM® of Nevada has some tips on how you can get started:

  1. Get educated on bartending techniques. Flair bartending requires a solid working knowledge of bartending skills, plus lots of practice, practice, practice! Before you start juggling liquor bottles, it’s important to learn how to mix drinks, and build up your bartending know-how of tips and techniques. It won’t matter how well you can entertain if you don’t know how to make a martini. Consider attending a bartending school if you haven’t already, there are several reputable establishments in Southern Nevada. Some of these locations also offer flair training, so be sure to ask for details of what their programs offer when you’re checking credentials. You can also get lots of practical education tending a bar and learning the ropes from other traditional, and flair bartenders.
  2. Obtain your TAM® Card. All hospitality professionals in Southern Nevada are required to obtain their alcohol education card prior to working at a location where they’ll be selling and serving alcoholic beverages. The Techniques of Alcohol Management® will give you the skills and knowledge you need to serve responsibly.
  3. Practice makes perfect. Every day at work you’ll have the chance to handle bottles and shakers, so practice spinning shakers in your hand and doing simple tricks when you have some downtime. Starting with the basics and working your way up to more difficult tricks, you’ll begin to feel comfortable with your props and impress your guests at the same time. You can also watch plenty of flair training videos online for tips and tricks to learning basic flair bartending moves. A great resource is TAM of Nevada’s YouTube channel; we’re always adding our favorite flair bartending videos and tutorials. Another tip? Try practicing at home with plastic bottles until you get the hang of things – you will inevitably drop some bottles, and nothing will put a damper on your day faster than a mess of shattered glass to clean up.

Flair bartending is not a skill one will learn easily or overnight, but it can be done! For more information on flair bartending news, training and industry information, and a place to network with other bar professionals, you can always check out the Flair Bartenders’ Association.

Our most important advice of all of all? Remember to have fun! What is the best advice you would give to someone looking to start a career as a flair bartender?

Resources

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada