<p>I have another wedding related question but thought it deserved its own thread because it may have applicability for others (for not the same exact situation, maybe). </p>
<p>I thought I had a bartender for my wedding but it fell through. I’m not sure what I’m going to do if I can’t find somebody soon. I was debating whether it was a good idea to put up a listing for the job on Craigslist. Something about Craiglist makes me nervous but I really need to find someone.</p>
<p>Also, are there any other ways you might suggest finding a bartender? I have contacted a few catering companies and probably will try some more, hoping they have someone they commonly work with. My caterer does not and will not provide a bartender. I’m not even sure what credentials I should be looking for, and how much I should pay. </p>
<p>See if the venue keeps a list of suggested vendors and requirements, ask friends who work in restaurants to see ask the the bartenders who are off that day if they would like an outside job.</p>
<p>I found someone to look after my chickens while I was away via Craigslist. I picked out a HS kid who had advertised their pet-sitting services. I would suggest looking to see who is advertising their services, rather than posting yourself. And definitely don’t pay anything in advance. Checking for off-duty bartenders is a good idea, too–if you have the time.</p>
<p>Angie’s List… ?? I’ve seen them advertised on TV, but never used it for anything yet.</p>
<p>E-Lance … do they cover bartenders? I think you advertise what you want, people place sealed bids and make their pitch on why they should be the one. You can read some of the reviews on each person.</p>
<p>The caterer apparently doesn’t usually work with any vendors in particular. I did email a couple other caterers in the area to ask if they had a bartender on staff or someone they usually work with that they might recommend. </p>
<p>Also, using Consolation’s strategy, I found an event staffing company that I’m going to contact on Monday. Didn’t think to look for postings rather than posting them myself! Now I’ll hopefully feel more comfortable that I’m getting a licensed and insured bartender and not a “bartender.”</p>
<p>Rather than posting an ad on CL, first look under Services Offered -> Event Services. That’s how I found a bartender for a large event. He recommended a kitchen helper who he’d worked with in the past, and they arrived together.</p>
<p>keep in mind some cities, like Boston, require bartenders to have some kind of certification. Maybe the town/city hall in the place you are holding the wedding might have a suggestion.</p>
<p>I think you need more than a bartender. You need the alcohol too. Whoever is supplying the alcohol will want their person serving it. Best to keep going down the list of caterers until you find one who will cater just the bar.</p>
<p>I’m guessing this is a private location that does not normally have parties. You probably have a lot more leeway as a private party. If you want to keep it simple, just a few non mixed drinks (cans of beer, bottles of wine, non-alcoholic options), then I’m guessing you can buy it all, and find a college student (over the age of 21) to manage the drink station.</p>
<p>I asked my sister who is a bartender and she said to ask around at local bars. She suggested asking hostesses or managers first who they’d recommend rather than the bartenders themselves. </p>
<p>We’re getting servers (inc. a bartender, though we are just serving wine). We were advised from other folks that we should get our own alcohol to avoid the markup. Be aware that some places will not permit servers to pour out of a 2 liter bottle. (stress injuries?) Will make finding 1-liter bottles of soft drinks interesting…</p>
<p>The serving companies we checked out were running $40-50/hr for a bartender, with generally a 5 hr minimum.</p>