How to Hire a Private Bartender in Los Angeles

Hiring a bartender for a private party sounds simple until you start comparing quotes. One includes glassware and ice, another includes only a person. This is the checklist we would give a friend hosting at home in Beverly Hills, the Hollywood Hills or Malibu.

Decide what you are actually hiring

There are three different services that all get called "a private bartender", and most confusion comes from comparing one against another.

• Staff only. A bartender arrives and works with whatever you have bought and set out. You supply the alcohol, mixers, ice, glassware and the bar itself.
• Bar service. The company brings the bartenders plus tools, mixers, garnishes, ice and usually glassware. You supply the alcohol, bought from a shopping list they write for you.
• Full bar design. Everything above, plus the physical bar, back bar, styling, printed menus and a drinks list created for the event.

None of these is wrong. A dinner for twelve may only need staff. A wedding for 150 on a lawn with no kitchen nearby needs the full service, because there is nothing on site to work with.

Questions to ask before you book

• Who will be behind the bar on the night? Ask whether the person you are speaking to will be there, and how many events the team runs on the same date.
• Are you insured? Ask for a certificate of general liability and liquor liability insurance. Many estates, venues and homeowner associations require one naming them as additional insured.
• Are your bartenders trained in responsible service? In California, ask whether staff hold Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) certification and how they handle a guest who has had enough.
• What exactly is included? Get a written list: ice, glassware, mixers, garnishes, bar, linens, setup and breakdown, travel, parking.
• How long do you need to set up? A designed bar can take two to three hours to build. Hillside homes with stairs or a long carry take longer.
• What happens to rubbish and glass at the end? A professional team leaves the space as it was found.

Who buys the alcohol?

For a private party at a home, the host usually buys the alcohol and the bar service serves it. The rules are different when drinks are sold, tickets are sold, or the public is admitted, and those events may need a licensed caterer or a permit. If your event is anything other than a private, invitation-only gathering where drinks are free to guests, confirm the requirements with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control or your venue before you book.

How far ahead to book

Saturdays from May to October and the weeks before the winter holidays fill first. For a wedding, start the conversation as soon as the venue is confirmed. For a party at home, a few weeks is usually comfortable, though a custom menu and a tasting need more time.

Signs you have found the right team

• They ask about the space, access and power before they quote.
• They tell you plainly when something will not work.
• They offer a tasting, and the menu changes because of it.
• The quote is itemised and nothing appears later.