How much does it cost to rent or hire a bartender?

A bartender’s rate can range from $30 to $60 per hour. To factor in the cost of a bartender for a private party, you’ll need to consider the following:

• The party’s geographical location
• The date of the event
• The bartender’s special skills and training
• The number of people at the party
• The bartender booking service

Does the cost depend on my party’s location?

Bartenders in different cities can have varying rates, with some earning above or below the national average. For example, bartenders in New York could make about 30% above the national average, while bartenders in Las Vegas and San Francisco may earn about 44% to 48% above the national average, respectively. The cost can also vary depending on the local economy and the strength of the local hospitality staffing service.

Can I book a bartender during the holidays?

Booking a bartender during the holidays is a great idea as they bring the perfect festive atmosphere to your event. However, it may cost a little more as event bartenders usually charge more for events held on or near a holiday due to the increased demand during these times of the year.

Bartenders that can flip bottles and tell stories or jokes while they serve drinks are called flair bartenders. Hiring a flair bartender will most likely cost more due to the extra training and skill involved.

Another consideration to keep in mind when hiring flair bartenders is the amount of time needed to serve each drink. Fewer guests will be served per hour because of the embellishments involved with this type of bartending, so you may need to hire additional bartenders for larger events.

Other special skills bartenders may possess include:

• Knowledge of how to mix a wide range of standard and more obscure drinks
• Outgoing personality
• Communication skills
• Good long-term and short-term memory

The more skilled an event bartender is, the more he or she can demand for that service.

The beverages served and the number of guests attending the party normally determines the number of bartenders you’ll need to hire.

Beverages Served: If your bar is limited to beer and wine, you may only need one bartender for up to 100 guests. If mixed drinks are served, you will likely need more than one bartender. Mixed drinks take more time to prepare and serve than beer and wine.

Maximum Guests: Some personal bartenders base their service on the number of guests. Many bartenders limit their service to 50 to 75 guests maximum. After the 75-guest threshold is met, you should calculate the cost of including an additional bartender.

Discounts for Additional Bartenders: A lot of bartending service providers will provide a discount for additional bartenders required.  Billing policies vary and each individual and company will have their own. These discounts may increase incrementally, for example, a 5% discount for the first additional bartender, 10% for the second additional bartender, and so on.

Most bartenders are booked in four-hour increments (some require three hours). If you go over these time limits, your bartender may charge overtime fees of $30 to $80 — in addition to alcohol.

Make sure you book your bartender early, at least a few months ahead of time. Good ones with special skills (like the ones mentioned above) are in high demand and are hired quickly.

Expect to pay an upfront fee of about 50% of the final cost prior to guaranteed services.