Bad Bartender Experience - I'm embarrassed

Re: Bad Bartender Experience - I'm embarrassed

• knottiead38811ee17edab1 newb

  

  October 27

  Also, he put out a picture frame with his Venmo so people could tip him. I asked him to put that away, that I would take care of him at the end of the night. He then put out a tip jar. It was all embarrassing for me.

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• charlotte989875 member

  

  October 28

  knottiead38811ee17edab1 said:

  We hosted our wedding reception this past weekend. Overall, the event was wonderful—there were a few minor hiccups, but nothing major except for the bartending service we hired.

  The company had excellent reviews on Yelp and Google, and the owner was responsive and professional in all of our communications leading up to the event. Unfortunately, when it came to the actual reception, the service was terrible. The owner brought a second bartender who was completely inexperienced, which caused long lines for drinks all night.

  I had provided all the alcohol, beer, wine, soft drinks, and water. Despite this, when guests asked for water or soft drinks, the bartender told them there weren’t any available. I was so embarrassed that my guests had to deal with that.

  I emailed the owner the next day to share my concerns, but his response was rude and unprofessional. I wasn’t expecting a refund, but I did hope for at least an apology. I know there’s nothing I can do about it now, but I can’t stop thinking about how disappointing the experience was. 

  Help......how do I move forward.

  knottiead38811ee17edab1 said:

  Also, he put out a picture frame with his Venmo so people could tip him. I asked him to put that away, that I would take care of him at the end of the night. He then put out a tip jar. It was all embarrassing for me.

  So I think some of this is fine (and not something I would expect to be embarrassed about) and some of it is clearly a bad experience. Telling guests something isn’t available when it is- bad service but hopefully easily and quickly correcting the moment. When someone told you/the owner/ your spouse they didn’t have soda, did someone tell the bartender to make sure they know it’s available to be served? 

  
  

  The tip jar is typically worked out ahead of time and Venmo is basically the same thing a having a jar on the end of the bar. Most bar/ catering contracts will say whether this is (or isn’t permitted) and what a required tip or service fee is if a tip jar isn’t permitted. If you’re in the US, tipping culture is everywhere and I don’t think any guest would find it weird that there’s a tip jar/ Venmo frame out to tip, even at an open bar. 

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• knottiead38811ee17edab1 newb

  

  3:44AM

  Thank you for your comment. We didn't learn about him telling guests there weren't sodas or waters until after the event. If we had learned about this issue during the event, we would have definitely remedied it. So, instead my guests just went without a soda or water the whole event.
  
  I was ok with the tip jar, just not asking our guests to venmo him. I also feel that he was the owner of the business, I paid him what he asked for ($1570 for 4.5 hours of bartending service) and shouldn't HAVE had to give a tip, although I did. When I emailed him the next day he said my tip was not enough and that he could have made $200++ in tips (I gave him $150). In my opinion, he shouldn't be working wedding events for tips when he's charging a decent amount for his services. It all felt tacky to me. 
  
  I appreciate your comment and perspective. Maybe it's not as bad as I feel about it.

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