Services
Our Craft
Let’s not resign ourselves to sub-par social experiences! We can facilitate any event you can dream up with only the flourish that a proper bartender can. We don’t do tricks. We don’t throw bottles in the air. We make classic drinks the right way: with quality ingredients and a lack of pretension. And we always enjoy getting creative with something new. Sometimes it’s as simple as making sure you have a skilled professional bartender for hire to anchor your event. Sometimes you may need a custom infusion or a custom specialty cocktail list. Whatever you may need, Blue Book Barkeeps is here to take the burden of planning off your hands so you can sit back and enjoy your one of a kind event.
We provide private bartending services for
Private Events
Do you already have a home bar? Great! We will bring it to life. If you don’t, we’ll use what your home has to offer or even bring our own mobile bar, fully stocked with libations and staffed with a true professional New Orleans bartender for hire.
Charity Galas
Our extensive experience in the non-profit sector means we can maximize your fundraising. Bar sales are often the biggest revenue drivers at an event. Bring in the best to help further your cause. We’re also there to make your patrons feel like the VIP’s that they are.
Carnival Krewes
Would you like a hand-crafted specialty cocktail to liven up your den party and get your krewe in the Carnival spirit? Do you want a mobile bar rolled up to your table at the Zulu Ball staffed with a career bartender for hire? We treat you like true Mardi Gras royalty.
Weddings
Our bar catering and wedding services are second to none in the Greater New Orleans area. We will be with you through the whole process to alleviate the stress and take one of the most important aspects of any occasion off your to-do list.
Corporate Events
Whether you are a Destination Management Company hosting out of town corporate guests or a local group trying to do your office holiday party with a flourish this year, our mixologists behind our mobile bar will elevate any corporate event large or small.
Brand & Promo Events
In the spirits industry, your bartenders are your front line salespeople. We specialize in non-premise promotional events because we understand how our image, confidence and composure reflects on your brand. Your guests will leave more informed and wanting more.
Our Standard Pricing
We strive to keep our pricing as clear, simple, and transparent as possible.
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A Proper Barkeep - a professional New Orleans bartender for hire [ $95/hr ]
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A Party Attendant - a skilled hospitality professional to help with food service, tidy trash, serve drinks and generally attend to all guests needs [ $65/hr ]
Important Notes on Pricing
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Always assume about an hour of setup in the beginning and an hour of clean up at the end of an event.
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If we buy and bring anything specifically for your event, like ice, mixers, or even the alcohol, we pass that cost on directly to you and add a 20% Bar Consulting and Curation charge.
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Larger events (~125+ people), prices can often be customized to fit your needs and budget.
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We are happy to service the northshore. We do charge a $50 Northshore Transit Fee to compensate our barkeeps for the added time and expense.
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Custom cocktails and infusions are always encouraged because they are delicious. They are priced on a case by case basis.
FAQs
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What happens if my party goes longer than expected?Of course your party may go longer than anticipated, we know how it works in New Orleans. We charge by the hour precisely because it is too hard to anticipate exactly when the festivities will end. Your bartender for hire will be there as long as needed and not a moment longer.
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How much will my event cost per person?We don’t do per person pricing. We find it stressful and confusing as you wait to hear back from all your RSVP to know what your costs will be. And you certainly never know how many people will actually show up. Our pricing is based on the staff you need to make your party a success. While there are many variables (we will help you sort through them), you can roughly estimate needing one bartender for every 50-75 guests. With about 50 people or more you may also want a party attendant out on the floor helping to keep your event organized and your guests happy.
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What will the bartender provide?Besides good company and extensive drink knowledge, all our barkeeps come well dressed with all their bar tools - shakers, mixing glasses, bar spoons, corkscrews, knives, cutting boards, etc. We come prepared. And we’ll talk to you should there be any special items you might need. Absinthe fountain? Sure, we can make anything happen.
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What is your service area?We are located in Orleans parish but service the entire Greater New Orleans area. To compensate our barkeeps for the added time and costs involved, we do charge a $50 Northshore Transit Fee for any barkeeps heading to events on the other side of the lake.
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Do you do food?Our experience is behind the bar so we stick to what we do best. While we don’t do any cooking, our bartenders and party attendants have years of service experience. We work with many excellent food caterers around New Orleans and we can absolutely provide you with the skilled hands you need to help with food service.
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Are you a dry hire service and what is that?Blue Book Barkeeps is a dry hire service. That means that we safely and responsibly serve you alcohol that you purchase at retail. This is a huge cost savings because there is no markup on your spirits, beer and wine. In addition, it’s all yours, so you get to keep anything you don’t drink for the next time you entertain. We’ll talk with you about your budget and what you would like to offer your guests and come up with a list of provisions you will need. Since we know event planning can get hectic, we are able to pick up your ice, mixers, and even your alcohol for you and deliver it to the event. For anything we purchase and bring we add a 20% Bar Consulting and Curation Charge.
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Are your bartenders licensed and insured?Our bartenders are licensed by the state of Louisiana to serve alcoholic beverages safely and we carry a robust liquor liability insurance policy. Importantly, all of our barkeeps have years of experience behind the bar, which makes them experts at portion control and crowd management.
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As the host, I don’t want my guests to feel obligated to tip. How does tipping work?While tipping is appreciated, it is not necessary. We are dedicated to paying our skilled bartenders a living wage. Since we know we reflect on our hosts, there is never a tip jar placed on the bar for your guests unless you have expressly requested it. There is an option at the end of the night for the host to leave a tip on top of the invoice.
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Do you require a deposit?We generally require a deposit for the first hour of labor. So if you have one of our expert mixologists coming to your home to serve your dinner party, the deposit would be $95. This allows us to minimally compensate any of our bartenders for a lost night of work if there are last minute cancellations.
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How does payment at the end of the night work?We invoice through Square, which makes the end of the night incredibly easy. As soon as we know how long your bartender for hire was needed, you will be emailed or texted an invoice that you can pay using a credit card or bank transfer. You can even securely save your payment info to make the next time even easier. Cash or checks are also accepted.
