Above & Beyond Event Services is turning one year old this month! 

It's been just about a year since our small company embarked on this crazy adventure, and I'd like to share some of the highlights & milestones with you!

Last October we booked our very first event as the newly created Above & Beyond, staffing a bartender & server for a small birthday party. From there, and by the wonderful phenom that is word-of-mouth, our clientele has grown significantly and bountifully!

We've worked so many events since then, that we can't even keep track! Weddings, stags, birthdays, showers, and more, oh my! It was a wonderful and crazy year as we provided our services for as many celebrations as possible!

In February we launched our candy buffet service to a wonderful response. We have done many buffets since then, each one equally unique and delicious! 

We've experienced a few of the trials & tribulations that a new business venture experiences, but nothing that could not be overcome with the help of our amazing team of servers, bartenders, and event assistants, as well as our fabulous clients! From staffing parties for 20 guests to coordinating weddings for 600 people, and all of the events in between, this has been the best year in a long time!

THANK YOU to all of our loyal clients & friends - your recommendations, support and interest in our company has been overwhelming, and I can't begin to explain what your support means to us! We have such a blast at every event that we are involved in, and I can't even begin to imagine what the future holds!

And with that, let the holiday party season begin! If we don't get the chance to see you before 2009 is over,  here's to 2010 being another great year for everyone!

Cheers!

Devin

Owner, Above & Beyond Event Services

647 339 3386

Raising.the.Bar@Hotmail.com 

We apologize for the formatting errors in the below articles & entries.

We are experiencing some temporary technical difficulties with the website, but have decided to leave the articles up for your reading pleasure.

Cheers,

Devin

Owner/Bartender

Above & Beyond Event Services

Three quick and easy holiday cocktails (all variations on the simple apple cider) that you can serve to your guests that are guaranteed to keep them toasty warm, even when it's freezing outside!

Contact us to hire a bartender to serve up these delicious treats to your guests!

Chilled Apple Cider Martini

- Serve in a martini glass

2 oz chilled fresh-pressed apple cider (produce dept. of your grocer)
1 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1/2 oz Cinnamon Schnapps
Cinnamon Stick

Shake the cider & rum over ice. Strain into your cocktail glass. Top with the room temperature Cinnamon Schnapps, and stir in using a cinnamon stick for garnish. Voila!

Warm Spiked & Spiced Cider

- Serve in a mug

4 oz fresh-pressed apple cider
1 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1/2 oz of Cinnamon Schnapps

Heat the cider in a saucepan or in the microwave. Add the room temperature rum & Schnapps. Stir with a cinnamon stick.

Caramel Apple Cider

- Serve in a mug

4 oz fresh-pressed apple cider
1 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1 oz of Butter Ripple Schnapps
Caramel drizzle

Heat the cider in a saucepan or in the microwave. Add the room temperature rum & Schnapps. Stir with a cinnamon stick. Drizzle with caramel sauce, if available.

Cheers!

Devin Henderson
Owner/Bartender
Above & Beyond Event Services
647.339.3386
Raising.The.Bar@Hotmail.com

Three quick and easy holiday cocktails (all variations on the simple apple cider) that you can serve to your guests that are guaranteed to keep them toasty warm, even when it's freezing outside!

Contact us to hire a bartender to serve up these delicious treats to your guests!

Chilled Apple Cider Martini

- Serve in a martini glass

2 oz chilled fresh-pressed apple cider (produce dept. of your grocer)
1 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1/2 oz Cinnamon Schnapps
Cinnamon Stick

Shake the cider & rum over ice. Strain into your cocktail glass. Top with the room temperature Cinnamon Schnapps, and stir in using a cinnamon stick for garnish. Voila!

Warm Spiked & Spiced Cider

- Serve in a mug

4 oz fresh-pressed apple cider
1 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1/2 oz of Cinnamon Schnapps

Heat the cider in a saucepan or in the microwave. Add the room temperature rum & Schnapps. Stir with a cinnamon stick.

Caramel Apple Cider
- Serve in a mug

4 oz fresh-pressed apple cider
1 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1 oz of Butter Ripple Schnapps
Caramel drizzle

Heat the cider in a saucepan or in the microwave. Add the room temperature rum & Schnapps. Stir with a cinnamon stick. Drizzle with caramel sauce, if available.

Cheers!

Devin Henderson
Owner/Bartender
Above & Beyond Event Services
647.339.3386
Raising.The.Bar@Hotmail.com

Why should I hire a professional bartender for my wedding/stag/party/reception?

-     Professional bartenders are trained to do several things:

1)   They?ll make your drinks to specification. No one wants a cosmo that burns when you drink it ? so having a trained bartender will ensure that your drinks are properly mixed and served. Not to mention that they can greatly expand your drink palate!

2)   Each province has their own liquor laws & training for servers/bartenders. Professional bartenders in Ontario are required, by law, to be trained under the Smart Serve program. Hiring professional bartenders that are Smart Serve certified is a safety factor for you and your guests. Bartenders can monitor drinkers to ensure that no one is overly intoxicated. It is their job to stop serving anyone who is visibly intoxicated, and can help to arrange alternate transportation home.

3)   Professional bartenders are not just there to serve drinks to your guests ? many of them are entertainers as well. Sociable people tend to pursue bartending, so your guests get not only a good drink, but a good experience getting it.

4)   When you hire a professional to take care of an aspect of your big day (ie: the bar), you have less to worry about ? therefore, you can ENJOY your own event ? which is what every happy couple deserves!

How much should I expect to pay for a bartender?

-     Rates for professional bartenders can vary across the board, but as a general rule, you get what you pay for. Anyone working in the private service industry that has a decent amount of experience is going to charge what they feel they are worth.

If you hire a bartender for minimum wage, you are likely going to be hiring someone with very little experience (or worse ? none at all). Of the bartenders working in the private sector, the absolute LOWEST I?ve heard of anyone charging is $15 per hour. Even then, most staffing agencies will pay a higher hourly wage. Expect to pay DOUBLE the hourly wage if you book through a large staffing agency. Booking independently saves YOU money, and earns more money for your staff - by eliminating the unnecessary middle man! 

Many bartenders, myself & my team included, do not charge hourly. I charge a flat rate for an event lasting up to five hours, and then I charge hourly above and beyond those first five hours. However, our services do not simply include our bartending. We show up professionally dressed, with professional equipment.

Should I tip private bartenders?

-     Yes! Bartenders working in traditional environments would be making a TON of money in tips. Gratuities should always be taken into account when hiring a bartender. Some bartenders charge a flat gratuity (such as $1-$2 per person), and others will put out a tip cup. At the end of the night, if you and your guests were happy with the service they received from your bartender, you should show them that!

For more recommendations, and to book bartenders for YOUR big day, please visit us at www.AboveAndBeyondEventServices.com

- Devin Henderson

Owner/Bartender
Above & Beyond Event Services

With all the hustle & bustle of the season, it's easy to forget something minor - but it's those small things that can make ALL the difference when it comes to your holiday get-togethers!

Here are some tips for a stress-free, and simple holiday get-together - so that you can enjoy not only the party, but the company as well!

1) Keep it simple!

When entertaining, it's easy to get carried away. But your best bet is to stick to classics.

Serve cold appetizers, so that you can stay out of the kitchen. Have cocktail servers passing canapes, and have a food station set up with deli meats, cheeses and light snacks. If you decide to serve hot food, have it delivered by a catering company a half hour prior to the start of you party, so that it stays hot with no reheating required!

When choosing what beverages to serve, try to stick to these guidelines for parties of 25 or more:

- 2 kinds of wine (1 red, 1 white)
- 2 kinds of beer (1 premium, 1 light)
- 1 or 2 signature cocktails (think themed!)

By hiring a bartender & servers, you can focus on enjoying yourself & enjoying your guests. The bartender can serve cocktails, beer and wine, and can pay the needed attention to guests to ensure they are not intoxicated. As the host, it's important that you don't spread yourself too thin!

2) Set the mood!

Decorations don't need to be extravagant! You likely have some holiday decorations around your house, so include some white Christmas lights & tea light candles, and you'll have a great atmosphere for mingling and mixing.

And don't forget the music! A great idea is to make a playlist in advance, and once you've got it playing, you don't need to worry about it. If you choose to play holiday music, try to mix it up and throw in some jazz or classical instrumentals.

3) Remember the purpose!

The reason for a holiday party is to see people that we don't always get to see! So make sure you are able to relax & mingle - even if it means hiring other people to take care of the details!

As always - we're here to help. If you have any questions, want suggestions, or would like to hire our wonderful staff for your holiday get-together, please drop us a line on the contact page.

Happy Holidays!

Devin
Owner/Bartender
Above & Beyond Event Services

With all the hustle & bustle of the season, it's easy to forget something minor - but it's those small things that can make ALL the difference when it comes to your holiday get-togethers!

Here are some tips for a stress-free, and simple holiday get-together - so that you can enjoy not only the party, but the company as well!

1) Keep it simple!

When entertaining, it's easy to get carried away. But your best bet is to stick to classics.

Serve cold appetizers, so that you can stay out of the kitchen. Have cocktail servers passing canapes, and have a food station set up with deli meats, cheeses and light snacks. If you decide to serve hot food, have it delivered by a catering company a half hour prior to the start of you party, so that it stays hot with no reheating required!

When choosing what beverages to serve, try to stick to these guidelines for parties of 25 or more:

- 2 kinds of wine (1 red, 1 white)
- 2 kinds of beer (1 premium, 1 light)
- 1 or 2 signature cocktails (think themed!)

By hiring a bartender & servers, you can focus on enjoying yourself & enjoying your guests. The bartender can serve cocktails, beer and wine, and can pay the needed attention to guests to ensure they are not intoxicated. As the host, it's important that you don't spread yourself too thin!

2) Set the mood!

Decorations don't need to be extravagant! You likely have some holiday decorations around your house, so include some white Christmas lights & tea light candles, and you'll have a great atmosphere for mingling and mixing.

And don't forget the music! A great idea is to make a playlist in advance, and once you've got it playing, you don't need to worry about it. If you choose to play holiday music, try to mix it up and throw in some jazz or classical instrumentals.

3) Remember the purpose!

The reason for a holiday party is to see people that we don't always get to see! So make sure you are able to relax & mingle - even if it means hiring other people to take care of the details!

As always - we're here to help. If you have any questions, want suggestions, or would like to hire our wonderful staff for your holiday get-together, please drop us a line on the contact page.

Happy Holidays!

Devin
Owner/Bartender
Above & Beyond Event Services

If you've recently become engaged, are planning a wedding, or are helping a friend plan a wedding - please visit our friend Eliad's blog. She offers vital tips for wedding planning.

http://my-wedding-source.blogspot.com/

Cheers,

Devin