For larger events, hire a barback ($20–$30/hr) to assist with restocking and cleaning, allowing the primary bartender to focus on service.

Leo, a traveler with a threadbare coat and a pocketful of anxiety, slid onto the last empty stool. He had exactly eleven dollars to his name, and a twenty-mile drive ahead. He needed one drink to steady his nerves, but the cocktail menu’s smallest number was $14.

The sign above the sticky oak bar read:

Focus on beer, wine, and one signature cocktail rather than a full bar, which speeds up service and reduces the number of bartenders needed.

Most bartenders operate under one of two primary pricing structures:

He walked out into the cold, nine dollars richer and a hundred pounds lighter.