How To Staff Your Bar in the Summer

There’s nothing worse than being short-staffed on a packed summer night. A sudden rush of customers, long ticket times, and stressed-out employees can quickly turn what should be a profitable evening into a logistical nightmare. With peak days, weekends, and special events drawing in larger crowds, bar owners and managers need a solid staffing strategy to keep things running smoothly.

Whether you're hiring seasonal workers, creating an incentive program to retain staff, or implementing a contingency plan for last-minute no-shows, this guide will help you build a reliable team that keeps the drinks flowing and customers happy all summer long.

Understanding the Summer Market

Bar sales generally experience a pretty big increase during the summer months due to a wide variety of factors. Warmer weather naturally draws people outdoors, making people want to socialize more and participate in activities that often involve visiting bars and restaurants, particularly those with outdoor seating. The desire for refreshing drinks to beat the heat further fuels this trend.

Summer is also synonymous with more social activity, marked by vacations, festivals, concerts, and holiday weekends such as Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, all of which contribute to increased alcohol consumption. The extended daylight hours allow for longer periods of socializing, pushing bar traffic into later hours. According to data and research consulting firm CGA, more people tend to visit bars and restaurants in the summer. Especially those between 21 and 34 years old. They also found that early evening is a very lucrative period for bar sales in the summer.

These months of increased sales and traffic further emphasize the need for proper staffing in your bar.

Assessing Seasonal Staffing Needs

Effectively staffing your bar during the summer surge requires a strategic approach, beginning with a thorough assessment of seasonal staffing needs. Start by pinpointing your peak periods, recognizing that early evenings and late nights, along with weekends, public holidays, and local festivals, will likely draw the largest crowds. To accurately anticipate these busy times, try looking back into your historical data and use past sales and staffing records to identify recurring patterns. You can also implement scheduling tools and techniques that align with anticipated demand, ensuring you have the right number of staff on hand during these peak times to provide excellent service and maximize sales.

Hiring the Right Team

Making sure you hit your sales goals in the summer months starts with hiring the right team. Effective summer staffing is all about targeting the ideal seasonal workers who can bring energy and flexibility to your bar. Leveraging the advantages of hiring students and temporary staff means you can tap into a pool of energetic individuals who are available during these peak months. Some recruitment strategies include using social media and local job boards, as well as collaborating with local colleges and hospitality schools to attract a diverse range of candidates.

When interviewing potential hires, focus on qualities like adaptability and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, ensuring they can meet the unique demands of summer rushes. Looking for those who already have experience in the restaurant or bar industry is also a plus. Implementing quick onboarding and training methods will help your new team members get up to speed rapidly, guaranteeing that your bar maintains exceptional service even during its busiest periods. Those who already have experience working behind a bar will likely not need to be as trained as those new to the business, meaning they can get started and help your business faster.

Retaining Your Summer Staff

After hiring the best staff possible for your business, the next most important part is how to keep them. The last thing you need is for your best workers to get frustrated or unhappy in the middle of the summer and quit during your busiest rushes. Try to prioritize creating a positive work culture that keeps your team motivated and engaged. By organizing regular social events and team-building exercises, you foster strong camaraderie and ensure that your staff feels connected and appreciated. Recognizing and rewarding individual contributions not only boosts morale but also reinforces a sense of ownership and pride in their work.

Another thing that can make your employees want to stay is positive reinforcement. Offering perks like flexible scheduling, bonuses, and other incentives addresses their personal needs while creating opportunities for professional growth and networking. This approach not only helps your team work better together but also encourages your seasonal staff to remain committed and enthusiastic throughout the busy summer months. Remember, happy employees make happy customers!

Preparing for Unexpected Issues

Emergencies and unexpected staffing issues can strike at any moment, so it’s important to have a solid backup plan in place. For example, imagine a busy Friday night where your head bartender suddenly calls in sick. Having a small pool of on-call staff, like several part-timers from your local hospitality school network, can fill the gap immediately.

Another way to make sure you don’t fall behind on staffing needs is to cross-train the employees you already have. If your barbacks are properly licensed to serve and sell alcohol and can handle basic bartending tasks, maybe they can step in when you are down a bartender. This way, you always have someone on hand to make sure service at your bar isn’t disrupted.

You can also try taking advantage of using real-time communication tools such as Slack or WhatsApp to quickly coordinate staffing shifts and address any sudden shortages. These proactive strategies not only minimize the impact of unexpected absences but also maintain a high level of service during the unpredictable summer rush.

Get Started With TIPS

Knowing how to staff your bar for the summer requires a strategic approach. Remember to prioritize hiring the right seasonal workers, create a positive work culture, and have a solid backup plan for unexpected absences. By balancing great service with operational efficiency, you can ensure your bar thrives during the busiest months without compromising customer experience.

As you prepare for the summer rush, now is the perfect time to review your staffing strategies and ensure your team is properly trained. Investing in TIPS online alcohol training courses can help your staff stay compliant, improve service, and boost sales. Purchase pre-paid Passports in bulk to get your team summer-ready and set your bar up for success. Head to our website to learn more about your options today!