​With #NewYorkCity reopening and #events being booked, we are both beyond thrilled and cautiously optimistic! This past week our #server, #bartending and #catering captain #staff worked a #midtown #Manhattan #wedding, complete with a #cocktailreception, full-service sit-down dinner and full bar. If this event is a sign of things to come, we are very excited to see what is on the horizon for the upcoming season!

#nychospitality #nyceventstaff #nyccateringstaff #nycbsartenders 

Thank you to our clients for sharing this positive feedback about our staff! We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to providing staff for your next event! And many many thanks to our dedicated and hard-working service staff! Your efforts do not go unnoticed! Thank you team!

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#eventstaffing #newyorkcityevents #nychospitality #cateringstaff #nyccatering #testimonial

On January 29, 2021 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that assuming New York State's COVID-19 infection rate stays on its current trajectory, indoor dining in New York City can reopen at 25 percent capacity on Valentine's Day. The reopening will be subject to strict state guidance, which can be found here.

The Governor also announced that marriage receptions will be able to resume in accordance with state guidance on March 15. Events must be approved by the local health department. There will be a 50 percent capacity limit and no more than 150 people can attend the event. All patrons must be tested prior to the event. 

With this in mind, we are ecstatic at the notion of events and more dining on the horizon! And with the warm weather just around the corner, venues and locales with outdoor spaces are the perfect option. And when hospitality staff is needed, our servers / waitstaff, bartenders, porters / cleaners, greeters, directional staff, catering captains, venue managers, cooks / culinary staff - and more - are ready for action!

Check out a few of these Blace NYC venues:

We here at Tapuz staffing are thrilled to be partnering with BLACE​, an online marketplace for booking unique event spaces near you. Check out a few of their Exclusively Managed Properties:

Have the details of your wedding changed due to the pandemic? Is it now more do-it-yourself? Are you overwhelmed by the constantly changing guidelines? The Tapuz team of service staff is here to assist!

Over the last couple of months, many weddings have either been postponed or cancelled— but love should not be cancelled!

If you are still racking your brain trying to come up with a new plan for your big day, a Minimony or Micro Wedding might be something to consider! According to The Knot, a Minimony is a small ceremony which can include up to 10 people (with social distancing) plus any vendors that you require. Many couples have been choosing to have  a Minimony, followed by what's called a Sequel Wedding next year, which would be the original dream wedding you were planning pre-pandemic. Another option we like is the Micro Wedding. A Micro Wedding consists of 50 guests or less — think of it as a traditional wedding, but just with a more intimate setting.

Our Event and Service Staff can assist with DIY events, with setting up decor, cleaning up before, during and/or after the event, greeting, guiding and serving guests, creating your signature cocktail for your special day (our Bar Captains are happy to take the lead on this!), and much more. As an additional note, our team will be following all CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of you and your guests. Whatever it is, we are here to help make your special day unforgettable and stress-free!

During this time of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we are able to provide support staff for your specialized personnel needs over the course of the various phases of reopening and beyond - throughout New York City and the Tri-State area (New York / New Jersey & Connecticut).

The range of staffing options includes:

Ushers / Directional Staff / Greeters / Street Team / Social Distancing Ambassadors: Staff members who assist with greeting, guiding, directing and informing guests and customers, as per client and onsite manager directions.

Supplemental Staff for Retail Stores: To assist with organizing store displays, restocking, greeting customers, processing phone or website orders and in-store purchases, working as cashier.

Supplemental Staff for Bars / Restaurants: Bartenders / Servers / Waitstaff: Setting up and breaking down of seating and tables for outside dining; packing take-out or to-go meals, making deliveries; Back of house / kitchen staff for breakfast, lunch or dinner service; Prep cooks.

Cleaning / Housekeeping / Porter Staff: To clean / sanitize / disinfect front of house, back of house / kitchen, inside / outside, residential homes / house cleaning or commercial spaces.

Culinary Staff: Kitchen staff for food prep for boxed lunches, catering, bars, restaurants, cafes / coffee shops.

Catering Staff: Front of House / Back of House: For Drop-Off, Deliveries, Set-Up, Breakdown.

Our hospitality and service staff are here for you during these reopening phases and beyond.

Stay safe and healthy! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Our event professional colleagues at Toi et Moi Events + Catering are supporting frontline heroes by providing hearty, nutrient-rich meals throughout local New York and New Jersey hospitals and communities with the goal focusing on the ability for our heroes to perform their work while also attending to the needs of the most vulnerable.

The Toi et Moi family, including the support of their friends, family, clients, and colleagues, have produced and donated over 20,000 meals to help those in need!

To make a donation go to https://www.temevents.com/donations.

#newyorkstrong #covidkindness

A toast to our hospitality friends and colleagues at Deborah Miller Catering & Events for their generous efforts in feeding the frontlines! In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak within the United States, Deborah Miller Catering has put together a comprehensive donation campaign to provide daily meals to those on the front lines of this crisis.

For more information and/or to make a donation, go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/cater-because-we-care

They have secured relationships with hospitals and first responders all across New York City and the greater Tri-State area, and every donation they receive goes to delivering hearty meals to those fighting around the clock to save lives. 

Where have they delivered so far? Mount Sinai, Beth Israel Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Columbia Presbyterian, St. John's Riverdale Hospital, NYPD, EMT, FDNY, to name a few, and the list keeps growing each day.

What kind of meals are offered? Their hot meals are prepared from scratch, packed in individual takeout containers, and are served on a 5-day rotation with a different protein, side, and either fruit or dessert for a complete and nutritious meal. 

How does a contribution help? 100% of the proceeds donated here will go to feeding those on the front lines, courageously risking their own lives to save lives of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. 

#caterbecausewecare

Our friends and colleagues at JPO Concepts, a New York City-based events & hospitality company, have launched a program during the COVID-19 pandemic that is delivering meals to medical professionals, first responders and other essential teams who are on the frontlines. 

The program will also help in the re-hiring of unemployed restaurant & hospitality workers and inject critically needed money into the local supply chain. 

Any surplus funds will be used to “Pay it Forward” to other campaigns feeding the frontlines and support fellow restauranteurs & caterers impacted by the shutdowns. 

For more details and/or to make a donation, check out their go fund me site here!

#CateringOurCommunity

Our friends at Sage and Zest, a corporate catering and events company based in New York City, have been giving back to the community during the COVID-19 crisis by raising funds to feed First Responders and Hospital Workers. As of April 9th, they have fed over 600 Frontline Heroes so far!

For more information and/or to make a donation ($10 provides one meal), please check out https://diem.life/covidnyc.

#feedthefrontline #doingourpart

 Stay safe and be well!

In an effort to keep spirits up during these unprecedented times we are thinking about our smiling staff during past events. From our servers at catered buffets, to bartenders at cocktail receptions at New York City venues, to our promotional brand ambassador street teams throughout Manhattan parks and neighborhoods, we are feeling much appreciation and gratitude for our team members and clients!

Plus there are some scientific findings regarding smiling.
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Top 3 Health Benefits of Smiling:

Improved Mood
Reports have shown that smiling can boost your mood. A 2010 study found that making yourself smile when you’re feeling down helps improve your mood and increases positive thoughts. 

Stronger Immune Function
It has also been found that laughter (which often begins with a smile) appears to help boost your body’s immune system. The Mayo Clinic reports that laughter and positive thoughts release signaling molecules in your brain that fight stress and illnesses. 

Pain Relief
A 2012 study found that laughter also increases your pain threshold, creating a higher pain tolerance. So, if you’re in pain due to an injury, illness or chronic disease, watch a funny movie or spend a little (socially-distant!) time with friends and family who make you smile - maybe coordinating an online get-together.

During challenging times, if we can try to muster a smile with some comedy or quality time with loved ones - even if remotely! - it just might help a little bit!

The weather was a beautiful crisp and sunny day here in New York City today - which was the perfect timing for a venue site visit at The Bordone LIC event space open house in Long Island City, Queens! With panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and expansive spaces both indoors and outdoors, we couldn't think of a better place to spend an afternoon! Thank you, Bordone! Additional shout-outs to the event professional vendors who created the perfectly festive vibe for today's event: Delicious catering by Ryan Brown Catering New York, Mixology / Bartending Services by Momentum Mixology, Botanique Floral + Design Studio, Broadway Party Rentals and Jarrell Entertainment. 

In honor of #tablescapetuesday, we would like to take a moment to give praise to our detail-oriented service staff, who meticulously manicure and maintain table settings, buffet stations and bars throughout all of their shifts around the New York City and tri-state area. Whether it is a catered wedding with table service at a Brooklyn venue, a fundraiser in a Queens loft, or a corporate luncheon in midtown Manhattan, hats off to our hardworking staff who know that attention to details will add that final touch of perfection to any event!

Our Top 5 Cocktail Reception Service Tips for Service Staff to keep in mind:
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Bus with a tray during cocktail hour. 
All items should be placed on a tray when being transported, not in one's hands. Keep an eye out for dirty glasses collecting at the bar, plates at a buffet, and guests holding skewers or porcelain spoons from passed hors d’oeuvres. 

Know the details of the hors d'oeuvres that are being served.
Know the sauce, know the garnish, etc. Not only will guests want to know, but oftentimes people have specific dietary needs and need to know what they are being served.   
   
When passing hors d’oeuvres, have a tray in one hand and cocktail napkins in the other hand.
Napkins should be fanned out so they are easy for the guest to grab.  

When standing or moving through a room with an empty bussing tray, have the tray at one's side with the “front” of the tray facing up.

When serving champagne, gently keep the flutes in place by spreading your fingers and placing them between the stems of the flutes.

We ask our servers / waitstaff to keep these service guidelines in mind when working at any catered event - small or large, social or corporate - good service is always top priority!

Today we are toasting to all those hosting a party at home on this Superbowl Sunday; we are lifting a glass to toast to those who bravely open their abodes to friends and family for a festive Superbowl fiesta! 

This popsugar article sums up all of the essentials when hosting a party at home.

Our Top 5 Faves:
 
Prepare a space for pictures — whether it's a small booth with props and a Polaroid camera or just a pretty wall that's ideal for Instagram snaps, fun photos will leave your guests with fond memories of the party!

Be ready early in case of extra-punctual guests. It's much better to be dressed and prepped half an hour early than for the doorbell to ring while you're getting out of the shower.

Provide extra props at any themed or costume party to make sure nobody feels uncomfortable or out of the loop.

Use your washing machine as an extra refrigerator. Seriously! Filling a washer with ice and using it to chill wine and beer is a mess-free godsend for anyone with limited kitchen space.
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Do as many dishes as you can before you go to sleep after the party — you'll thank yourself in the morning!

Read more here.
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Whether these essentials are applied to a small event at home or a larger soiree at an event space with a full staff - we would like to say cheers to ALL of the event hosts out there! We understand it is truly a labor of love! 

The Women Building Women: Women In The Events Industry Breakfast Summit at Webster Hall in New York City that we attended this week was truly uplifting. As Tapuz, Inc. Staffing Services is a women-owned and operated business, we very much appreciated the immense inspiration we felt throughout the entire event.

With Webster Hall as the perfect venue for this inaugural summit - and delicious catering by Gracious Thyme Catering - we were ready for the day!

One of the highlights for us was the panel discussion entitled: The Power of Collaboration.

This concept is something we believe in as well, and put into practice on a regular basis, whether it's through our preferred vendor list or referring clients to staffing colleagues, we believe collaboration is the key to success, as emphasized throughout the discussion.

With welcome remarks from Karen Gamba from Ellipsis and Frank Carlisi from Ventus, the crowd was ready to hear more!

The Power of Collaboration panelists included:

• Heather Vaughan (Director of Sales at Webster Hall)
• Jessica Berman (CMP, VP Sales at Manhattan Center)
• Emily Schmalholz (Director Special Events
• Garcia’s & Capitol Theater)
• Debbie Barnes (Business Development Manager Party Rental, Ltd.)

With the overall message being that success in any business involves finding the right partners, collaborating with other vendors when needed, and finding those who share in your core values when teaming up.

How can success be achieved? Be solution-oriented, ask what is the goal and how do we get there? Communicate with one another and find ways on how we can help each other, whether it's withing a group, company or entire industry.

At Women Building Women, the message that was woven throughout the discussion was we as women-based businesses will continue to break glass ceilings, continue with optimism, maintain a positive outlook , surround ourselves with the right people, find those who support us and vice versa.

With this inspiration in our pockets, we are ready for this upcoming event season with a newly-found sense of optimism and energy. Hope to see you at the next event!