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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!
 THINGS NOT TO SAY:
No problem, Unfortunately, You have to…, I’ll try, Yep, Ok THINGS TO SAY INSTEAD: My pleasure, Right now the info I have is...I will let you know if anything changes, May I suggest…, I’ll find out for you, Yes, Good to hear! PHRASES & WORDS TO AVOID: But, No, The problem is, I think, I can't, Hold on We like to encourage all of our service staff to keep these notes in mind in order to stand out above the rest while working at an event!  Our hearts are filled with gratitude on #ValentinesDay2020! When our clients are happy, WE'RE happy! Many thanks to this New York City Venue Director of Operations for these kind words. Positive feedback inspires us to continue to find the best staff for events throughout the tri-state area. Thanks again!
 Our Top 5 Cocktail Reception Service Tips for Service Staff to keep in mind:
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. 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. 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:
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! Many thanks to YEP (Young Event Professionals) and ILEA (International Live Events Association) for a fantastic evening with fellow event industry folks at EVENTELLECT! From the esteemed panel to the delicious catering by Elegant Affairs Caterers (those mini cheese boards were so cute!!) - with Housing Works Bookstore Cafe being the perfect venue for this event - we couldn't think of a better way to spend our evening. We appreciated having a chance to chat with current clients and get to know a few new ones. Thanks again - we can't wait for the next gathering!
This holiday season our New York City Street Team of Brand Ambassadors and Promotional Staff hit Manhattan neighborhoods armed with a list of bullet points along with product samples to share with the public and passersby. Sealed with a smile and good cheer, we can't think of a more fun way to spread the word! A “street team” is a group of individuals who hit “the streets” to market to and engage with potentials customers face to face, providing brand personality and product knowledge. Street teams are known to help boost audience awareness with the kind of energy needed to increase audience engagement. Ultimately, street teams can offer a more personable, authentic interaction between an organization and its consumers.  Positive feedback about our staff is truly heartwarming! We very much enjoyed providing our Greeters and Bartenders for this New York City showroom holiday event again this year. Can't wait 'til the next one!!
 Our event staff and entire team wish everyone Happy Holidays and look forward to an exciting year ahead, serving events throughout New York City, New Jersey, Long Island & Connecticut!
On this #LaborDay2019, we would like toast to our diligent front and back of house #staff members for all of your positively professional efforts at each and every #event. Your hard work does not go unnoticed! Many thanks to the entire Tapuz #servicestaff team!
 When we receive positive feedback we like to share as we do take great pride in providing top-notch hospitality service staff to our clients for their events. Many thanks to our Fairfield, Connecticut event planner colleague! We are thrilled to hear these kind words about our servers and bartenders. We are inspired for future events. See you next time!
 Our New York City Kitchen Assistant staff in action! Keeping our Safety Guidelines in mind, of course! We hope you're having a great summer and keeping cool during these high-temp New York City days! We thought that now would be a good opportunity to review a few Safety Guidelines that may be helpful during an event. Keep these notes in mind and we will see you at the next soiree!
1. Wipe/mop up spills immediately and mark with a sign or something to allow people to see to proceed with caution. Anyone can slip on a slippery floor – guests, staff, etc. Familiarize yourself with where rags, brooms, dustpans and/or mops are being stored during the event. Can’t find any? Please ask the onsite captain/contact where these items are. 2. Slow down! Never run in hallways or the kitchen or on the floor, always walk carefully. Even when it’s busy, take small steps and pay attention. 3. Wear shoes with non-slip soles. No open toed shoes. 4. Report defective equipment or tools to a manager immediately. 5. Call out things to make avoid bumping into someone – i.e. - “Coming In” or “Behind You”. 6. Use trays and/or dry towels to handle hot plates. Also, warn guests that the plate you are presenting is hot. 7. Let people know when you’re carrying anything hot. Don’t be shy, yell out something like, “hot items coming through.” 8. Don’t put hot food or plates in front of small children. 9. Use proper lifting techniques. Never lift too much/more than feels comfortable. If it’s uncomfortable, make two trips or get some help. Remember to always bend at the knees, lift with your legs, not your back and carry the load at waist level. 10. Dispose of glass properly. Clean up broken glass with a broom or towel. Do not directly clean broken glass with your hand. Dispose of glass in the proper broken glass tub. If no broken glass tub is available then staff should ask Captain / Host / etc. for something to use as a broken glass container; take initiative to resolve quickly. 11. Treat coffee and hot liquids with care. Never take coffee carafes from the machine before it is finished percolating. Hold the carafe close to your body, with both hands and a dry towel, when possible. 12. Keep the customer close. Serve as close to your customer as possible. Do not lean over tables to serve because leaning can increase your possibility of injury. 13. Pamper your body. You are on your feet almost your entire shift. Making sure you change your tasks and movements can reduce some of the strain your body goes through. 14. Wash your hands often, especially after smoking, eating, restroom breaks, coughing, or sneezing. 15. Never operate equipment unless you have been trained how to use it properly. 16. Pay special attention when using slicers. They are very sharp and move very fast. 17. Wear nylon, no-cut gloves when cleaning slicers. If you don’t have a pair, see a manager. 18. Never try to catch a falling knife!! Knives are easier to replace than fingers. 19. Make sure you eat prior to your shift to keep your energy up. It’s a good idea to bring a snack in case you feel the need to take a few minutes to eat something during the shift. 20. Stay hydrated! Bring bottled water and/or a bottle to be filled/re-filled with water.      This particular event was indeed one for the books! As the Glenmere Mansion website describes their venue:
Deep in the rolling farmlands of the lower-Hudson Valley sits a magnificent 150-acre estate crowned with a spectacular hilltop mansion known as Glenmere. And we couldn't agree more -- it was an absolutely spectacular sight to behold! Just a little less than 50 miles from New York City, we felt truly transported as the Mid Summer's Day Dream event was underway. With our event staff serving and bartending at this gorgeous Orange County, New York venue -- with the incomparable full-service catering by On The Marc Events and event planning by Ali Barone Events, it was an exciting event that we were truly thrilled to be a part of, alongside fellow event vendors and participants. Plus it was lovely to see our name mentioned on the beautifully designed invite by Ceci New York! And many thanks to Phillip Van Nostrand for the outstanding photography! 'Til next time! @glenmeremansion @alibaroneevents @onthemarcevents @adamleffelproductions @phillipvnweddings @jarrellentertainment @josephedwardsfilms @luxeeventrentals @partyrentalltd @cecinewyork @thepurplespoonbakery @erinhillharp @samanthaagostinomakeup @kleinfeldbridal  When it comes to the #serviceindustry, the benefits of smiling can only make the #event that much better, including happier guests, #staff, #eventplanners and clients. We'll surely toast to that!
Smiling has documented therapeutic effects, and has been associated with:
If that’s not enough, smiling also makes us look good in the eyes of others, as studies have confirmed that when we smile we not only appear more likable and courteous, but we’re actually perceived to be more competent. Check out this great Forbes article for more info! A sunny day at the New Jersey Shore is a prime opportunity for some street team marketing! Our promotional staff hit the boardwalk armed with smiles, samples and talking points to share with the public. Passing out samples is not only fun but has some strong marketing principles behind it as well to encourage sales and business growth:
The Power of Experience: People are more likely to remember and engage with a product they have been able to experience than one they have read about or been told about. The Reciprocity Instinct: Studies have shown that receiving free samples makes people implicitly indebted to brands. Nudge Theory: We are more likely to go through with something when we are directly asked about it - and in a consumer context, people are statistically more likely to commit to purchasing a product if they have been asked whether they intend to do so. All good notes to keep in mind when promoting brand awareness! With the Hudson Yards development in full swing, we have been thrilled to have our staff (such as our Bartenders, Servers, Coat Check, Bathroom Attendants and Porters) be involved in some of the recent events there. With the vast amount of changes that have taken place in this New York City neighborhood - we thought it would be fun to review some Hudson Yards stats:
This week we're celebrating the #redwhiteandblue #happy4th! AND all the colors of the #rainbow with some snaps of our NYC promotional staff from the 2019 Pride Parade. Our Brand Ambassadors put on their marketing hats for the day!
Wondering how Street Teams can be most effective? 1) Have a call to action Make sure consumers know what to do with the information shared 2) Have an Event Manager on site To get the team energized and prepared 3) Train the staff Provide materials with talking points Check out this Forbes article for more info!  With Pride weekend upon us in New York City, our event staff is ready to rock - with their beverage stations all set up - to keep the refreshments at the ready! We thought now would be the perfect time for us to share our top tips that our bartending staff typically utilize when preparing an event beverage station and/or satellite bar:
- You will need a minimum of 2 ice buckets behind the bar. (Additional ice buckets are dependent on guest count/# of bartenders/size of bar). If possible, elevate ice buckets on milk crates. One ice bucket is to be used for white wine/beer/water-CHILLING and the other ice bucket is to be used for DRINKING ICE. Make sure you line all buckets with clear garbage bags. Do not use black garbage bags, this will dye the ice. Do not use drink ice for chilling or vice versa. This is a huge health violation. You must use an ice scoop (or shaker tin if not available) for all scooped ice. You may not use any type of glass to scoop ice. - All white wine/beer/bottled water needs to be on ice a minimum of 45 min. prior to the start of the event. - If floor mats are available make sure to place them behind bar prior to start of event. - Stock all paper product including, napkins, straws, stirrers. - If there is a specialty cocktail, does it need to be batched? If batched, who is in charge of batching cocktails? Should you be adding liquor when you’re serving or is it to be served as is? - Know what you are to do with empty bottles. Are you to dispose of them? Are you to place them in product boxes? Clarify before start of event. - Know who is to act as the designated bar back for that event. Is it a bartender, a server, porter/sanit, you? - Keep bar clean and well-stocked for entire duration of event. This includes, moving all dirty glassware to lugs/racks (located in a sanit area), wiping bar down, restocking, etc. You should confirm with client/captain prior to the start of the event the proper way to restock glasses at the bar – i.e. is there room for lugs under the bar/should glasses on trays be used for replenishing / how should you transport lugs/racks to kitchen/sanit. - When the event is over, you will need to then break down the bar.. This means, disposing of ice, removing linens, putting product back where it came from, making sure all dirty glassware is in lugs/glass racks. Before you leave, double check nothing is left at the bar. The bar should be deconstructed to how it was when you arrived to the event. There are often additional responsibilities for closing bartenders that have nothing to do with the bar. This may include throwing out trash or loading a truck. Be prepared for this. We hope this list helps give some general guidelines when gearing up for your next catered beverage service. And Happy NYC Pride 2019 Weekend! As an event staffing company, we get to see a lot of the "behind-the-scenes" set up and breakdown aspects of an event. Whether it's setting up the decor, flowers, rentals, tables /chairs, catering, buffet tables, linens and - well - you get the picture! - this perspective is what keeps us intrigued and feeling connected to the event planning overall. We recently had the pleasure of seeing Union West, a beautiful and expansive 18,000 SF (!) event space situated between Chelsea and Hudson Yards in New York City, during a detailed set up.
Types of staff that we find helpful when setting up and breaking down an event are: Porters: This staff member is typically responsible for rental organization, sanitation, cleaning and / or restocking restroom amenities. Servers: When booking servers, it's usually helpful to have them arrive 1-2 hours prior to the event, depending on the size and type of event, to assist with fine tuning of the preparation details, such as finessing the place settings, organizing the back up beverage stations, and reviewing the floorplan and role duties, just to name a few tasks. Bar Captains / Bartenders / Bar Backs: Setting up is essential for the success of the bar throughout the night; during the preparation time, the bar team will make sure there is plenty of product, glassware, ice, napkins/coasters and garnish - and be ready to roll as soon as service begins. Coat Check: Coat check set up involves making sure that there are plenty of coat check tickets, hangers and rack are ready as soon as the guests are due to arrive - along with a plan among staff for how the flow of checking will go. ...just to name of few of our event staff roles... We also found this guide to setting up and breaking down a wedding from A Practical Wedding very informative. From beginning to end, we are always thrilled to have our staff to be part of the event! When it comes to spreading brand awareness, street teams and brand ambassadors are THE go-to for reaching a wide audience. Our New York City promotional staff covered some solid ground while they worked throughout the midtown Manhattan area sharing the benefits (and samples!) of a new cosmetics product. Sounds like a good day to us! We are seeing a myriad of 2019 wedding trends so far and we're loving them! It seems that they are a combination of tried and true - and the truly unique. A few of our current faves:
 It was a wonderful week of Valentine's and lively events! On Tuesday, we were thrilled for our event staff to participate in the Rumi Event Space Open House in the always exciting neighborhood of Chelsea in New York City. Firstly, the space itself is an expansive modern 9,000+ square foot venue which can accommodate anywhere from 100 to 600+ guests. Combined with an amazing sound system, stage, dance floor, and built-in bars, Rumi is the ultimate location for Mitzvahs, Fundraisers, Fashion Shows, or any event which calls for a solid location in the heart of Manhattan!
Our Bartenders, Servers and Room Attendants covered their stations always with a smile and helping hand - to ensure guests were well taken care of. We were also ecstatic to share the evening with our fellow sponsor vendors who made the night one for the books. Cheers to you all as well - as we feel like we're in very good event professional company! Hope to see you again very soon! Total Entertainment Broadway Party Rentals Toi et Moi Events Riviera Caterers Adam Leffel Productions Wafels & Dinges Spot Dessert Bar This week we had the pleasure of attending New York City's Metropolitan Pavilion's reception featuring the Earth Day Network (EarthDay.org) and showcasing the venue's new floor, A/V, sound and lighting installations, and other enhancements - all while thoroughly enjoying the delicious catered food and beverage provided by Sterling Affair and Great Performances. It was an evening filled with reconnecting with fellow event industry colleagues and partaking in the festive sights, sounds and culinary experiences. Thank you Met Pav!
When planning for a trade show, you may be considering who will best represent your company or brand. A strong front-line is essential to your success at the show. Whether it's staff for registration, greeting, promotional, hosting, brand ambassadors, or table staff, you will want to keep these general trade show tips in mind to ensure that you have effective staff members on your team:
1) Good attitude: This one usually goes without saying, but you will want to put your friendliest and most effective greeters at the forefront of your exhibit environment. Equip them with key communication points to entice attendees to learn more about your company or product. 2) Be aware of positive and negative body language: Trade show staffers should not have their arms crossed and their backs turned toward the aisle. Staffers should smile, make eye contact, and look like they want to hear what attendees have to say. Don't stand in a rigid posture or talk in closed circles with other staffers; if speaking with colleagues, make sure all are turned toward the aisle to keep an eye on the passing foot traffic and engage at a moment's notice. 3) Reinforce trade show-behavior don'ts: e.g., no eating, drinking, chewing gum, talking on cellphones, checking email, reading, etc. Utilize standard customer service protocol to maintain a welcoming and inviting tone. |
