 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.  WE PROVIDE: Servers / Waitstaff • Event Cooks / Back of House Bartenders • Coat Check • Registration • Customer Service Catering Captains • Event Coordinators • Greeters / Guest Services Sanit / Porter • Bathroom Attendants • Promotional Models Brand Ambassadors • Trade Show / Street Fair / Festival / Kiosk Staff Street Teams • Supplemental Staff for Bars & Restaurants Permanent Hospitality Placement • Human Resources Solutions ~ Positively Professionally Staff For Any Event ~ Serving the Southern Arizona / Tucson / Phoenix areas, including Sahuarita,
Sierra Vista, Nogales, Benson, Green Valley, Casa Grande, Tubac, Marana, Oro Valley and Vail. Contact us for a quick quote! [email protected] or 520-329-0693 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 Tips When Hiring Event Staff Understand the Regulations In a broad sense, the goal is to make sure you know, generally speaking, the regulations and legalities around hiring staff. If you plan on hiring individuals, make sure you sign a contract with each person. If you’re planning a destination event, get familiar with local rules and regulations that pertain to hiring event staff. Alternatively, you can sign a contract with an event staffing company, such as Tapuz, Inc., We can help you understand the regulations and rules a little bit better. Either way, signing contracts is crucial if you want to make stay legal during the event planning process. What’s the Budget? Do some research to get an idea of how staff costs are calculated to figure out the best budget you need for staffing. Keeping the budget slightly flexible will ensure you can still deliver on the event, regardless of how the event goes, from planning, to execution, to day-of. Qualifications and Expectations When you’re hiring event staff, you will want to make sure their qualifications meet what your clients' expectations. Has the prospective staff member worked events like yours? Do they have the certifications needed in order to do certain tasks that the job requires? The best option is to have the right expectation based on the service you choose. Contact us today for a quote! [email protected] or 520-329-0693
It's been an eventful year for us at Tapuz NYC! From staffing both corporate and social events throughout all of the New York City 5 boroughs, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut, we have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people and for that we are truly grateful. Today we toast to our family, friends, clients and colleagues - thank you for a wonderful #2018 and looking forward to a fantastic #2019! Wishing you safe, happy & healthy #NewYear! #HappyNewYear2019
 For a Southern Arizona holiday-season outing that's fun for the entire family, we can't get enough of these beautifully crafted sugar cacti! Check out The Ritz-Carlton resort lobby’s life-size, sugary sweet, giant edible cactus garden created with vibrant and flavorful fondant by a team of ten Ritz-Carlton culinarians, collaborating in sweet tribute to the inspiring flora and fauna of Southern Arizona's Dove Mountain region. This is the perfect little change of pace from the holiday parties and events that may be the mainstay during this time of year.
Open 24 hours. Until Dec. 27. Free. The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain 15000 N. Secret Springs Drive Marana, Arizona For more information, check out Tucson.com and http://www.ritzcarlton.com. Photo credit: Tucson.com
 It was our great pleasure to be included among fellow event industry sponsors for the Exclusive Preview of The Loft at BentoClub Hudson this week presented in partnership with Hudson and Nine -- with the always amazing catering by Cloud Catering, refreshments by Absolut Elyx, production by Canal Sound & Light, design by Petal Design Studio, and rentals by Something Different Party Rental. With our event staff manning various areas throughout the venue, such as coat check, front doors, and elevator operations, we were happy to support the opening of this beautifully unique event space in the effervescent Meatpacking / West Greenwich Village area of New York City. Cheers to a fantastic launch and to many more events to come!
As we enter into the holiday season, and in honor this Tuesday's #WorldKindnessDay, we just wanted to share a few quick tips and reminders on how to have a peaceful interactions with each other, especially when it comes to the workplace.
We know that during work, especially in the hospitality industry, the environment can be fast-paced - and clients and managers may be hurriedly asking for tasks to be completed, so here are few tips to keep in mind: 1) Avoid making accusations and work to keep your tone neutral. In many cases, people do not realize they have caused offense when conflicts arise. Apologize for any part you may have played in the situation. If both parties understand the goals, it is easier for everyone to work toward common ground. 2) Avoid the conflict altogether. It’s always best to address a conflict sooner rather than later. This helps to avoid excess tension that can build up over time. Start by asking nicely if you don’t understand why someone has behaved a certain way or if they can change their behavior. 3) If needing to vent, please do so AWAY from the workplace. When you're clashing with someone at work, venting to a friend during a shift may feel satisfying in the moment — but workplace gossip has the potential to backfire very quickly. First of all, there are ears everywhere, and you will look unprofessional if anyone over-hears you badmouthing a colleague. Secondly, it's unfair to the person you're having conflict with, because everyone still has to work together. PLUS, who wants a reputation as the person at work who talks trash about everyone else? We all need to vent after a tough work day, but when the problem is a colleague conflict, try to call a friend or family member once you're home instead of letting off steam in the break room. If you are having trouble resolving a conflict and it has gone on for some time, consider contacting a manager to help dissolve some of the tension. Cheers to a festive season ahead!  As a feedback-based company, our clients' experience and comments are what drive us to provide the very best event staffing possible. Thanks to reviews like this one, we are motivated to continue offering top-notch service staff for events throughout the New York City/NJ/CT tri-state area! Thanks, Jennifer S! Your review really made our day!
Check out Jennifer S.'s review of Tapuz on @yelp! It was a night for the event industry books - and we were thrilled be a part of it! Our friends at Union West Events were celebrating the launch of their expansive 18,000 Square Foot (!) event space in West Chelsea, New York City. A bevy of premier vendors, such as caterers, decor, entertainment, and audio/visual companies, created a glorious night of mischief and fun. It was a great way to kick off Halloween - and the new venue! Our staff managed the coat check, bathroom attending, and registration, to ensure that these areas were covered for the evening.
Cheers to fellow event vendors: Luminosity Events Drape Kings Something Different Party Rental Red Bliss Design Rafanelli Events Riviera Caterers Pinch Food Design Thomas Preti Cloud Catering Designer 8 Furniture Ovando Coco Events From The Source Jarrell Entertainment Alpine Creative Group Sunship Films Coolhaus Phillip VN Photography Peroni Spring 44 Distilling Okamoto Custom Ice A smile makes all the difference! Be kind to yourself and each other. Bringing a positive attitude to the workplace is the perfect start to having a great shift!
Some quick reminders on how to easily bring more kindness to the workplace. 1) Lead by example 2) Put an end to petty criticism 3 ) Recognize one another's strengths, not weaknesses #positivelyprofessionalstaff Read more suggestions here... https://www.reliableplant.com/Read/22751/Start-kindness-revolution-at-work Our service staff spent this past weekend serving up delicious catered food and beverage and setting up event furniture, all while enjoying this beautiful Manhattan view from a Long Island City Queens NYC venue...Happy to be an event professional!
The season is here for networking and showcasing the newest products and fashion trends. We recently had the pleasure of attending The Event Planner Expo, which was an awe-inspiring array of the best of what the event industry has to offer. From catering companies to event production teams to new venues, all areas of the field were gloriously represented at the expansive Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea, Manhattan.
Just a few skips away in Midtown West and the up-and-coming Hudson Yards neighborhood, our service staff was a part of bridal fashion week at a (gorgeous, may we add...) wedding gown showcase, passing food and beverage goodies throughout the day. The variety of this industry is endless and we're thrilled to be a part of it! |
