How to Choose A Mobile Bar Service

How to Choose A Mobile Bar Service

Planning a celebration can be an exciting yet overwhelming task. From choosing the venue to finalizing the guest list, there are numerous details to consider. One crucial aspect that can make or break your event is the mobile bar service you hire. With the popularity of mobile bars growing daily, it is important to know how to choose the right provider for your event and make sure you are hiring a professional. To ensure a successful and stress-free celebration, here are some key factors to look for when hiring a mobile bar service.

First and foremost, it is essential to ensure that the mobile bar service has proper insurance coverage. This not only protects you and your guests in case of any mishaps, but also demonstrates the professionalism and reliability of the service provider. Insurance provides peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy your event without worrying about any unforeseen incidents.

Another crucial aspect to consider is the expertise and certification of the bar staff. Professional staff certified in bartending ensures that your guests will receive top-notch service. They possess the necessary skills and knowledge to craft delicious cocktails and recommend the perfect wines for your celebration. Their expertise will elevate the overall experience for your guests, leaving a lasting impression.

When it comes to beverages, it is important to find a mobile bar service that knows how to calculate the perfect amount. Running out of drinks can be a major party foul, while overcharging for unnecessary items can put a dent in your budget. Experienced mobile bar services will have the expertise to estimate the right quantity of beverages, ensuring that you never run out while avoiding any unnecessary expenses.

To gauge the reliability and quality of a mobile bar service, it is crucial to consider their experience and reviews. Look for a service provider with a proven track record of successful events and satisfied clients. Online reviews and testimonials can provide valuable insights into their professionalism, service quality, and customer satisfaction. Stay aware of deceptive social media, a proven company will have many events for you to see, not just pretty pictures!

Professional booking procedures, including contracts, are another important aspect to consider. A reputable mobile bar service will have a clear and transparent booking process, ensuring that all terms and conditions are agreed upon in writing. This not only protects you but also demonstrates the professionalism and commitment of the service provider.

In conclusion, hiring a mobile bar service for your celebration requires careful consideration. Look for a service provider with insurance coverage, professional staff certified in bartending, and expertise in choosing the right wines and cocktails. Ensure they have experience, positive reviews, and professional booking procedures with contracts. By taking these factors into account, you can have peace of mind and enjoy your event without any worries, knowing that your mobile bar service will deliver an exceptional experience for you and your guests.

Confessions of an HOH Mom

Confessions of an HOH Mom

I’m going to wager a small bet that a good amount of people read the title and said to themselves, “HOH? What’s that stand for?” HOH, or Hard of Hearing, gets a lot less attention than Deafness does. It’s an odd phenomenon because most people have at least one person in their life that drives them crazy with their, “What”s? and “Huh”s?

 There is a running joke among audiologists that goes like this:

Two old men are walking in the park. One man looks at his friend and says:

“I got a new hearing aid yesterday! It’s amazing! I can hear so much better now!”

The second man says:

“Oh really? What kind is it?”

The first responds, looking at his watch:

“Oh, it’s about one o’clock”

This sums up not only HOH, but also what people envision when they hear the terms, “Hard of Hearing” or “Hearing Impaired”.

Older People.

However, this impairment can affect many different ages and types of people.

I am a youngish 50, but I have been hard of hearing since my mid 20’s. No, I didn’t go to a lot of rock concerts or listen to my music too loudly, as people are always want to ask. I was born with a genetic disorder, a defect in my cochleas, that caused what they call “a Cookie Bite” loss bi-laterally. Around 24 years of age, I started with the “Whats” and the “Huhs” and when my friends and family got frustrated with repeating themselves, I just yelled at them to “Stop Mumbling!” and to “Speak Clearly!” until they finally convinced me that I REALLY needed to get my ears checked, they weren’t just being sarcastic! The doctor explained that it could have happened at any time, 6 years old or 60, with enough stress to trigger it. (“See?”, I told my family, “It IS your fault!”)

Speaking of sarcasm, yea, that doesn’t work so well on us. Either we can’t hear you at all, or we miss the tonality that expresses the sarcasm. A lot of meaning in speech communication can be interpreted by tone, and we don’t have that natural benefit of normal hearing people. We can miss a LOT and also look pretty dumb. We respond completely inappropriately in everyday situations, so much so that we start to slowly withdraw in fear of making idiots out of ourselves AGAIN. I can tell you, my 14-year-old daughter just LOVES it when we are in the drive-through and they ask, “What drink would you like?” and I respond with, “Barbecue sauce please!” She has tried to hide in the back seat more than once.

I can’t count the number of times people have become frustrated with me, or worse, judgmental, because I could not understand them. When I am feeling a bit more courageous, I tell them, “My ears are broke, not my brain”, but mostly I just get frustrated with myself too. I interrupt people because I don’t realize they are speaking. I change the subject of conversations because I have no idea what the subject is.  I sometimes talk too much because I want to feel connected to people and trying to just sit back and listen to people talk, or for the correct pauses in conversation to be able to enter into them, or read their facial expressions and pretend I know what they are saying, is near impossible for me. And exhausting.

Hearing aids are an option of course. I do have a pair, and they cost about as much as a used car. Actually, they cost MORE than many used cars! Most insurance plans do NOT cover them either. They will cover the hearing test though. The last time I got my hearing checked was about a year ago. I went in because after many years of just being plain old hearing impaired, I got the added luxury of Tinnitus, a relentless buzzing and ringing in my head. Fun.

I walked to the desk and told them I was there for a hearing test because I thought my hearing may have gotten worse. They gave me instructions on the paperwork, where to go, etc., all in normal hushed voices; I had to guess what they were telling me because I had no clue what words were coming out of the receptionist’s mouth, but it was pretty straightforward. After the hearing test I knew my hearing had really gotten worse when the woman approached me and yelled, “YOU NEED TO BRING THIS PAPERWORK TO THAT WINDOW DOWN THE HALL”. I showed them! Lol.

Hearing aids, unfortunately, are not a magic cure. You can hear better with them, and they are worth having, but they do not bring you back to perfect normal people status. I still require people to get my attention, talk straight at me, not too fast, and to enunciate their consonants. What I don’t require people to do is to talk to me like I am mentally challenged or to yell in my face. Please, for the love of GOD, do NOT yell at me. Volume increase can be extremely annoying, as with a hearing loss you lose certain TONES, but others are fine. So, when watching a movie for example, if I just increase volume, the background sounds are so LOUD that they drown out the mid-tones (speaking level) that I can’t hear anyway. I just watch with the subtitles. My reading speeds are faster and I am an amazing speller now! Plus…I READ the little stuff going on in the background that YOU can’t hear!

Another benefit of the hearing aids is that when I am alone, or it is quiet, it helps cut down on my attention to the high pitch ringing in my head. I also have taken to humming to myself when I don’t have them in…a lot. However, this little unconscious method of trying to keep myself from GOING insane can make me SEEM insane to people in public! I don’t even realize I am doing it until I am in the grocery store, looking at the produce, and notice the person next to me giving me the side eye and steering their children clear of me….

Good. That way they won’t try to talk to me. I’d rather look crazy than stupid!

Well, I hope you learned something from this. Or at least had a little giggle at my expense. I thoroughly enjoyed writing it because it takes a LOT less energy for me to write than to have a conversation (or to order in a drive through)! Please remember to have patience with people. Everyone is fighting their own battles, some more silently than others! The next time someone ignores you or answers you completely wrong, remember, they might not be mean and stupid, they might just be HOH!