AWE Cocktail Parties

Virtual Happy Hours - A Benefit for Bartenders

How It Works

Actual bartenders co-host the virtual happy hour. Bartenders become that hour’s ‘guest bartender’. The ‘guest bartender’ decides on a theme and presents 1-2 cocktails and/or bar-related discussion prompts. ‘Patrons’ can ask the ‘guest bartender’ questions and tip the guest bartender via Venmo or CashApp. A simple way for ‘patrons’ to say thanks to the ‘guest bartender’ for sharing their knowledge and get some money in their pockets immediately.

After trial and some error while having many good laughs, AWE now has a ‘real’ Zoom account (so we don’t get kicked out of the bar) and some planning tips for ‘guest bartenders’ (so patrons are compelled to tip). These are currently ‘not for profit’ for AWE, just a benefit for guest bartenders.

HEY BARTENDERS! Wanna make some tips?

This is accessible to anyone with a mobile device or home computer or laptop (Zoom & Venmo apps are FREE) and internet connection.

Bartenders commit to:

• a minimum of 30 minutes of ‘behind the bar’ time with at least one cocktail recipe and/or two bar-related chat topics

• promoting the happy hour on their social media account(s)

• providing a list of ingredients for patrons (if they wish to build the drinks at home)

• AT THE EVENT: You (guest bartender) make a drink and tell guests about it as you go. Almost every guest bartender has shared their at home bar hacks… sometimes on purpose (alternative to a Lewis Bag) sometimes from sheer, off-the-cuff‘making do with what you have’ (large oranges may also be used as a strainer). Guest bartender answers patrons’ bar-related questions (moderated by AWE). Topics have included ‘What do I do with Aquavit?” or ‘How to make a cocktail without ice’. Then, patrons send tips to you, your peer, your bar’s employee fund or another service-related entity of your choice via Venmo or Cash apps or on a link provided by you to AWE.. Virtual happy hour patrons often stay, chat and cheers longer than 30 minutes however guest bartender obligation is just for the first 30 minutes.

If you’re interested in being a virtual guest bartender, contact me via email at jenn@awecelebrations.com or slide into my DMs on Instagram @awepdx - then we can figure out the best ways to move forward (like picking a date, time, theme, etc).

Click below to email Jenn now to learn more.

I just had to sit on it for a couple years…

In 2018, I had a wish to begin monthly mixers and the nearby bar, I fondly refer to as my living room (aka The Solo Club). It never came to fruition. Then in March 2020, this thing called a pandemic started and most of my service industry friends lost their jobs ‘until…’ (well, this is still to be determined).

As a fun, social ‘experiment’ I decided to set-up a virtual ‘bar counter’ for ‘patrons’ to sit at while ‘guest bartenders’ made a drink or two while we CHEERS a few times for good measure.

On St Patrick’s Day 2020, it was just a way to have some social time and help out some friends. None of us thought we would still be staying in May 2020. After eight virtual happy hours in less than a month, I realized… THIS is just a slightly different vision of my wish from two years ago… just virtually instead of IN a bar! I created a place for people to gather, chat about 'bar stuff and maybe meet some new friends along the way while being chill, low cost and inclusive.

Click below for the upcoming virtual happy hour dates!