Sue’s Bartending, Serving and Events

Serves Cambridge, MA

35244

Hired 170 times

5 employees

13 years in business

$55

4.9

This pro accepts payments via Apple Pay, Cash, Check, Credit card, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

Next Service

Hours

Sun 6:00 am - 1:00 am
Mon 4:00 pm - 11:59 pm
Tues 4:00 pm - 11:59 pm
Wed 4:00 pm - 11:59 pm
Thurs 4:00 pm - 11:59 pm
Fri 6:00 am - 11:59 pm
Sat 6:00 am - 2:00 am

Credentials

Background Check

Susan Matthews 
Completed on 4/29/2021 

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Introduction

We will take care of everything! We are qualified, experienced, responsible, reliable, friendly. My staff is all trained in high end restaurants and catering companies. We are here to make sure you can relax, enjoy your party, and mingle with your guests. With us working your party, you won't have to worry about anything, we will take care of everything! Everything. *I also have liquor liability insurance, so you can trust you’re in good hands. I can provide you with an insurance certificate for your event if you need it for the venue. I am also Tips Certified and am ServSafe certified. My team and I work independently and with caterers, chefs, and event planners. We can come to your home and heat up food and pass appetizers and set up at buffet for your cocktail party, or we can come to your hall and bartend, serve a sit down dinner, set up, and clean up. We do it all ~ and beyond. I work with the same small staff year round. We are a great team. We make you feel at home at your home; we leave your space cleaner than it was before we got there. We even take out the trash and recycling and will bring to your garage or dumpster. What We Do: ~ Bar ~ • Bartend ~ wine, beer, hard liquor, cocktails • Pair Wines with Food Menu • Put Together a Drink Menu • Can coordinate Liquor Delivery and Liquor Return for your Event if you choose • Can coordinate Glassware Delivery for your Event if you choose • We have a bar table, black linens, wine/ice buckets, wine/beer openers, shakers, muddlers, cutting boards. To rent my table/linens, it is $50/event. To rent one of my coolers for the event, it is $50/event. I am happy to purchase ice, garnishes, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages for event; will be additional cost obviously based on what is needed for event. Day-of Coordination —Vendor Coordination —Set up / Clean up —Greeting guests —Set up décor —Being the go to person for every little detail on the day of event —Making sure the day runs smoothly. ~ Waitstaff/Serving/Food Management ~ • Cook and Prepare Food • Set Up, Replenish, Monitor, and Clean Up Buffets • Set Up, Monitor, Serve and Clean Up Dinner Parties • Refill water glasses, Refill wine glasses (responsibly) • Arrange, Serve, and Pass Appetizers. I have silver trays to rent for passing, they are $50 to rent 5 trays. • Clean up, Dispose of, and Wash Plates and flatware • Clean Dishes, Glassware, Everything • Sweep and Clean floor/Vacuum • Wipe down counters, oven, and anything else we touched! • Coat Check • Your kitchen will look cleaner after the party than it did before the party! My rates are: Per bartender: --$55/hour/bartender, and it's a 4 hour minimum. This amount covers liquor liability insurance for the event. Per waitstaff: —$55/hour/staff, and it's a 4 hour minimum Per griller: —$55/hour/staff and it’s a 4 hour minimum —There is travel time one way for any commute 45 minutes or more, which is $55/staff. --To rent a table or cooler from me for the bar, the cost is $50/event. --To rent trays for passing or bussing, it is $50/event. --For parties 75 guests and over, 25% is automatically added to the final bill for staff gratuity. If the client feels the staff did an exceptional job, feel free to add more gratuity to the final bill. My liability insurance covers $1,000,000 per person/$2,000,000 per aggregate. If the venue needs to be "additionally insured", there is an additional $150/fee as it is not included in my regular insurance policy. *A 10% deposit and signed agreement is required in order for the job to be confirmed.* *Our uniform is all black to be distinguished - black button down, black pants, black shoes. **We are closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.** I look forward to hearing from you and discussing your event! Warm regards, Sue Matthews

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Q&A

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

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My pricing is competitive. I charge $35/hour, and it's a 4 hour minimum. Me and my staff are very professional, very thorough, friendly, dependable, and experienced. You won't find a better, more experienced or friendly staff anywhere!

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

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My typical process of working with a new customer is I like to talk to the customer on the phone first. I find hashing out the details of their party on the phone is a great way to get to know their preferences, exactly what and who they are looking for, and all of their needs. It gives me a sense of their expectations. I feel like I get to know them a little bit as well and they get to know me, which makes working the party a lot easier. I try to make customers feel completely at ease so they know they can trust and depend on me. And speaking on the phone first (or meeting in person if they'd like) also makes me more comfortable with the client.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

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I have worked at several high end and casual restaurants as a server, a bartender, and a host. I have worked with large catering companies as a bartender and server. I have taken a certified Bartending course as well as a certified wine courses. I have learned the ins and outs of different kinds of wine at the restaurants I worked at. I renew my TIPS certification every 3 years. TIPS certification is the equality of being licensed in Massachuetts. Also currently my day job is working administration at a wine company.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

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I started working in restaurants when I was in high school. I started working for catering companies when I was in college. I started doing jobs on my own when catering companies started sending me on smaller jobs on my own. From then I developed a great and repeat clientel list around the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire area.

What types of customers have you worked with?

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I've worked in private homes all over Eastern and Central Mass, RI, and NH and large halls, venues, synagogues in Eastern/Central Mass, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, my customers have all been fantastic people! I enjoy working with and for them. I enjoy getting to know their needs, preferences. Some have become like family. I have several repeat clients who I work for 1-2 times a year.

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

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We recently worked a small wedding in New Hampshire, doing bartending and serving, replenishing a buffet and doing dishes. It was a long evening, but the clients were absolutely wonderful. We stayed later than expected and they were so grateful for our help, and we were so grateful for such great clients!

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

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Make sure you and the pro chat on the phone first, or meet each other and talk about your needs, preferences and expectations. Make sure you are comfortable with each other. I think chatting beforehand is a necessity so you are both on the same page, and I know exactly what the customer wants and needs.

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

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Know what you are looking for, but also be open-minded. Customers always ask for advice and I am happy to share my ideas on how to make your party amazing, just ask! I usually ask questions like: How many guests are you having? Are you having a sit down dinner or buffet? Do you require a lot of cooking? Where is the food coming from – a caterer, or is being made at home? Are you using paper and plastic or disposables? Are you having a full bar? Do you need me to provide tables, linens, ice buckets, etc for the bar? Also - not the first time we talk, but just sometime before the party it’s good to have a menu if possible and timeline of when you’d like things to happen during the party – appetizers, entrée, toast, dessert, etc. I like to make sure I have all the details of a party so I know what to expect when I get there, and so I don’t have to ask the client too many questions when I am working the party.

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