 Dean Serneel has created an excellent 4 Volume DVD set which is all you need to become an expert in the bar tending industry. Each disc is packed with step by step techniques and vital training information. Special Features include: trailers, short videos, and bonus footage. The Menus are broken down into specific categories, so your not wasting time looking for the content you need to see.
Volume 4, Practical Bar Magic, includes tried and tested magic tricks from years of working as a professional restaurant magician. Over one hour of epic, memorable, Bar Magic. Learn how to do tricks with props found behind your bar. Slow motion step by step instructions of over 25 different tricks. Learn the Floating Shaker Tin, make a Lit Cigarette disappear, and how to Steal Watches right of the arms of your guests. This disk is perfect for anyone working the wood.
This is not only a super way to improve your tips and customer loyalty, it’s loads of fun at parties too!
To get more information, see video clips or purchase Practical Bar Magic click here!
 Restaurants across the country are using the website Yelp to help draw in customers. Although any small business can post an advertisement on Yelp, the majority of users go to the site for restaurant and entertainments advice—and the “majority” is a lot. According to Yelp’s internal Google Analytics, the site “drew an audience of more than 50 million monthly unique users, and they have a total of 17 million reviews for venues around the world.” The CEO of the site says that the service is seeing both a growth in businesses listed on the site as well as users writing reviews.
For those who are unfamiliar, Yelp is just one of several online directories that help consumers make buying decisions. As I noted before, the site is advertised as a great place to compare restaurants (not so much other industry companies). Therefore, if your restaurant is not factoring this site into its marketing efforts, you are likely missing out on big opportunities. While most businesses work hard to rank on Google pages or other local search engines, restaurants are focusing on ranking well on Yelp. In other words, Yelp is quickly becoming the Google of restaurants.
Why Yelp Is Taking Over the Restaurant Search Volume
Yelp is quickly taking over the restaurant search volume, and for good reason. Aside from the sheer number of users, consider a few of the reasons this site is so popular:
- Smartphones—When people are looking for somewhere to eat, they are often driving around in their cars; therefore using their smartphones. The website can be set up as an application on a smartphone, making it easy to use. This site works extremely well in these types of situations.
- Customer Driven—Customers write post reviews about the restaurant onto the website, which then helps give other reassurance (or saves them the trip). Customers like to see reviews go in a general direction; thus making this site very popular.
- Local—When a user uses Yelp, they know they are going to get results based on their current location. When searching for a restaurant, location is more important than when searching for a product that can be shipped. For this reason, people only turn to sites that produce local results, and Yelp passes the test.
- Informative—Yelp is an extremely informative site. It will list the restaurants hours, prices, and even dress code for every restaurant. I know my friends and I pull up Yelp and look for restaurants with only one “$,” meaning inexpensive. It’s quick, easy, and clear.
Most restaurants who use Yelp swear by the results. Yelp works best for smaller, local restaurants, but even big chains will benefit from the exposure. However, it is in the restaurants hands to make sure that exposure is beneficial as opposed to damaging. If you make one mistake at your restaurant, you had better believe that this comment is going on Yelp. Fortunately, if you have one or two bad reviews mixed in which a lot of positive reviews, your restaurant should be safe. Users generally look at the majority of reviews in order to make a decision, not just one or two.
Consider a few of the ways restaurants can make sure they get positive exposure on Yelp:
How to Use Yelp to Help Build Your Restaurant’s Reputation
- Fill out All Information—As discussed above, Yelp offers a lot of information about a restaurant. It is the job of the restaurant owner (or marketing department) to fill out all of this information completely and keep it up to date. Although it is a bit lengthy, it will certainly pay off in the long run. To get started creating your page, click here.
- Respond to Reviews—Recently, Yelp made it possible for businesses to respond to reviews. If your business gets a negative review, you must respond in a respectful way. This will not only give you the chance to regain that customer, but other customers will see that you are involved and learning from your mistakes.
- Advertise—This site allows businesses to advertise offers and discounts to potential customers. Your offer will be placed on the ‘Announcements and Offers’ tab for all to see. If your restaurant seems dead on a cold Tuesday night, just put out a discount on the site! It only takes about two minutes to create.
- Social Networking—The site also works as a social networking site for customers. Work to build your “friends” by seeing who is reviewing your business and interacting via comments (even the good ones). You can also sync up your Yelp profile with your other social networks for extra exposure.
- Badges—Badges is a great way to let your customers know you’re on Yelp if they are visiting your website. All you have to do is embed a code Yelp will provide onto your website, and then people will be able to see how many positive reviews your restaurant has under its belt.
Photo Credit: vol1brooklyn.com
Amanda DiSilvestro is a writer on topics ranging from restaurant management to starting a small business. She writes for an online resource that gives advice on topics including credit card processing to small businesses and entrepreneurs for the leading business directory, Business.com.
Question to Tip20! from a server…
Hey There… Im looking for advice. I’ve been at the same Steakhouse in Atlanta for 14 years. We have a new GM who is forcing us all to use Cross Pens as the “uniform” pen, standard of service, at $17 per pen, out of our pocket. Is this even legal?
Thanks, - Crossed Out in GA
 Dear Crossed Out in GA,
Just when I thought I’d heard everything… Well, it is probably not illegal for the manager to require these pens as part of the required “uniform” but it is at the least ridicules. I have never heard of a special pen requirement. I could see a requirement for a somewhat conservative pen, as opposed to a bright pink one with feathers and lights, but a specific brand of expensive pen seems ludicrous. Is he selling you the pens?
Thanks and good luck. I’d put that pen on a chain!
Tip20!
What do you think?
 A great little clip from Oprah’s OWN network, where Dr. Phil, Suze Orman, Dr. Oz and the ever present Gayle King take on a guy who doesn’t believe in tipping. See it HERE.
A Tip20! Original Article, by Tom Mason
 When you play casino games you will most often be offered free beverages. Then there comes the dilemma… to tip or not to tip?
At the end of the day, tipping is still a voluntary practice but it is customary and relied on for income by those in the industry just as they are by restaurant servers. Without tips from patron, the workers are very underpaid for the work they do. Also keep in mind that the IRS will assume that these employees are earning tips and will tax accordingly.
At a casino, cash as well as chips are generally acceptable for tips. For dealers, it is best to tip always with chips.
In blackjack, the typical method for tipping is to place an additional bet at the front of your betting box. Don’t tip so much or so frequently that you significantly shift the odds of the game. If you’re betting $5 for yourself, a $1 bet for the dealer once or twice an hour, or when you’re winning, will do. If you win the hand, the dealer will get a $2 tip. If you lose, the house gets the money.
While playing roulette it is common practice to give the dealer a chip after hitting a 35-1 single-number payoff. Never hand it directly to the dealer, as dealers are not allowed to take money or chips from a player’s hand. Put it on the table and tell the dealer it’s a tip.
Tipping for slots is less common, but if you hit a large, hand-paid jackpot, and have received good, timely service, it is nice to tip.
Those playing Craps sometimes place bets for the dealers. Often, this is done either by having the dealer place a specific bet “for the boys”. Bets on 11 or the field are frequent choices, or by placing a bet on one of the “hard ways” and telling the dealer it goes both ways. That is, a $10 hard six both ways means the player is betting $5 for himself and $5 for the dealers that two threes will come up before a seven and before any other six. If you want to give the dealers the best chance to win, place a pass line bet for the boys.
Until recently in all UK casinos gaming staff were not allowed to accept tips. From August 2008 tipping of all employees is permitted in casinos.
Also please don’t forget to tip at the buffet. At least 10% of the tab or a dollar per guest if the server has been attentive with your beverages and plate clearing.
Whether or not it is just great Karma to tip at a casino we will leave for another day, but while gambling, a bit of extra good Karma probably couldn’t hurt. 
Casino Tipping Guide
- Cocktail Waitresses $1/every drink or two.
- Dealers $5/hr.
- Slot Attendants (hand pays) 0.5% to 1% or $1-2 chip when they repair your machine.
- Roulette dealers – $5+ chip per session.
- Keno writers/runners – $1+ for first ticket. If you play a lot, tip more. 5% if you win.
- Poker dealers – $5+ chip per session. You may tip 10% of your winnings, but not to exceed $25.
- Craps or blackjack dealer – $5+ chip per session. If you prefer, you can place a side bet for the dealer up to 10%. The size depends upon the table’s minimum bet; however, it need not ever exceed $25. At a $5 table, the tip would be a $1 chip. At a $25 table, use a $5 chip.
- Of course there is a benefit to on-line casinos, you need not tip at all!
Note: At tables, you should only feel obligated to tip when you are winning, not if you are losing that is understood.
From the Northwest Herald
CRYSTAL LAKE – Tea party members, conservative bloggers and radio hosts are rallying in support of a Woodstock waitress who says she was fired from the Crystal Lake Outback Steakhouse for wearing a political bracelet and admitting tea party sentiments.
Twenty-three-year-old Megan Geller of Woodstock said that a couple dining at the restaurant in early October took offense to a bright yellow bracelet with the words “Don’t Tread On Me” imprinted on it.
 Outback’s Chief Legal Officer Jospeh Kadow said Geller was fired for her inattention to customers that evening.
“Megan Gellar was not let go because of her tea party bracelet,” Kadow said in a statement to the Northwest Herald. “On the night in question two separate tables complained about her lack of attention.”
When the manager spoke to Geller about these complaints, she responded by yelling at him with a hostile attitude and that led to her termination, Kadow said.
Geller says she told the diners her mother, Tonya Franklin, gave her the bracelet after Franklin received it at a tea party event. Those last three words incensed the couple, who then asked for the manager, Geller said.
Holding signs, and waving American flags and yellow “Don’t Tread On Me” banners, a weekend protest outside the restaurant was held against what demonstrators called a violation of Geller’s free speech rights.
Conservative bloggers and radio hosts also have spread Geller’s story.
“They stirred up the wrong hornet’s nest and messed with the wrong mama,” Franklin said at the protest Saturday. “When mama’s get mad, mama’s get to work.”
Megan said she feigned ignorance when the customers questioned the bracelet’s meaning.
“I didn’t want to talk politics at work,” she said.
Geller claims she wore the bracelet “for months” with no prior warning from restaurant management and was never asked to remove the bracelet.
“She was not fired because a customer complained about her bracelet,” Kadow said. “That would have simply been handled by asking her to take off the bracelet.”
Documents from the Illinois Department of Employment Security provided by Geller state that she was fired for misconduct, but she should not have been denied unemployment benefits.
“The evidence shows the claimant was discharged from [Outback Steakhouse] because they received a couple complaints from customers since she was wearing a bracelet with a political point of view,” according to documents from the state agency. “Since the claimant’s action, which resulted in her discharge was not deliberate or willful, the claimant is not ineligible for benefits.”
Outback did not challenge Geller’s unemployment claim, or submit any information regarding her claim, Kadow said.
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