Cheers, New Year’s Eve

December 27, 2019 3:13 PM

I’ll be spending NYE behind the bar. What can I do to make it special for both myself and customers?

So I’ll be working the late shift New Year’s Eve bartending at a small local bar. Some of the regulars have asked if I’ll be doing anything special to mark the occasion.I’d love to find something to make it feel festive and New Year’s Eve appropriate. I’ve been left to my own devices at this particular bar, so keep in mind that anything I do will have to be with my own funds. I can get crafty if need be. I have a themed playlist ready to go, but what else should I do? Ideas- please and thank you!

posted by Champagne Supernova to Society & Culture (5 answers total)

Have a signature drink for the evening! Make a little sign to put on the bar. Given that it is NYE I'd suggest something involving bubbles, but you know your clientele best.
posted by arnicae at 4:01 PM on December 27, 2019 [3 favorites]

You could create a Resolutions Tree: stick a few tree branches into a mason jar, and put out little slips or circles of paper, paperclips, and sharpies. Patrons can write a resolution on the paper and then unbend a paper clip and hang it on a branch. Here's a more fancy version you could make with balsa wood or thick cardboard if you wanted.
You could put out a pile of blank slips of paper-- OR, it might be fun to hand out one blank resloution slip with each drink served. Resolution topics might, uh, evolve as the drinking progresses.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 4:14 PM on December 27, 2019 [4 favorites]

Best answer: If you can find one of those party stores by you, last time I was out on NYE the place we went to gave everyone a kazoo, ratchet, or some sort of small, cheap noise maker to ring in the year. That would likely work better than my other thought which were those party poppers which might be a pain to clean up.
posted by Carillon at 4:22 PM on December 27, 2019 [4 favorites]

If it’s a small bar with a small number of people, party hats could also be fun.
posted by ocherdraco at 5:52 PM on December 27, 2019 [1 favorite]

Do something mildly competitive, but low-stakes, with prizes. Like trivia every half hour, with silly little prizes.
posted by Miko at 6:49 AM on December 28, 2019 [2 favorites]