New Year’s Eve Party Checklist for Your Bar orNew Year’s Eve Party Checklist for Your Bar or Restaurant New Year’s Eve celebrations can be a lot of fun for your customers…but

New Year’s Eve Party Checklist for Your Bar or Restaurant

New Year’s Eve celebrations can be a lot of fun for your customers…but they can also be a lot of work for you! Use this checklist to make sure you have everything you need to throw the best New Year’s Eve party in town.    

! Start early.    

You don’t want to start planning your party on December 30th! Starting early is the best way to ensure that your party is the best it can be.

! Security.

New Year’s Eve is a big night, and unfortunately that can mean big fights. Make sure you have extra security on hand to deal with any guests who get out of control.

! Party favors.

If guests are spending their New Year’s Eve with you, it’s nice to give them a little something to take home with them. Assemble any party favors you want to give out and find a way to distribute them—either by passing them out or placing them on tables.

! DJ.

You’ll want to hire a DJ well ahead of time, since they tend to get booked up fast during the holiday season.

! Band.

If you decide to go with a live band instead of a DJ, the same rule applies! Make sure to book them ASAP.

! A signature drink.

Make your party stand out by developing your own signature drink for the night.

! TVs.

If you plan on playing a televised New Year’s Eve countdown, be sure to have enough televisions and place them so that everyone in your bar or restaurant can see them. Also, be sure to have someone on hand who can fix the TVs if there are any problems.

! Caterers.

Of course, this isn’t necessary if you own a restaurant, but if you own a bar that doesn’t serve food, you’ll want to be sure you hire a caterer. People will be at your bar for a long time, and you want to have something to feed them.

! Hire enough staff.

The holiday season is a busy time, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. You might need to hire more staff to keep up with the crowds.

! Train staff.

Make sure your staff is prepared for the party by training them on any new duties.

! Make a timeline.

It’s easy for a party to go off the rails if you don’t have a plan! Create a timeline so everyone on your staff knows when the party starts, when food will be served, etc.

! Tickets.

Are you planning on using tickets, wristbands, or stamps for your guests? If so, make sure you have these supplies available.

! Do a staff run-through.

Do a complete run-through of the evening to make sure that everyone in your bar or restaurant knows what will happen.

! Late night promotions.

New Year’s Eve parties end earlier than typical weekend nights, so plan some late night specials to entice your customers to stay later.

! Coat check.

Depending on where you live, it will likely be pretty cold on New Year’s. Your guests won’t be able to enjoy themselves if they’re forced to lug their coats around, so be sure to have a coat check.

! Social media.

Start tweeting and Facebooking about your party early!

! Promote locally.

Fliers and local radio or newspaper ads will let everyone in your city know about your party.

! Champagne.

What’s a New Year’s Eve party without champagne? Be sure to have plenty of bubbly on hand.

! Appetizers.

You might not be serving full meals at your party, but be sure to have some sort of food on hand. Since New Year’s Eve parties start earlier than most parties, your guests will likely be hungry.

! Photo booths.

Give your customers a fun memory to take home by setting up a photo booth.

! Pre-mixed cocktails.

Save time at your bar by offering as many pre-mixed cocktails as you can.

! Decorations.

When it comes to New Year’s decorations, the glitzier the better. This is the time to bust out your metallic or glittery décor.

! Seating.

It’s a good idea to put out some extra chairs (whether from your own storage or from a rental) for those partiers who don’t feel like dancing or standing.

! Ice.

Of course, you always have ice on hand, but make sure you have extra!

! Something special for midnight.

You can’t have a New Year’s Eve party without planning a countdown at midnight! Whether you do something special in your bar or restaurant or simply turn on a television countdown, make sure you have something planned for midnight.

! Props.

Cheesy glasses, noisemakers, boas, party hats…sure, these items might be a little silly, but for many people, they’re essential for a New Year’s Eve party. Consider having them on hand if your party is low-key rather than fancy.

! Paper goods.

Even if you normally use heavy duty plates, consider getting disposable plates and cups for your party. The last thing you want is to run out!

! Another bar.

If you’re expecting a huge crowd of people and you only have one bar, things might get a little slow. Consider setting up another bar area.

! Coasters and napkins.

Again, these are things you already have on hand, but you’ll want to have extra for your party. Consider printing up branded coasters and napkins or seeing if one of your liquor suppliers can give you some.

! Special menus.

If you’re offering a full dinner, be sure to print up special menus for the occasion.

! Lights.

You can use lighting to set a mood that’s a little different from every other night. Twinkle lights always look festive, or consider using candles. Fakes ones eliminate a fire hazard!

By checking these items off your list, you’re well on your way to planning a great New Year’s celebration!