Curse the Weather
It’s that time of year again. Rain and cold every day, often the scare of snow, sleet or icy roads. That time of year that people are less likely to drive out to a bar and drink. Especially with the fact that our bar is 85% outdoors leaving only enough room for around 40 people to sit inside the bar in the warmth.
Event though it comes every year, it somehow always seems to sneak up on you. We try our best to sock away money and surplus supplies throughout our busy season (which is most of the rest of the year) to counteract the hit we take in our business and income during this time. But even then, it is still surprising and depressing when you turn around and realize that the winter is already here. Now to struggle through the next few months until the first ray of sunshine coupled with warmer temperatures which will drive customers back to our bar in droves.
This year we are going to try some new ideas to increase our revenue stream at the bar, and in term our income in tips we bring home. Luckily almost everyone at the bar is more than happy to help out in any way, including proposing ideas, to help us in this course of action. We know we can’t rely on the fire pits, which are popular but only effective within a few feet, to keep our customers warm outside. One of our plans is to enclose the outside patio, around the outside bar, with plastic sheeting and having a couple of gas heaters out there which will at least raise the temperature around the outside bar 20 degrees making it semi-comfortable at making the outside bar useful. Also, making it bearable to work outside at that bar. I don’t know if you’ve ever had to reach your hand into bucket of ice and water to grab a customer a beer when it is already 35 degrees outside, but it’s no fun. We will also be booking smaller, cheaper bands as entertainment in the warmer sections to generate more customer draw. We have a few other ideas in the works that have not been fully fleshed out yet, but I think we’re on the way to having a better winter than we have had in all of the bar’s history.
These new ideas that we are trying will hopefully make this winter much easier on everyone financially, reducing stress amongst the employees and making it a more pleasant work environment during these typically slow months. Luckily I’ve been able to save money enough to not be to pressured over the winter, but I would like to make sure that I continue to have a steady income stream through the next few months. And to make sure that my coworkers that were not able to save as much do not find themselves in tough situations.
