>Doing private gigs is the best. I work a lot with a catering company and I
have other duties along with bartending. When I do a private gig, I arrive, I
set up my bar, I pour drinks, I break down the bar, I go home...uh...I get
paid before I go home.
You should bring all your own stuff of course, shakers, ice scoop, toothpicks,
wine opener, bartowels, etc, sometimes they have their own stuff sometimes
they don't. But it's always a good idea to have a full kit of your own.
You should talk to the client ahead of time and make sure they have the basics
as far as alcohol goes. Usually if they forget something it will be triple
sec and roses lime juice and you tend to use those a lot so mention it to them
if they are doing the buying. Also lemons and limes.
As far as setting up the bar, it really depends on their bar and how you like
things. Every place if different so you have to configure things to your
liking every time. It's always an interesting puzzle to figure out. Just
think about making drinks, and how will you make things easiest for yourself.
If you only have room for a couple bottles close at hand, make one of them
vodka, that's what people drink the most of.
It's fun doing private parties, people really love having their own bartender
behind the bar, and they want to have a good time. Just enjoy yourself. I
think I'm a bit late with this posting but hopefully your first gig went well.
Hope this helped.