Do you host a service industry night?
Building a network with your fellow restaurant workers is trending. Even if you just host a family meal for your own kitchen staff, it’s important to acknowledge that restaurant work can be tough. An industry night can bring in many locals and help them spread the word about your establishment. Here’s what you need to know about hosting a service industry night at your bar, brewery, or restaurant.
What is Industry Night?
Restaurant employees work hard to make sure guests feel welcome and appreciated, but they often get little appreciation themselves. Service industry night is a chance for them to enjoy a night out with their peers.
Service industry night events are typically held on one of the slow nights of the week – Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday – when many hospitality industry people are off work. Most bars and restaurants offer discounts on food and drinks, and some create theme nights based on popular activities like karaoke or trivia.
You may also opt for different ways to honor service industry people. Some examples:
- Late-night happy hour: On certain nights or every night after most service industry workers finish their shifts, offer discounts on drinks and food for industry workers only.
- Kitchen family meal: Back-of-the-house workers are often left out, so do something special for them. Invite your kitchen staff to a meal catered by another restaurant, or include your whole staff for a restaurant family meal taste and vote on new menu items prepared in advance. Giving your staff a say in what’s on the menu is an excellent way to keep your staff engaged.
- Make it a brunch: Service industry people often roll out of bed a little late, so a leisurely service industry brunch with a fun theme might be just the ticket to spice up a slow Monday.
Why You Should Host a Service Industry Night
It may be fun for attendees, but is there anything in it for the host of a service industry night? Absolutely! It’s not only a great way to spice up a slow night; there are also plenty of other reasons to invite local restaurant workers.
Turn a Profit on a Slow Night
Even with deep discounts on food and drinks, your restaurant should turn a healthy profit when compared to a dead night.
Entice New Talent
You and your staff get to know people who work nearby, and they get to know you. It’s a terrific opportunity to show potential new employees your establishment is a great place to work when they’re ready for a job change.
Get Knowledgeable Feedback and Insider Info
You may dish up the eats, but they’ll serve up the dish – with all the gossip and news from the neighborhood. All you have to do is listen. Find out what restaurants are making changes, what works best (and worst), and why they love or hate their jobs. They’ll tell you what they like and don’t like about your place, too.
Boost Server Income
Nobody tips better than service industry workers, so you can potentially turn a tedious thumb-twiddling shift into the best night of the week. It’s a great morale booster for your staff and may even reduce your restaurant staff turnover.
Earn New Customers
Word of mouth is powerful, and your goal is to entice lots of local people, so make it extra special. You could earn a ton of new business as word spreads.
Service Industry Night Ideas
While business as usual is fine, you’ll attract more customers if you make it special. Here are nine ideas to step up your service and bring more people in the door.
1. Offer Service Industry Discounts
Offer discounted drinks or meals to employees in the service industry to show appreciation for their hard work. Advertise the promotion through signage, social media, and word-of-mouth. Discounts can apply across the board, to appetizers and drinks, or to just one category, like tap beer and wine.
2. Hire Live Entertainment
Host live music or comedy performances to provide a fun and lively atmosphere for service industry workers. Or take a cue from burlesque shows and host a variety show with all kinds of entertainment.
3. Offer a Stage
In lieu of hiring a live show, invite patrons to develop a skill or talent and be the show. Instead of basic karaoke, welcome singers, dancers, comedy standups or skits, acrobatics, or any other type of talent your guests would have fun showing off. Open mic nights can really jazz up a fun atmosphere.
4. Make Industry-Themed Cocktails
Create specialty cocktails that pay homage to different service industry professions, such as the “Bartender Banshee” or the “Chef’s Kiss.” This adds a fun, personalized element to the night and helps make service workers feel seen and acknowledged. Don’t forget to include some non-alcoholic or light beverages like mocktails, NA brew, or hard seltzer for patrons who want to join the fun but still have to drive home!
5. Have a Food and Drink Pairing Experience
Workshops that teach service industry workers about pairing different types of food and drinks are both fun and educational. While they’re eating, drinking, and discovering new tastes and flavors, servers gain valuable upselling skills.
6. Sponsor Giveaways and Raffles
Everybody loves swag. Host giveaways or raffles throughout the night to keep the energy high and provide extra incentives for people to show up and stick around. Prizes could include gift cards and merchandise, or you could comp their tab for the evening.
7. Service Industry-Themed Trivia
Host a trivia night that focuses on different service industry professions, such as bartending, serving, or cooking. Questions like “Who invented the Tom Collins?” (it wasn’t Tom Collins) and “What movie starred Ralph Fiennes as a super creepy chef?” add a fun and competitive element and can help people learn industry-related trivia.
8. Feature a “Celebrity” Bartender
Invite popular bartenders from other venues to man the bar so your staff can mingle on the other side of the bar. Personable bartenders often grow their own following and can be a draw in their own right.
9. Partner with a Sponsor
Liquor companies are often willing to help sponsor an event if you feature their brand. They may even provide branded merchandise to give away along with deeply discounted or free alcohol.
How to Promote Your Service Industry Night
Social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram are perfect for promoting your event. Use hashtags and location tags to reach a wider audience, and enlist your employees to help spread the word. Print invitation flyers your workers can hand out.
Decide on a schedule for regular industry nights and stick to it. It can be slow at first, but business will grow as the word spreads. Whether you choose to have your event once a week, once a month, or less frequently, make it consistent and predictable. Ask for emails or cell numbers to send reminders about upcoming events.
Invest in your establishment and your employees by honoring them with service industry nights. These special, regular events can decrease staff turnover, increase your industry knowledge and customer base, and provide positive feedback, which increases both employee and customer satisfaction.
