The Secrets to Great Staff Coordination
Every business fills a void in the marketplace, and here at RMG Staffing, we like to think the void we fill is helping some of the Magic City’s most beautiful events go off without a hitch. But it’s not just one or two people that get the job done – the real magic comes when we put together an incredible team of talented individuals who, when combined, have all the skills your company needs to bring an event together. Trying to coordinate a team of staff members? Follow our lead and consider the points below. We’ve used them ourselves, so trust us: with this advice, a winning staff is pretty much guaranteed. Let your employees guide you. Whatever staff you hire needs to have a certain set of basic skills, yes; but it’s also in the best interest of all involved to hire employees that are passionate. And when you hire them, apply their skills to an area of the job they’re actually passionate about. For example, if you know a team member loves to organize, put him or her in charge of inventory. If they love to interact with people, make them a bartender or a VIP server. By letting your team members do what they’re actually passionate about, you’ll have both a happy staff and a job well done. Really… it’s not all about skills. That said, hiring someone isn’t always about skill. To be frank, skills you can teach, but smarts you cannot. Instead of looking at what they’ve done, look at what potential employees can do – hire people who are intelligent, competitive and who will learn quickly on the job. Most importantly, as a general rule, try and find staff members who think outside the box. Why? Especially in the hospitality world, you never know what problems will arise, and your staff needs to be able to handle whatever is thrown their way. Hire employees capable of making their own decisions. Thanks to corporate hierarchy, many times, decisions are made at the top by people who have very little hands-on experience in the arena they are making a decision about. Despite the chain of command, decisions shouldn’t always be made by management. If you’ve done what you’re supposed to and you’ve hired a talented team, trust that team to make decisions that apply to their own groups and daily roles. This will not only give your staff a sense of ownership, but it will fast-track current employees into future managers. And if a problem arises, have faith in them. In the hospitality industry, problems will always come up – always. In fact, they’re inevitable, and there’s no telling what those problems will be. Regardless of what it is, however, don’t get involved unless you absolutely need to. If someone is unhappy with his or her meal, trust that your server will handle it appropriately. If a guest needs something, trust that your team members will get it to them quickly and easily. It’s important to remember that we’re all human, so sometimes, complaints will happen for no reason. When it comes to solving problems, especially menial problems, there’s nobody better (or at least there shouldn’t be anyone better) than your own team to come up with the best answer.
How to Successfully Manage Your Bartenders
Managing a bar is about more than being able to make a few drinks – it requires discipline, organization, efficiency, respect and making sure your bar team runs like a well-oiled machine. And from high up on the management chain, employers have a bird’s eye view of what bar managers should and shouldn’t be doing down below. How to Successfully Manage Your Bartenders, According to Employers Here are the core tips for successfully managing your bar team, according to the employers who’ve been doing it for years: Train your people. Training is important no matter what position you’re in, but it’s absolutely vital in the early stages of your career. By properly training your bartenders and bar backs, you’ll not only be able to mold them into what the bar or venue needs, but if done correctly, you’ll also create a bar team of individuals who are confident, efficient and knowledgeable, and get off to a good start. Give real feedback… often. Want your bar managed successfully? Tell your staff what they’re doing right and what they need to do better. Giving feedback in an encouraging manner, even if it’s negative feedback, is a cornerstone of effective management. Be transparent with your team. How do you gain your employees’ trust? By giving them a reason to trust you! Be transparent with your team and set the example that they can be open with their concerns and praises. According to the experts, transparency does a number of things: it creates an intentional work environment, helps employees understand why certain decisions are made, makes it easier to solve problems and opens dialogue between bartenders and bar managers. Respect your employees – they’re individuals, not a service. If you want your staff to respect you, you have to respect them as well. As a manager of anything, respect in the work place is essential when it comes to getting your employees to “go the extra mile” on the job. Be a role model. Above all, be a real team leader, and make sure all other employees in positions of management are team leaders, too. Nothing dissuades a staff more than looking up to a boss or employer they can’t respect. Along the same lines, you want to ensure all employees in positions of power are setting a good example for the rest of the team – remember the phrase “follow the leader?” It exists for a reason. Looking for a Hotel Job or A Staffing Agency in Miami? We have you covered. Reach out to us here or call us at 305.890.1562. We love working with our clients, and we’ll love working with you, too.
Simple Tips for a Successful Bar
Managing a bar isn’t always easy, but in our decade of experience, we’ve found some tried-and-true tips that always help it run smoothly. Spending your night managing the bar? Read below for some basic steps you can take to get yourself, and your staff, started on the right foot. Always stock your bar. Need we say more? To keep your patrons happy, you need to make sure your bar (whether it’s an actual bar or a bar setup at an event) is stocked with everything from the basic liquors and beers to mixers, garnishes, rimming salts, fun liqueurs and more. Basically, if someone asks for it, you want to be able to have it. After all, that’s what keeps happy drinkers coming back for more. Make sure you have (and maintain) all the right bar equipment. From stirrers and shakers, to all the right drinking vessels – like beer, martini and shot glasses, whiskey glasses, or even plastic cups, if that’s what your particular event calls for – it’s important that you have all your tools right there, when you need them. Not only is this more efficient, but not having the proper tools could inhibit your ability to give a patron what he or she wants… which is a really easy to ensure they don’t come back. Clean up. Whether you’re working at a hotel bar, a standalone bar or manning the bar station at a fancy gala, keep your bar clean. Every bartender needs to wipe up any spills, make sure caps are back on the bottles, keep the floor area dry and throw away any napkins or leftover food in the vicinity of the bar. Doing so is not only hygienic and alluring for customers, but it’s also a safety measure. You don’t want anyone slipping on a wet floor or letting bacteria build up around any food and drink you have on hand. Make sure you have something for everyone. …and everyone means the non-drinkers, too. Along with alcohol, have your basic sodas, juices and club sodas for designated drivers and children, and keep something in the fridge for gluten-free patrons. For many people at events, the key to having a good time is always having a drink in your hand – even if for some people, that means a non-alcoholic drink. Know the back of the bar like the back of your hand. If you think that just because you’re a manager, you don’t actually have to put in time behind the bar – think again. To successfully run a bar, you need to know all the ins and outs of it; and to know that, you have to have experienced it firsthand. If your responsibilities allow, spend an hour or two slinging together drinks yourself. Not only will it help make sure everything’s in order, but it will also give you a chance to check on your team members and get a sense of how your customers perceive the bar. Be efficient. No one wants to wait for a drink. Combine the points above to give your guests an efficient, and enjoyable, bar experience. Remember: the bar should enhance a person’s evening, not make it stressful – and the way you can help that is by making sure guests are accommodated as quickly and easily as possible.
Why We’re Good at What We Do
As a South Florida hospitality-staffing agency, we pride ourselves on doing what we do best: providing high-level service to hotels, restaurants and other venues across dazzling South Florida. And because we love what we do, we make sure to do it well. Since first opening nearly a decade ago, we’ve earned a reputation as Miami’s most trusted staffing agency, and for good reason – we’re fast, we’re efficient and we have a friendly staff. And it’s because of traits like these that we have been able to develop long-term relationships with big names like the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the Loews Hotel Miami Beach, the Miami Beach EDITION, Starr Catering Group and Turnberry Isle Miami. For these clients and more, we’ve staffed everything from corporate events and elegant soirées, to Justin Bieber’s NYE concert at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, and even Madonna’s Art Basel fundraiser at the Faena Hotel. And when the next big event comes around, trust us: we’ll be there, too. But it wasn’t luck that got us to where we are; it was nearly a decade of hard work, a commitment to our clients, and a few hard-and-fast rules for success. Here are just some of the reasons our staff continues to maintain its stellar reputation: • We only hire people with awesome attitudes; those guys and girls who love working events just as much as we love staffing them. • We find employees from all over the world, always ensuring we get individuals who are the best at what they do. • We believe in matching employees appropriately. We require every employee to take a skills test and background check so that we can match his or her abilities to a particular client’s needs. • Our employees are consistent and do quality work. If they aren’t, they aren’t our employees. • In an effort to act as an extension of our clients’ teams, we have a 3-tiered system designed to give them exactly what they need. Need someone permanent? Try our direct or temp-to-hire program. For a quick fix or one-time-only event, we can help you find on-call or temporary staff, as well. When it comes down to it, we here at RMG Staffing have one goal – filling your needs. • We make sure our staff is highly trained… and then trained again and again. At RMG, we believe in constantly retraining our employees so that they’re always up-to-date on the latest techniques in the industry. Looking for a team to staff your next event? Reach out to us here or call us at 305.890.1562. We love working with our clients, and we’ll love working with you, too.
New World Symphony 29th-Anniversary Gala
Just last weekend, the New World Symphony hosted its 29th-Anniversary Gala – and just like you’d expect from an organization as prestigious as this, this white-glove event was a gala to the stars. To kick-off the celebration, Miami’s finest philanthropists donned their best black-tie attire as they mingled their way through a dazzling cocktail reception. After the glasses clinked, it was time for the New World Symphony to do what it does best: the music. Co-Founder and NWS Artistic Director Michael Tilson Thomas put on a special concert with the New World Symphony Orchestra featuring none other than six-time Tony Award-winning singer and actress Audra McDonald. After the performance, guests enjoyed a sparkling white-and-gold dinner in a clear tent under the stars, where they toasted to the arts and celebrated everything the New World Symphony has done for the community. And to make sure this elegant evening got the level of professionalism it deserved, the organizers of the gala reached out to us here at RMG Staffing to handle all the details. To make this event flow smoothly, Thierry Isambert Culinary + Event Design handled the design of the gala, while our talented team put together an experienced crew of staff members and coordinators. Dressed head-to-toe in white and black tuxes, our team did everything from setup long tables and chairs and put out the finest china, to build and break down beverage stations and clean up messy tables. Most importantly, however, it was our job to tend to the guests. Serving as both hosts and waiters and waitresses, we showed guests to their tables, served them their dinner, made sure their glasses were never empty, whipped up drinks behind the bar, acted as bar backs, and above all, managed and staffed the event as a whole. Whatever the guests wanted, we gave them; it’s what we here at RMG call “good customer service.” Having worked with the high-caliber events like these for nearly a decade now, we understood the high standard of professionalism and service this gala required. As a team, RMG has staffed some of South Florida’s most prestigious events, like concerts, DJ festivals, celebrity weddings, galas, and political, even Presidential, affairs –like those two evenings hosted by Former President Barack Obama at the JW Marriott Marquis. We’re proud of what we do and how well we do it, we believe that’s why we’re continually called to do it again and again.
The Miami International Boat Show 2017 is Back!
This Weekend in Miami: The Miami International Boat Show 2017 is Back! It’s President’s Day weekend in Miami, which only means one thing: the Progressive® Insurance Miami International Boat Show® is here! From now through Monday, February 20th, this one-of-a-kind yachting event will take over the streets of Miami from its home at the iconic Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin. And this year… it’s bigger and better than ever. Contact us for any events you’re planning this year. RMG Staffing is an agency based in Miami, Florida. Amidst beautiful views of the Downtown Miami skyline from this Virginia Key-based marina, the show’s real star is, of course, the yachts. Of the show’s 1,300 vessels on display, there will be everything from motor yachts, super yachts, and mega yachts to new sport fishing boats, high-performance boats, personal watercraft, sport boats, and more. Dazzling the rest of the world with its high-end location, the 2017 Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show will also welcome a new VIP experience this year: a 111-foot luxury yacht with a private lounge and exclusive access. The lounge will have upscale dining service, an onboard restaurant and plenty of bars, happy hours with free drinks every night, live music, an open-air sky deck, complimentary Wi-Fi, and complimentary massages and manicures courtesy of PRIV. For the general public, 150+ enhanced dining options scattered throughout the property. Need we say more? And of course, with any luxury event like this, you need a talented support staff to bring the positive guest experience full circle – a staff like us here at RMG Staffing. Don’t know where to find us? Just look for those well-dressed ladies and gentlemen tending to your every need. For us, that’s just a day in life. Happy yachting!
How to Succeed in Hospitality Industry?
Some of the most rewarding careers aren’t easy, and in no industry is that more true than hospitality. While hospitality gives you the opportunity to work directly with people – and in most cases, make those people extremely happy – you’ll have to work long, often unpredictable shifts, stay on your feet for hours, and because people are always watching you, be on you’re A-game at all times. As fun as this career may be, it’s easy to let it get the best of you. So if you’re passionate about the field, learn more about the personal and professional skills you’ll need below to see if hospitality is the right path for you. Always focus on the customer. In hospitality, no one is more important than the customer. In fact, how well you treat them will make or break your success. The concept is simple – the goal of hospitality is to make customers, clients and guests feel welcomed, comfortable and like a true VIP, all to make them come back for more. Think of it this way: your service is the product, and if customers don’t like a product, they won’t buy it twice. Be flexible. As we mentioned earlier, when you work in hospitality, there’s no telling what your hours might be, and you need to be ready and willing to work when you’re needed. Whether you’re working at 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. – on either an average Monday or a holiday – you’ll need to be adaptable, versatile and resourceful, and always have an open mind. In hospitality, there’s no telling what responsibilities you might be tasked with. Be positive. Success in hospitality depends a lot on your ability to make positive connections with clients, guests, vendors and even other employees. Remember: hospitality is all about comfort and service, and having a smile on your face is an easy way to make guests feel comfortable and respected. Learn how to multitask. No matter what you do, when you work in hospitality, you’ll need to be able handle multiple responsibilities at once. In just one afternoon, you might be asked to clean up a spilled drink, handle an unhappy guest, setup a VIP table for 20 and work the bar, all while staying calm and keeping a smile on your face as you greet new guests. The industry is fast-paced, always changing, and at times, even a little hectic. But if you love the job, you won’t let it get to you. Pay attention to detail. As they say: “It’s the little things.” Details can make all the difference, and the more impactful they are, the more your guests will remember them. Make sure your uniform shirt is clean and tucked in – it will make you look professional and passionate about what you do. Clean up every last drop of rum that customer spilled on the floor, make sure your plates and glasses are evenly spaced, and wherever you can, go above and beyond for every guest. Guests, and employers, always notice the details, and in time, you’ll be rewarded for it. Interested in hospitality? Contact RMG Staffing here to see if we have a position for you.
RMG Staffing Proudly Participates in Jackson Golden Angels Gala
On Saturday, January 21, more than 800 philanthropists in Miami flocked to SOHO Studios, in Wynwood, for a 25th Birthday Bash as they’ve never seen before. Paying homage to 25 years of the Jackson Health Foundation – the fundraising arm of Jackson Health System – this evening of dinner, dancing, and entertainment celebrated Jackson’s generous donors. Making it extra fabulous, The Collection raffled off a 2017 Porsche Macan, and by the end of the night, the event raised more than $2.6M for Jackson Memorial Hospital, a nationally-recognized medical conglomerate that has since become known as the most comprehensive healthcare provider in all of South Florida. For more information about RMG Staffing or to hire us for your next event, contact us at 305.890.1562. And with so many of Miami’s finest in attendance, the organizers knew they had to hire the best in the business to make the evening run smoothly. Turning to Starr Catering Group for help, this birthday bash was as elegant as it was impressive. The rustic SOHO Studios became a massive canvas for what later became a sparkling affair: one with blue and purple low lighting, shimmering tables, hanging crystals, metallic presents wrapped in bright pink, yellow and green ribbons, an entire ornament wall covered in giant, glimmering globes, a dance floor and more. All in all, this fun-filled evening went off without a hitch, mainly due to the service and staff teams who were hired to support it. As proud partners of Starr Catering Group, we here at RMG Staffing take pride in participating in critical aspects of significant events like these – from setting up and breaking down the venue to working the bar, serving food, playing host or hostess, directing guests to their appropriate table, and most importantly, making VIPs (which at this event, is everyone) feel comfortable and welcomed. With nearly a decade of experience staffing events at top Miami hotels, restaurants and venues, we come equipped with the teams and skill-sets necessary to bring these events to life. Moving forward, we look forward to continuing to work with major players like Starr Catering Group and to aid prestigious Miami events, like the “Golden Angels” Gala, for years to come. This event took place on Saturday, January 21, from 7 p.m. to Midnight at SOHO Studios. SOHO Studios is located at 2136 NW 1st Avenue in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District. For more information about shows and concerts. If you want to hire RMG Staffing Agency in Miami for your next event, contact us or call us at 305.890.1562.
RMG Staffs Miami’s Biggest New Year’s Eve Party: Justin Bieber LIVE at the Fontainebleau
All over the world, New Year’s Eve is about one thing – celebrating – and here at RMG Staffing, celebrations are what we’re all about. So to close 2016, we went out with a bang and staffed one of the year’s biggest parties. When the Fontainebleau Miami Beach decided to ring in 2017 with a blowout Justin Bieber concert, they called us here at RMG Staffing (one of their most reliable vendors!) to help it go off without a hitch. And, of course, we gladly obliged. I mean… how could we miss the biggest party of the year? A poolside NYE party so amazing we just had to relive it again. Were you there to see #JustinBieber? Sponsored by Belvedere Vodka, this epic, one-night-only event was just what you’d expect from an international hotspot like Miami Beach: glamorous, star-studded, packed, and above all, one heck of a party. Taking place by the Fontainebleau Miami Beach pool, Justin Bieber performed his biggest hits – like “Where Are You Now,” “Sorry” and “Love Yourself” – in front of a crowd of his best fans and A-list friends. And considering packages for the event were selling for as much as $500,000 a piece (yes, you read that right), it’s no surprise the hotel’s countdown to the New Year was nothing short of a spectacle. At one point, Skrillex and Marshmello joined “the Biebs” onstage, and celebrities like Jeremy Piven, La La Anthony and Jonathan Cheban, came to celebrate right along with them. After the concert, the party continued at LIV, where Justin and Skrillex performed and the champagne flowed all night long. As for us, we had one job for the night: make sure the guests were taken care of. That means handling everything from setting up and breaking down all the beverage stations and VIP tables, acting as VIP hostesses and serving bottles to VIP tables, to whipping up drinks behind the bar, serving as bar backs, and managing and staffing the event as a whole. We put together a crew of about 140 staff members and coordinators to make it all happen. Having worked with the Fontainebleau Miami Beach for many years now, we understood the high standard of professionalism and service they required for this event and always, as well as our shared goals of hiring only those individuals who provide the highest levels of luxury, enthusiasm, energy and service. We brought all of those qualities there with us on New Year’s Eve through our proficient staff, and are proud to say that the night went as smoothly as our client and our company anticipated. To get the opportunity to work with high-caliber clients like Fontainebleau Miami Beach, we at RMG had to have already established a reputation for success. Over the years, we have staffed some of South Florida’s most prestigious events, like concerts, DJ festivals, celebrity weddings, galas and political, even Presidential affairs. We’ve staffed many of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach’s weekend concerts, Drake concerts, Madonna’s Art Basel concert and fundraiser at the Faena Miami Beach, two evenings hosted by Former President Barack Obama at the JW Marriott Marquis, Art Basel parties, and many other corporate events and soirées. We’re proud of what we do, and how well we do it, and nothing makes us happier than being entrusted to support sought-after parties like this one, the revered Fontainebleau’s own NYE bash, and getting only the best feedback as a result. And with that, here’s to 2017, staffers! Remember us for any events you’re planning or staffing jobs you need this year. We can’t wait to see what these next 12 months have in store for all of us – so let’s make it a good one. For more information, please call (305) 890-1562 or send us an email: info@rmgstaffing.com
RMG Staffing: Present at Art Basel
Every year for the past forty-six years, Art Basel has worked as a meeting point for all-around-the-world art. From December 1st to the 4th, Miami will feature one of its three fairs in the world. The city will be filled with art exhibits, private events, breakfasts, gallery openings, and many other events offered to art lovers. RMG Staffing is an agency based in Miami. We can help you staff any event in Miami you want to organize. At Art Basel, thousands of artists will show their modern and contemporary works of art. Paintings, sculptures, photography, films, etc., will be displayed for four consecutive days. Each and every one of these events needs an excellent staffing agency to provide spectators with the most outstanding artistic, cultural, and elite experience. And RMG has been asked for its staffing services in different event areas. Throughout the week, we will offer our on-call employees, who will dedicate each second to providing the guests with remarkable services. RMG will provide banquet servers, greeters, hostesses, culinary staff, bartenders, promo models, and many other positions. RMG has been asked to participate in Art Basel because we are a committed team that only provides passionate, previously-trained, and experienced candidates to make each guest feel like the most important one in the room. All the events made during the Art Basel need the best staffing team to please their guests. This week, it’s all about perception and showcasing the contemporary art world; besides, all the Showbiz is going to be there; this is why everything needs to be done smoothly and efficiently, so every guest can enjoy the real point of the event. RMG’s dining servers will make sure your food is served on time and adequately; bartenders and barbacks will take care of preparing drinks on point; greeters will make your guests feel welcome and comfortable; servers will provide them with all their requests, according to each type of event; and hostesses will entertain and put special attention to every one of the attendees. It’s essential for a staffing business to understand the events’ need to accurately provide the service being asked for. At RMG, we provide professional consultation to our clients to send the candidates that best suit their events. As an artistic and cultural event, Art Basel has special needs regarding the services they require; that’s why we’re eager to send only our best employees. We’re excited to be part of this fantastic event, which enriches Miami’s culture and society. We hope to see you there, enjoying the best works of art and the exceptional service of RMG’s staff. For more info about all the events happening during the Art Basel, you can visit this page. RMG Staffing is an Event Staffing Agency based in Miami, Florida, specializing in screening and selecting the best talent for events. If you need to plan an event, contact Us!