How to Separate Two Pint Glasses that are Frozen Together

Any seasoned bartender will give you a list of bar annoyances that he or she has encountered over the course of their career. One thing that gets on my last nerve during a busy night is having stacks of pint glasses that are frozen together in the cooler.

To avoid this altogether, just be sure the pints are dry before stacking them. Since this is not always possible, you may find yourself trying to pry apart pint glasses without breaking them and possibly injuring yourself. Here are a few steps to be sure you get this done fast and safely.

Step 1: Identify the Gap

Two pint glasses become frozen together when they are stacked in a cooler right after being washed. You should notice that the pint, that is stuck “inside” the other, leans to one side. This creates a gap between the two pints.

Step 2: Wedge a Coaster in the Gap

A cardboard coaster works best, but you can use a bar napkin too. Place the coaster as close to the center of the gap as possible.

Step 3: Push Down to Separate

Lay the pints down so the coaster is on the bottom. Gently push straight down on the pint that’s inside the other. The coaster will cushion the glasses and prevent them from breaking.

Step 4: Pour the Damn Beer!

7 Ways to Keep Your Bartender Coming Back to Serve You

It would be easy to point you to my article, 7 Ways to Piss Off Your Bartender and advise you to do the opposite. However, that would be less constructive and I truly want you to enjoy your night at the bars and to give you the tools to fool your friends into thinking that you’re a V.I.P.

Below is a list, in no particular order, to help you insure your bartender will see your face first in a crowd of thirsty patrons and keep you and your friends liquored up for the duration of your stay:

1. Make a Good First Impression with Your Bartender.

On you’re first trip to the bar, be patient and polite. Chances are there are other things he must get done before he gets to you. There might be only a few guests at the bar, but keep in mind that he may have other tables and/or making drinks for the servers’ tables. Introduce yourself and be genuine about it

Have your order ready, so that he’s not waiting for you to decide. There are other customers waiting to be served. Remember that your business is important, but there are other important guests as well.

2. Tip High Your First Two Rounds.

35% – 40% of the total is perfect to get your bartenders attention on the 1st two rounds. All subsequent rounds should be 25% – 30% ($1 per drink or more). ALWAYS pay separately for each round. Running a tab for you and your party greatly decreases the confidence that the bartender has in you as a tipper. If it’s absolutely necessary to run a tab, give him a credit card to hold and leave a tip up front.

3. We All Like to Hear Our Own Names.

Remember your bartenders name and address him as such when his services are needed. If you forgot, just ask someone who works there what his name is.

4. Compliment the Bartender.

We all like to know that our guests appreciate our skills. Tell him you “love” the cocktail, or “Make my next one JUST like this one.” Be original, creative, and genuine.

5. Always be Courteous.

Your bartender is human and expects to be respected like any other individual. The service industry is a thankless industry and people tend to think that the barstaff and waitstaff are there to be slaves. Always say please and thank you for any services rendered by your barstaff. We will remember your kindness. And no… a tip is not a thank you.

6. Chat-up Your Bartender.

Don’t be afraid to make small conversation with your barman. Keep in mind though that he will frequently be interrupted by other customers, servers, and other duties. Try not to lock him up in a long chat, he may feel bad for interrupting you even though he has other people to help.

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7. Become a Regular.

After the bartender sees you a few times, he’s going to remember your face and possibly your name. This can be the start of fun relationship between barman and customer. Once you’ve established a “Regular” relationship with the bar, not only will the bartender come to you fast, but he’ll probably go out of his way to greet you and to get your order.

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I have used all these suggestions in many bars throughout the country and abroad. From Las Vegas to Hobart Tazmania and they work almost every time. However, I give no guarantee. There is a possibility that you’ll come across a bartender who doesn’t give a crap about your tip, your compliments, or your attempts at politeness. My advice in that case: Go to the next bar…

Did I forget one? Let me know in the comments below.

Related articles:

• How To Get a Drink At a Crowded Bar (howcast.com)
• Ask the Bartender: What Happened to My Free Drink? (seattleweekly.com)

7 Ways to Piss Off Your Bartender

As a bartender, I almost never allow my customers to see my frustration or annoyance with them. However, not all of us have self control, and we have all felt like slapping some of  the idiots out there.

If you’ve bellied up to a bar and found yourself in one of the situations below, then I can almost guarantee you that your bartender wanted to throw a shot glass at your forehead. Well, maybe not but at least his “jackass” alert was triggered.

 

1. Order one drink at a time for your party of six. Come on, really? Ask your friends what they want before the bartender gets to you. If he see’s you turn around to ask them, he’ll move on to the next customer.

2. Snap your fingers, yell “Hey!”, whistle, or shake your glass at the bartender. Guess what, now you’ll be waiting longer than if you had waited patiently. If the bar is packed, then he is making drinks for people who were there before you. He heard your jingles, but now he’s gonna ignore you completely.

3. Glare at the bartender because you’ve been waiting for all of 2 minutes, then not know what the hell you want when he gets to you. This one pretty much makes you a certified asshole.

4. Act insulted when the bartender asks for your friends ID, but not yours. Get over it, you look old enough, grandma.

5. Bitch about the prices of the drinks. Look, the prices aren’t going to magically change because you’re complaining. If you’re broke then you shouldn’t be spending money on alcohol, keep your tight ass home.

6. Order drinks at the bar then go to your dinner table without paying. Yeah, we can transfer it to your dinner tab, but ask the bartender first. Bar tabs and dinner tabs are separate. How often do you go to the grocery store, shop for your stuff then walk out the front door without paying, expecting the cashier to walk through town looking for you, then bill you?

7. Ask for more liquor in your “weak” drink. If you’re a raging alcoholic, the bar doesn’t have to support your habit. Putting “extra” liquor in your drink costs the bar money. Ask for a double, pay for it, and shut the hell up.

To all my Roadhouse regulars, these rules don’t apply. You know I love you guys!

 

 

120 Billion Reasons Why MLM is For Real

In 2006, according to the Direct Sellers Association, global sales from MLM  (multi-level marketing) companies were at $109 billion, in 2007 it shot up to $114 billion. It’s a good estimation to assume that the total annual sales from MLM will more than exceed $120 billion in 2009.

We’ve all heard the sales pitches, we’ve all been pulled aside by a co-worker, friend, or family member trying to recruit us into their “Next-Gen” company. To be honest, it can be annoying. This is why there is such a stigma attached to the term MLM.

Over the years I’ve found that most people who are not familiar with direct selling, or the home business industry fail to realize that MLM is a legitimate way to build a healthy income. It’s ridiculous how many people believe MLM to be synonymous with ”scam.” This misnomer is so rampant, that even these Independent Business Owners, or IBO’s, within the MLM industry are frightened to even use the term, MLM,  themselves!

When an IBO approaches you, the pitch always comes with a company description, seminar invite, an income claim, a business card… I’ve been on both ends of the pitch, I know how it works. But here’s the thing; these IBO’s are working diligently to build their organization which, in the not-so-distant future, will bring them great returns, even wealth!

These IBO’s are trained to move on past you when you reject their offer or invitation. They see the big picture, they don’t want people like you in their organization. If you don’t see the value of the product or the earning potential of the company’s compensation plan, then they don’t want you to waste their time any more than you think they have wasted yours.

In 2007, there were an estimated 62 million IBO’s worldwide. That is twice as many IBO’s than in 1998. What is it that has attracted more than 30 million people to start their own business in the MLM industry over the last 10 years?

I’ll tell you why… MLM is the fastest, most efficient, and legal marketing strategy in the world for becoming wealthy. If you’re interested in living a lifestyle that less than 10% of the U.S. is enjoying today, then maybe next time you should listen to that  co-worker, friend, or family member. See what they have to offer. An easy way to break the sales pitch and to assert your position is to say something like, “Look, I want to hear what your company has to offer, but don’t try to sell me. If I feel your pressure, I’m gonna bounce. Just talk to me.”

The image above illustrates the basic structure of an MLM downline organization, with you being at the top. Level 1 represents the 3 first line distributors that you recruited. This is just a simple example, you can have an unlimited amout of people in each respective level. Your 3 distributors recruit 2 each which becomes your 2nd Level. Level 2 recruits Level 3, and so on.

Depending on your company, each level pays you a certain percentage of total sales for that level. Obviously, the more people you have in your downline, the higher your income. This type of structure allows for rapid growth, and higher income potential.

If you’re one of those people who are skeptic about everything, who believes that it’s impossible to make a solid income without working a 9 to 5, who laughs in the face of someone offering you a legitimate business opportunity…  have a look at the following MLM companies, then leave your thoughts below.

Amway - A global company celebrating 50 years of business. Amway offers nutrition and wellness products, cosmetics, and housewares. The Orlando Magic play their home games in Amway Arena. Not bad for an MLM.

Avon – Is a global company that has been doing business for over 120 years. Annual sales are $10 billion. Avon is a publically traded company that has been endorsed by celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Patrick Dempsey.

ACN – A global company founded in 1993. They are the worlds largest direct seller of telecommunication services. ACN made network marketing history when they received the personal endorsement of Donald Trump.

AmeriPlan – The nation’s premier Discount Medical Plan Organization, saving its members hundreds of millions of dollars in supplemental healthcare benefits since 1992. Mark Jarvis was AmeriPlan’s top IBO making over $1 million a year in RESIDUAL income. This means he could have taken a 365 day vacation, without working his business, and he still would have made $1 million!

Kirby -  Another global company doing business for over 90 years. We all know Kirby vaccuums, and if you’ve ever owned one, you know that they are the real deal.

Mary Kay Cosmetics – Celebrating 45 years of business in over 35 markets worldwide. Mary Kay has a sales force of almost 2 million consultants

MonaVie – A global brand introduced in 2005 that offers premium quality nutritional products. I see this brand plastered on many local vehicles around the city.

Pampered Chef – Founded in 1980 as the premier direct seller of essential kitchen tools and part of the Berkshire Hathaway family of businesses. We personally own Pampered Chef products and they are top notch.

PartyLite – A global company specializing in all things candles. From extravagant to simple, if you’re into candles this is a must. PartyLite boasts a salesforce of over 50,000 consultants.

Passion Parties – For more than a decade, Passion Parties has been enhancing the sexual relationships of their clients with sensual products designed to promote intimacy and communication between couples. They are recognized as the premier sensual products, party plan company in North America. Passion Consultants are trained by experts like Jack Canfield, Sue Johanson, Dr. Jennifer Berman, and Brian Biro to name a few. Passion Parties has also been featured in Oprah Magazine, The hit TV show The Doctors, the Today Show, Anderson Cooper 360, Time Magazine, and Primetime LIVE.

Scentsy – Founded in 2004 to bring value to the world by “providing an industry leading, family-friendly business opportunity selling creative, artistic, high-quality wickless and flameless candle products that warm the heart, enliven the senses, and inspire the soul.” Kinda cheesy, but I didn’t write it.

Tupperware – We’ve all heard of Tupperware. This company has been in business for over 60 years. Chances are you have a product from this company in your house, at least one that was inspired by Tupperware.

As you can see, MLM is not what you thought it to be. Thinking about starting your own business? This is where you want to begin. Join the millions of people who have realized the potential of multi-level marketing and begin a life of growth and fulfillment!

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5 Things Every True SEO Expert Will Know

Undoubtedly, there are other bloggers and Internet marketers who know some secrets that I’m not privy to. Fortunately, I know exactly who they are, and as any true expert in their field would admit, we are forever students.

Like most students of SEO, I’m continually looking for cutting edge and new marketing technologies. During my continuing search, there are some common themes and ideas that keep popping up whether its from the mind of an expert or the mind of a novice.

I’ve filtered out some of the garbage and and have confirmed some of the ideas that the experts have claimed to be paramount to your online marketing success, added some of my own proven ideas, and have come up with a short list that all TRUE expert SEO’s should know.

1. You Not only Need to Blog, but You Need to have a WordPress blog.

If you entered into the Internet marketing and SEO industry after 2006, you should already know that you need to have a blog. After 2007, then you should know it needs to be a WordPress blog. Forget Blogger, Bloglines, TypePad, or any other platform that your Guru’s recommended. Pro SEO’s, use WordPress.

WP gives you the flexiblity and the ability to dominate Google if used properly. Guess what, “properly” is not a secret. Don’t get all bent because you think only the experts know how to use it “properly.” Relax, with the right plugins and the right social media attack, it’s simple.

2. There is Only One Search Engine, Google.

Yes, there are some individuals who use Yahoo! and Bing (previously Live, previously MSN Search), but honestly, who gives a shit. Google has been the most popular search engine for over 8 years, and is now the most visited site on the web. True SEO’s consider Yahoo! and Bing to be a very far 2nd and 3rd. If you rank well on Google, you’ll eventually rank on Yah-Bing!

3. It Doesn’t Take 3 Months to See Top Results in Google.

Every newb has heard it, and every “guru” has taught it. They say it will take 3 weeks to 3 months to see your website in the search engine results pages (SERP’s). Guess what… that’s bullshit. The next time your mentor, SEO, or consultant tells you this… fire them, they’re worthless.

With a WP blog, the right plugins, and the right knowledge… your new posts can rank on the first page for your keywords within 30 minutes and sometimes alot sooner. I’m not saying that you can go after terms like “home business” with the same results. Obviously these highly competitive terms are more difficult to rank for. But within your specific niche, which is the only one that matters, you can and will do very well.

4. Social Media Marketing will Bring You Immediate Traffic and Exposure.

With the development of socially driven websites, getting highly targeted traffic to your blog is easier than ever. Social news sites like Digg, Mixx, and ShoutWire allow users to vote on the quality of your content. If its valuable, your blog will get voted up, which in turn means more traffic.

The same principle is used with social bookmarking sites like Delicious, MisterWong, and Furl. Web 2.0 has evolved incredibly fast over the last 3 years. Spamming the search engines or your website is not going to work anymore. You actually have to have great content on your blog… imagine that.

5. Every Page on Your Blog Needs to Have a Meta-title and Meta-description.

If you run a WP blog, then the All-in-One-SEO plugin makes entering meta information very easy. When I do a simple Google search, I get a title and description of the 10 most relevant pages related to my search query. The title and description on a SERP are determined by what the webmaster enters into their meta-title and meta-description.

Most SEO’s will agree that the meta-keyword field is obsolete, but the All-in-One-SEO plugin allows you to enter this info as well. No need to overdo it though. There’s a great article about meta-tags over at SearchEngineWatch: How To Use HTML Meta Tags

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• Blogging 101: 5 Tips for Blog Post Titles (techstartups.com)

Passion Party Catalog – 30% OFF!

Until midnight tonight, we’ll be offering a 30% discount instead of our normal 15%. This promotion ends tonight, so hurry!

Passion Parties Online Catalog: www.PartiesByMarlene.com

15% 30% Off Discount Code: catalog

Marlene Hodgson, an Independent Consultant with Passion Parties, is giving you a 15% 30% discount on almost ALL Passion Parties products when shopping at the online Passion Party Catalog.* Passion Parties does NOT ship to P.O. Boxes… physical addresses only, please. Marlene can only ship to customers within the U.S. Online catalog does not reflect Canada prices.

After you are done shopping just enter the discount code: Catalog

You’ll be able to enter this code when checking out after you are done shopping. The Passion Party Catalog features everything from adult sex toys, lubricants and lotions, to a library of books giving tips and ideas on how to spice up your time in the bedroom.

The site where you’ll be shopping is a Corporate site but is operated by Independent Passion Consultant, Marlene Hodgson.

This discount can only be redeemed when following the links on THIS page. Marlene is the only Independent Passion Consultant offering this discount code. Please visit Marlene’s Passion Party Catalog, and start shopping for you AND your partner! Don’t forget your discount code: Catalog

For the ladies who want only the best, please visit the Deluxe Toy page. Remember, you get 15% 30% off all products! Go now to take advantage of this awesome discount!

To start your OWN Passion Party Business, please click on the banner below to view all the details. Marlene is on a multi-million dollar team with some of Passion Parties top earners. Get free training and inspiration!

*Discount cannot be used for the Love Swing or Dance Pole.

Check out these articles:

Direct Selling Reps’ Association Announces 2010 Certificate Of Excellence Recipients

How to Lose $4,000 in a Day by Blogging

This is not a step-by-step guide to losing money, that would be counterproductive. Instead, I will give a brief horror story and then give you a few things to do to be sure not to fall into the same predicament.

Today, my family and I lost a website that brought in $4,000 in sales. My girlfriend, with whom I share a home with along with my son, is an independent consultant with a popular adult toy party company. I was also her Internet marketing consultant. Yesterday we get an email from the corporate office stating that our blog is not within guidelines.

Let’s back up to October of 2008. This was about a year after she became a consultant for this company. We both decided that I should plan, create, and edit a blog for her fairly new business venture. Being that I’m a professional Internet marketer and blogger, how could we go wrong?

I did the proper research to be sure that our blog was adhering to company policies and within guidelines. We were, according to the company published documentation.

Within a month of launching the blog our sales were at $1,000. Within 4 months, $3,000. The next month, we cleared $4,000.  By now, this blog is paying the bills, but guess what happens next. Sabotoge. Someone, some bitch, alerted corporate to our blog and how successful it was in the search engines. Imagine that, someone complaining about your success.

Let me make this simple to understand. I’m an SEO and a blogger. My job is to sit in front of this computer, optimize websites and create content for our blogs. I spent literally hundreds of hours on my girlfriends team blog. Creation, optimizing, redesigning, photoshoping, tweaking, and then more of each.

Because some jealous asshole can’t duplicate our success, they decide to “tell” on us. I say “tell”, because we were within company guidelines. Nevertheless, this saboteur has forced a corporate eye on us.

For the next few weeks we are relentlessly nit-picked by a corporate adherent who is completely unfamiliar with the ever changing Internet marketing industry. To keep it short, I had to shut down an authority blog and move it to a free wordpress blog over at wordpress.com, because that would keep us in compliance. Fine, 3 weeks later it’s done. Yeah, it took 3 weeks.

After the move was completed, I emailed the Adherent so that the new blog could be reviewed. Guess what? It was Good!

Yesterday, we get an email stating that the same blog was out of compliance. 5 to 10 emails, and 2 conference calls later, we end up losing this blog too.

The future of Multi-Level Marketing, Home Based Businesses, and Independent Consulting companies lies on the Internet. The ignorance of the ill-informed “executives” that are running these huge companies astounds me. The big picture is to make money. Not only did we lose that income, but the company did too.

What to Do to Avoid This Situation

1. Find out who decides your fate when building a blog or website that represents your company.

2. READ and RE-READ your company policies and guidelines for creating blogs and websites.

3. Realize that even though you are within guidelines, the Adherent has the last word.

4. Log calls and emails that you have established so that you can refer to them in the case that the Adherent changes his/her mind.

5. Send a draft of each post or page to the Adherent so that they can review it and ok it.

Yeah, I’m a little more than pissed. I just had to flip a $4,000 switch that took me many hundreds of hours to turn on just because someone at corporate can’t properly define blogging, SEO, or search marketing.

I am NOT a consultant of the company described above. I woman that I’ve worked with, is. She has no control over what I write on this blog, therefore, cannot be responsible for what is written here. Due to her companys overly stringent Internet policies, I’m no longer her marketing consultant.

5 Ways to Get Your Content ReTweeted

More and more people are beginning to ask me about Twitter and how it can benefit their business. By no means do I consider myself a Twitter expert, but it seems that the purpose of the micro-blog is to spread your words like a virus.

Dan Zarrella over at CopyBlogger gives some fantastic tips on getting people to ReTweet you and going viral. He has done the research for you and gives you 5 important factors in getting others to talk about you. Check out Dan’s article here: 5 Steps to Going Viral on Twitter

Twitter is a micro-blog with its proclaimed purpose:

Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

Over the last year Twitter has become more and more of a social marketing tool for business owners across the globe. Other, but less known, micro-blogs include Jaiku (now owned by Google) and Pownce (closed last year).

Don’t forget to check out Dan’s post over at CopyBlogger…

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How to Make a Perfect Bacardi Mojito

Over the last few years I’ve seen some Mojito Mayhem. Bartenders across California are screwing up this drink and some seem to be proud of how they make it.

No doubt, there are a few ways that can be considered as the “correct” way to make a Mojito, but the one below is the method used by some of the most talented bartenders in the world. It’s also precisely how I make mine.

The video calls for sugar, but simple syrup can also be used instead. Bacardi is one of the best white rums in the world. Five times distilled, removes most impurities.

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My iPhone Apps

Two of the most used apps on my iPhone are Sudoku and FlightControl. FlightControl is a game where you have to direct multiple aircraft to there respective runways. The aircraft vary in size and speed which is what makes this game challenging and addictive. The newest update allows you to upload your stats to the web and compare against other top FlightControllers.

Even though I have about 7 years of bartending behind me, every once in a while I’ll get stumped. Drinks Pro, Drinks Free, and iVideoCocktail are useful in these rare cases. iVideoCocktail actually gives you detailed videos on how to make drinks, but the database is limited to about 50 drink recipes.

I can’t say enough about the AroundMe application. No matter where you are in the country, this app knows and allows you to search for restaurants, stores, banks, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Burger King, you name it, and lists the address of the locations starting with the nearest. Then, if that’s not enough, it also gives you the phone number and also routes directions to that location on Google Maps. Awesome.

This last page has SmackTalk. If you haven’t seen this one yet, you have to get it, its a riot. Your kids will love it for sure.

iPhone 3.0 has a new feature called Spotlight. It allows you to search across all applications including your contacts and email.

 

The iPhone and its ability to do whatever the hell you want, is definitely the cure for boredom. If I have my phone, I’m always certain to be occupied. What are your favorite apps? Comment below…

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