
How Many Bartenders, Mixologists & Barbacks Do You Really Need for Your Event in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles Events | Bar Staff | Read Time 5 mins | Published July 5, 2025
Planning a Bar in LA? These Numbers Save Your Event
If you’re planning a bar setup in Los Angeles, here’s what you don’t want: guests waiting 20 minutes for a drink, overwhelmed bartenders scrambling to restock, or a signature cocktail that takes five minutes to make because there’s only one person behind the bar. The truth is, understaffing your bar will slow down your entire event — and no one wants to remember the night they spent in line.
So let’s talk numbers. This guide breaks down exactly how many bartenders, mixologists, and barbacks you really need based on your guest count, bar format, and event goals. No fluff — just real-world recommendations from people who actually staff events in L.A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Bar Staffing Ratios | Why Barbacks Matter | When to Add Mixologist
Guest Count Chart | Red Flags at The Bar | Build the Right Team
BAR STAFFING RATIOS FOR LOS ANGELES EVENTS
How Many Bartenders, Mixologists, and Barbacks to Book
The number of bartenders you need depends on more than just how many people are coming. Are you serving wine and beer or full craft cocktails? Will guests be ordering from a menu, or are you featuring custom drinks? What’s the expected pace — low-key or high-volume?
In Los Angeles, events run the full range: backyard weddings, rooftop fashion shows, brand activations, corporate galas. Each one needs a different bar team.
The Basics:
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For beer & wine only: 1 bartender per 75 guests
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For full bar service: 1 bartender per 50 guests
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For cocktail-heavy menus: add 1 mixologist per 35 guests
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Always include at least 1 barback for every 2 bar staff (either mixologist or bartender)
| "A great bar team doesn’t just pour drinks. They keep the energy moving."
DO YOU NEED A BARBACK FOR YOUR LA EVENT?
The Key to Fast Lines, Clean Stations, and No Interruptions
If you’ve ever seen a bartender leave their station to get ice, grab glasses, or restock tequila — that’s what happens when you don’t have a barback. The moment a bartender walks away, the line stops moving.
Barbacks are the unsung heroes. They clean glassware, restock everything from mixers to mint, take out trash, and make sure bartenders don’t break rhythm. In Los Angeles, where many venues are spread out and bar setups aren’t always close to kitchens or storage, a barback is non-negotiable.
When You Need More Than One:
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Events over 150 guests
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Multi-bar setups (especially at large venues)
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Full cocktail menus with garnish prep
| Every bartender needs a barback. No exceptions.
WHEN YOU NEED A MIXOLOGIST FOR YOUR LA EVENT
Brand Activations, Aesthetic-Driven Bars, and VIP Experiences
Not every event needs a mixologist. But if you’re promoting a brand, hosting VIPs, or building a guest experience around cocktails — then yes, hire one. In Los Angeles, mixologists aren’t just bartenders with a new title. They’re planners, creatives, and technicians.
A mixologist doesn’t just serve — they design the drink menu, prep custom ingredients in advance, and bring in tools and techniques that elevate what’s happening at the bar. They’re slower than a standard bartender, but that’s the point — their job is to create impact, not to rush.
Add a Mixologist When:
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You’re featuring a signature cocktail menu
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You want your drinks to match the event aesthetic
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You’re booking media, VIPs, or influencer content

EVENT BAR STAFFING GUIDE BY GUEST COUNT
How Many Bartenders, Mixologists, and Barbacks You Really Need
The type of bar you’re running matters. A beer-and-wine setup won’t require the same crew as a signature cocktail lounge or a high-volume open bar. If you're wondering how many bartenders you need for 150 guests, or whether one mixologist can cover 100 people — this chart will save you guesswork.
Here’s a practical breakdown based on guest count and bar style. These numbers come from real Los Angeles events — the kind with lines, deadlines, and no room for error.

Guest # Beer & Wine Full Bar Signature Cocktails
50 1 Bartender 1–2 Bartenders 2 Bartenders/Mixologists
100 2 Bartenders 2–3 Bartenders 3 Bartenders/Mixologists
+1 Barback
150 3-4 Bartenders 4 Bartenders 4 Bartenders/Mixologists
+1 Barback
200 4-5 Bartenders 5 Bartenders 5 Bartenders/Mixologists
+2 Barbacks
| When in doubt, round up. It's better to finish early than fall behind at the bar.
This chart doesn’t just help with staff counts — it helps prevent chaos when your guests show up thirsty. Use it as a starting point, then tweak based on layout, timing, and how cocktail-heavy your event really is.
| Don’t expect one person to do it all. Give your bar the support it needs.
RED FLAGS THAT RUIN THE BAR FLOW
Common Bar Staffing Mistakes at Events in Los Angeles
It’s not just about how many people you’re serving — it’s how fast they need to be served. Do you have a 1-hour cocktail window before dinner? Then you need enough hands to move quickly. Are guests arriving at staggered times? You may get away with fewer staff, but you still need backups.
Red Flags:
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Signature cocktails but no one assigned to make them
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Bartenders expected to also manage inventory
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No barback for outdoor or rooftop events
If you’re in L.A., you already know — venues aren’t always logistically easy. Long walks to storage, no back-of-house, and tight timelines mean your bar staff needs to be ready and supported.

LET’S BUILD THE BAR TEAM FOR YOUR LA EVENT
At XS Event Staffing, we’ve staffed rooftop cocktail hours, beachfront weddings, and corporate launches all over Los Angeles. We know what it takes to build a bar that works.
Need help figuring out how many bartenders you need — or whether a mixologist makes sense for your guest list? We’ll help you break it down, staff it right, and keep your event moving.
Because no one remembers how nice your bar looked — if they couldn’t get a drink.
#BarStaff #LasVegasEvents #EventPlanning
LOS ANGELES WAIT STAFF FAQs:
Essential Tips & Info
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