What is a Dry Hire?

Hello! My name is Sawyer Dyar, and I operate a dry-hire mobile bartending business. I have been in the alcohol industry for almost 2 years now, and have always loved the idea of mixology.

Recently, while researching for my business, I came across the concept of dry hiring. Because I have been working in the alcohol industry for a couple of years, I have been around dry hire events before; however, I did not realize the processes behind it.

So what is it exactly? Dry hiring does not refer to hiring for a "dry event" (an event without alcohol) or the weather at that time (even though it is almost always dry in Texas). Dry hiring for mobile bars or bartenders is where the client will hire the mobile bar for the event, and the bar provides the service, the mixers/garnishes, and the client provides the alcohol. Most dry-hire mobile bars will provide the client with a list of alcohols based on the drinks that were decided in the contract meeting. This type of hiring helps mobile bartenders or bars because, legally, they cannot buy or carry alcohol due to licensing issues, and if you do want to do that, you have to have a brick-and-mortar shop.

This also helps the clients by having a larger selection of alcohols that they would like to use for their drinks instead of having to commit to a smaller liquor store or bar with fewer options.

For example, if you would like to become a client of mine, we would have a meeting, and we would discuss all the drinks and sign the contract. After signing the contract, I will provide you with an alcohol shopping list. Before your event, you would purchase the alcohol and bring it to the venue, where I would provide the mixers, garnishes, my equipment, and my services. This idea revolutionizes the industry, and allows the mobile bartending business to run smooth and provides the client more options.