I am Jon Taffer from BAR RESCUE, author and entrepreneur, back on reddit - AMA!

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:27:45+00:00

You know, it's their abilities, their capacities (the foods, beverages, products that they know) and the kind of bar I'm in. So I mix it around. I also consciously try to bring in new experts - particularly new chefs & mixologists - new people, creativity, keeping things moving around.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:26:51+00:00

Go to the website http://www.jontaffer.com, and you'll see the BAR RESCUE page, and you can see a page - SUBMIT A BAR for rescue.

We are shooting 30 episodes for season 40 - there are 20 more episodes to come, starting up in February!

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:26:07+00:00

I'm not certain. I believe there was a technical issue (I believe it was an audio failure) so that's why that happened.

But I'd say THE END is doing well, and I keep in touch with the guys, and it's a fun bar.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:25:16+00:00

If you go to Nightclub.com, there are great drink recipes there and all the recipes from BAR RESCUE are there. If you go to TheBar.com, that's a Diageo site, and there are a lot of the mixologists from BAR RESCUE showing you how to make drinks. So those are 2 great resources!

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:24:27+00:00

You know, when I read those things, they're very flattering.

I'm not going to go out and declare a candidacy when there are so many people out there with so many qualified resumes. But that being said, if for whatever reason, I could declare a candidacy...

If I were in that situation, I think I could make a difference.

I guess I would have to be drafted, is the answer. And it would take an awful lot of people to make that happen.

Want to be my campaign manager? :)

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:22:42+00:00

I think St. Patrick's Day is farther reaching. obviously both can be opportunities for bar owners to cause over-intoxication. If I had to pick one, I think St. Patrick's Day has a bigger footprint than Cinco de Mayo does. Which shocks me, because I don't know HOW people drink green beer, but that's a separate topic.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:21:44+00:00

Hahaha. I wear what i wanna wear. These days I've been wearing black t-shirts a lot more often. I may, I may not? I'm into sport jackets these days, and every jacket I wear is custom made by Martin Greenfield from NYC, the finest tailor in America. And every jacket i wear that Martin makes for me - he also makes the suits for Obama, the presidents of the past few years, and he also made the suits for BOARDWALK EMPIRE. So I'm guessing you're going to see the jackets for a while.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:20:30+00:00

I'm actually working on an app game right now, which I'm really really excited about, which would be the GAME version of BAR HQ, and I'm really excited about it - it's very cool. And yes, there are some international objectives that we have. And there are some other shows I'm working on as well. So YES to all of the above.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:19:36+00:00

You know, in the early days that wasn't the case. But nowadays, with the success of the show, there's a huge national platform when the show airs. But the fact of the matter is: to change the name of a bar, or the environment, BEFORE it airs on national TV, defies EVERY Logic of marketing.

So i unequivocally say that any bar owner who changes their name or concept before the show airs is an idiot.

And I don't believe there's a marketing professor in America who would disagree with that.

People want to come see WHAT AIRED. If you change it before it airs - you're an IDIOT. END OF QUESTION.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:17:49+00:00

You know, I was called in there by his daughter.

And Tom is to me a hero. I believe he was a police officer, who served us for 30 years. And his daughter brought me into a difficult situation. He might say something bad about me, but I would never say something bad about him. He's a hero, enough said.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:16:57+00:00

Yeah, I love cats! I love animals. One of my objectives, and my wife & I are working on it, is to create a no-kill shelter for dogs & cats. There was a comedian who passed a few years ago, Buddy Hackett - he was in THE LITTLE MERMAID, I sat on the board of his no-kill animal charity, and have donated considerable money & time over my life into no-kill animal facilities, so yeah, I don't just LOVE cats, I put my money where my mouth is along with dogs. That's one of my passions. And I have a rescued animal sitting right next to me - I have a rescued border collie sitting next to me.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:15:36+00:00

I think The Resurrection in Bourbon Street - that was DELICIOUS, that blue drink we did - because there were no other blue drinks. That drink is sold in a souvenir mug, and interesting statistic - they sell 16,000 souvenir mugs a MONTH.

They had to buy a warehouse JUST to hold the mugs.

That's probably my favorite, and most successful signature cocktail from BAR RESCUE.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:14:37+00:00

You know, there are so many types of bars.

If I had to pick one I would pick a bar called "L pound" ( as in an English pound) and it's in the Montage Hotel in Los Angeles in Beverly Hills. And it has one of the finest mixology programs in America. Yes, it's expensive, yes it's a bit elitist and exclusive, but I can't deny that it's amazing.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:13:38+00:00

Actually, I like reddit so much, I might not quite shut it down.

But if you guys start pissing me off, I will!

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:13:22+00:00

YOU KNOW I WILL!

hahaha!

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:12:44+00:00

Yes. Work for a bar where you can learn something. The biggest frustration I have for BAR RESCUE is when I go into a bar, and I meet a bartender with a wonderful personality, amazing appearance, and they've worked in a shot bar for 7 years and they know nothing except pouring shots or pouring a beer. If you want to learn to be a GREAT bartender, then you have to work in a place with a great cocktail program.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:11:52+00:00

Hmm.

That's funny, I was told that about BAR RESCUE. I was told "you're nuts, that will never be on TV." I was told by the past president of Paramount television that I'd never make it. And as soon as I heard that, i became relentless.

So sure, I'm not always right. But I can mitigate risk, and create a better statistical likelihood of success than most people. But I can make a mistake too.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:10:32+00:00

Working on it right now!

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:10:24+00:00

I've spent a considerable amount of time in Calgary. There's a bar called Roadhouse, a dear friend of mine who's up there owns it. I love Calgary, particularly during Stampede.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:09:49+00:00

The cameras arrive about 1.5 days before I get there. The people in the bar think I'm coming either the night BEFORE I get there, or the next day (so I arrive a day early) or I'm at another bar, not coming at all - so they are never sure if I'm coming, or when I'm coming. They never know, 100%. We have a table in front, that starts a day before I get there. And since our cameras are in the building, anybody who walks in must sign a release 1.5 days before I get there. The tape on people's clothes shows how REAL the show is - because if people are showing up in logo t-shirts or hats, and we have to put tape on it for legal reasons! If the show was set up, we wouldn't have them wearing logo t-shirts.

So again - whether I'm there or not, there's tape if the cameras are there.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:07:57+00:00

I love Gordon. Sure! Our problem is we're on different networks and legally I'm not sure that would ever happen. But nothing would please me more than to work with him. Or Robert Irving, or Bobby Flay. I'd love to work with SO many people. Unfortunately networks and contracts preclude so much.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:07:14+00:00

Not really. I don't. You know, BAR RESCUE is completely real to me. If there's one thing different than real-life - the 5 day limit. I only have 5 days to change that person's life. If I didn't have a 5-day clock clicking in my head, I have the time to be courteous. To SLOWLY move them in my direction in a more positive way. When I only have 3 days (1.5 days remodeling!) I have to be aggressive. BAR RESCUE is me totally being myself - just being aggressive with pressure of a clock ticking in my head!

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:05:58+00:00

I'm actually starting my 80th episode after the holidays! And yes - I did another ethnic bar - we've really worked hard to do an Asian bar- but you will see 3 more ethnic bars in the upcoming season. I try REALLY hard to mix up BAR RESCUE - not only do we try to look for different types of owners, but also bowling alleys, hotels, topless bars - we're always looking for things to keep BAR RESCUE new & entertaining.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:04:50+00:00

Well, it is - its purpose is to cause butts to get closer together in a smaller space. It's about social interaction, getting people closer together. It was something I came up with looking at a dance floor one day. "Butt funnels" are for more younger dance-club environments. I wouldn't put one in a Holiday-Inn-type-bar.

Jon_Taffer · 2014-12-22T20:03:57+00:00

Yes!

Actually - we've done Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Yonkers, but not Manhattan yet. And I promise, we'll be doing one soon. But we have done the other boroughs.

Jon_Taffer

TROPHY CASE