Note — general guidance only: The ideas below are operational tips, not one-size-fits-all solutions. Adapt them to your venue’s layout, patron profile and award conditions.



Friday night raffles boost food-and-beverage revenue but they can also jam the bar just when patrons want a quick top-up before the draw. A few smart roster tweaks will keep service flowing without blowing overtime.

Why Meat-Raffle Fridays Strain Your Bar

The raffle countdown creates a 30-minute “gold rush” when members line up en masse. If taps slow down, patrons spend less, satisfaction drops and gaming floors empty out. Planning staff coverage around this predictable spike is the quickest fix.



7 Roster Tweaks to Keep Queues Moving

• Staggered clock-ins:
bring an extra bartender on 45 minutes before ticket sales close, then clock them off once the post-draw lull hits.

• Dedicated runner:
assign one team member solely to glass collection and restocking so bartenders stay on the taps.

• Float bartender:
roster a senior mixologist to roam between the main bar and overflow station, filling gaps as lines grow.

• POS-only station:
place a tablet-based POS near the raffle ticket table; a staffer takes contactless payments and relays drink orders to the bar, halving time at the counter.

• Simplified menu window:
during the 30-minute rush, limit draught options to best-selling taps; less decision time equals faster pours.

• Front-load glass polishing:
schedule glass-wash duties earlier so every schooner is racked and ready when the surge begins.

• Team hand-off drill:
train floor staff to alert the bar two minutes before they announce the next prize, allowing bartenders to prep multiple identical orders in advance.



Final Pour

With these seven tweaks, you can turn raffle-night chaos into a smooth revenue earner: shorter waits, happier members and a bar that keeps pace without costly overtime.