Tips for Studying at a Bar

Nothing quite beats a PhD program for teaching you how to study practically anywhere, but the truth is that studying is a highly personal experience. The same spots and conditions simply don’t work for everyone, so while one person might be able to crack an academic text in three hours over a Manhattan, others might find a place like a bar too distracting. It really depends on you. But our tips for studying at a bar might help you out.

Tips for Studying at a Bar

With that being said, if taking your study materials to your favorite Southern California beverage company sounds appealing to you, here are a few expert tips on how to get the most out of your session.

Always Wear Headphones

Even if you don’t plan on listening to music, you should wear headphones. This is particularly important for female patrons whose right to sit alone and unbothered isn’t always respected. Having your headphones in sends a pretty clear message that you’re not interested in talking to anyone, so it’s a helpful tool to keep in mind.

Have a Back-Up Location

If your favorite establishment gets a little too rowdy for your taste, then have a second location in mind. Ending a study session prematurely to go home and try again in a less stimulating environment can really interfere with your general efficacy.

Bring Non-Electronic Materials As Well

There’s never a guarantee that you will be one of those lucky folks seated close to an outlet. You can always work on your laptop until the battery dies, but make sure you have a book and some blank paper at the ready to do additional work.

Eat First

The worst thing you can possibly do is go to a bar without eating. If they serve food, you can always order food there. But do not order a drink until at least thirty minutes after. In the middle of exams, students tend to skip sleep and meals. This can make it really easy for a single drink to severely impact your ability to study.

Don’t Do Group Sessions at Bars

Going out with your fellow students for a study session sounds like a phenomenal idea. But you will not get any work done. As stated above, bar studying isn’t for everyone, and there’s a good chance that someone in your group will find it too distracting.

Set a Drink per Hour Limit

This is especially important for summer when you’re more likely to drink faster, but you have to set a drink limit for yourself. Between each drink, consume 1-2 glasses of water. If you want your studying to go well, then you need to stay sober and hydrated.

Bring Extra Pens

As great as computers are, writing out your notes, arguments, and theories can help to further cement the information in your brain. The last thing you want to do is run out of ink mid-sentence. You should always carry two or three extra pens just in case.

Go Early

Very few people can work in a bar that’s in full swing. You’ll likely get your best work done between 3 PM and 9 PM. At that point, you’re likely to see a more noisy and boisterous crowd. So you may want to make your way home.

Find a Nice, Cozy Corner

As nice as it may sound, you don’t want to sit at the bar. There will be too much activity around you at all times. And a much higher chance that your notes will end up smelling like someone else’s drink. Instead, try to find a quiet corner. There you can observe other people when you need a break before going back to your solitary study session.

Always Choose Sipping Drinks

Your local bar’s beer systems are going to look tempting on a hot day, but you may want to think twice about beer or wine if you’re doing a study session at a bar. Unless you’re used to enjoying these drinks over a longer period of time, consider a mixed drink that you’re more likely to drink slowly. This will give you the time to monitor your mental state and rehydrate.

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The Basics of Opening a Bar

Opening a bar is no easy task. But having a knowledge of the basics of opening a bar can help. It’s an expensive endeavor that requires careful planning and dedication, but that should not discourage you if it’s your dream to own your own bar. As long as you break down the process and approach it one step at a time, there is no reason you can’t achieve your goals.

The Basics of Opening a Bar

Here are some basic of opening a bar, simple steps you can take to get started without getting overwhelmed. Once you are ready, you will need the best beer equipment Orange County has.

Set Up a Reliable Filing System

You are about to have a lot of paperwork on your hands. Keeping everything organized from the very beginning will make the process of opening your bar far less stressful later on. So, this is what you do:

  • Set aside a drawer in a desk or get a small filing cabinet
  • Purchase a small stack of standard hanging folders. Label them “Business Plan,” “Corporate Filing,” “Trademarks,” “Licenses,” “Rental Agreement,” “Human Resources,” “Payroll,” and “Taxes.”
  • Purchase a printer with document scanning capabilities.
  • Create folders on your computer that match the labels given to the hanging folders.
  • Do the same on a separate USB drive.

It’s very basic, but this lays the groundwork for a double filing system with digital and physical back-ups available. As your business grows, many of those original folders will get broken up into smaller categories.

Write Your Business Plan

Your business plan is a statement of what you want your business to be and how you want to see it develop over the next 3-5 years. It should include:

  • A strong understanding of your target demographic and your competitors
  • An indication of how you intend to improve on your competitor’s model to earn a greater portion of the market share
  • A straight-forward budget that includes paying yourself for your time, giving employees fair wages, and leaves a margin for incidentals

This is the document that you will use when applying for small business loans and some licensing, so you want it to reflect your talent as an entrepreneur.

Establish the Structure of Your Business

As tempting as a sole proprietorship can be in terms of reduced costs and paperwork, this structure is not recommended for a bar. There are too many risk factors, and you need to protect your personal assets. Instead, you should establish an LLC or corporation based on your needs. These structures separate your personal assets from those of the business, preventing someone from targeting you if a legal suit is brought against your bar.

Secure Your Name and Logo

Before you start the trademarking process, you will want to make sure that both the name and URL are available. A quick internet search and a glance through the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s database will let you know if you need to come up with a new name. Once you’ve found a meaningful name that’s available, you should work with a graphic artist to create a unique logo. Both the name and logo with need to be filed with the USPTO.

Secure All Appropriate Licenses

You probably already know you need a liquor license, but local ordinances may require any number of licenses to operate a bar in your area. Make sure you meet all of the local, state, and federal guidelines that are necessary. These may require some changes to your set-up, such as the presence of commercial water filters Los Angeles, so you’ll want to consider those factors when looking at potential locations.

Find the Spot and Decorate

At this point, you’ve finally reached the fun part. You get to pick a great location and decorate your bar. You will certainly have a lot of paperwork ahead of you still, so make sure you set aside space for a small office and a break area for your employees. From there, it’s all about the drinks and the fun, which can be made even easier with the help of SC Beverage.

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