When a major sporting event, concert, or festival hits your city, it’s a golden opportunity for local restaurants—but it can also be a logistical whirlwind. More foot traffic and excited fans means more orders, higher expectations, and added pressure.

Take the Men’s College World Series, for example—held every year in Omaha, Nebraska. It draws an estimated 350,000-400,000 total baseball fans over the course of the tournament each year, and generates more than $90 million for the local economy.

Events like these give a major boost to hospitality businesses, but they can also create chaos if you don’t have best practices to make sure everything runs smoothly. The key to capitalizing on crowds without overwhelming your team or systems lies in preparation, flexibility, and having the right tools in place. 

Here’s how to make sure you’re prepared for those big surges in business—so you can hit the next big event out of the park. 

1. Anticipate the Spike—and Staff Accordingly

It’s crucial to have systems in place that support you and your staff during high-traffic times. Create a calendar of every local event held in your city each year, and stay up-to-date on any one-off events that pop up, too. 

Big game downtown? It’s fair to say you’ll need more servers, bartenders, and kitchen staff. Famous pop star kicking off their world tour right next door? Plan ahead for pre-show dinners and post-show snacks. 

You may also want to hire additional seasonal staff, especially if you’re dealing with a longer-term boost in traffic. Peak seasons such as the busy summer months or the holiday hustle are prime opportunities to boost revenue, but only if your team and operations are ready to handle the volume. 

Pro Tip: It’s not enough to increase headcount; make sure your staff knows what to expect and how to handle the boost in volume with speed and courtesy. Prioritize clear communication about shift expectations and available support. Just because you’re busier doesn’t mean the quality of service should suffer.

2. Capitalize on the Crowd with New Offers

There’s no such thing as business as usual when your restaurant is getting slammed, so you may want to expand your service or offer unique incentives. Make event-themed specialty cocktails or offer deals for groups that can lead to larger tabs. If you anticipate a surge in business after a late concert, you may also want to keep your doors open longer to maximize your business.

All of these things go a long way in creating a memorable guest experience—and that helps customers come back for future celebrations

Pro Tip: If you plan to expand your hours or offer special deals, market this across social media and other channels so out-of-towners and locals alike know they can come to you after the big game or concert.

3. Streamline Operations with Fast, Digital Tip Payouts

The last thing you need when it’s extra busy are bottlenecks in your tip payout process. Just ask any manager who spends hours stuffing envelopes with cash after closing; making multiple trips to the bank during the dinner rush; or dealing with stressed employees who are stuck waiting all weekend to get big tip payouts.

Ditch the logistical nightmares of cash or paper checks and switch to fast, digital tip payouts instead. Payments platforms like Branch help eliminate the bottlenecks of managing and distributing cash tips or adding them to bi-weekly paper checks. 

With Branch, employees can:

• Access their tips right after each shift
  
  
• Avoid waiting for cash-outs or checks—no ACH cutoff windows involved
  
  
• Receive tips directly on a fee-free digital wallet and debit card
  

You can send tip payouts 24/7; nights, weekends, and holidays included. That means happier employees who go home from an exhausting shift with tips in their accounts, and less administrative hassle for you. 

Pro Tip: When the pressure’s on, your team works harder than ever. They deserve to see those tips ASAP—and digital payouts are the fastest way to make that happen.

Leverage the Buzz—Without The Stress

Without smart systems in place, your team could end up overworked and underprepared—resulting in stressful shifts and poor guest experiences. Using a digital tipping solution like Branch can help you:

• Handle more customers every night of the week—events included
• Say goodbye to cashflow headaches and trips to the bank
• Pay tips with the push of a button, boosting morale

Reduce bottlenecks in the payout process so you can truly capitalize on the crowd. When the next big concert, game, or festival rolls through your city, you won’t just be ready—you’ll be ready to thrive.

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Ready to simplify tip payouts at your restaurant? Learn more here.