Charity and drinking have found a way to come together in Baton Rouge.The annual fundraising event series Shaken or Stirred will begin its first event of this year’s series tonight at The Bulldog on Perkins Road.The event begins at 5:30 p.m., and will feature WAFB sports reporter Erin Cofiell, WBRZ weekend sports anchor Chad Sabadie and 104 the X DJ Anna Maran. who all will compete as bartenders for the most tips. The collected money will all go toward the Capital Area United Way. “It will be like Mardi Gras in The Bulldog,” Sabadie said. “The event combines two things people want to do: help people and socialize.”Besides serving drinks to raise money, $5 raffle tickets will be available for attendees to possibly win prizes like a $300 gameday package from The Bulldog or Stadium Club seats for a 2010 LSU home football game, among others, said Melissa Parmelee, CAUW major gifts coordinator and creator of the Shaken or Stirred event.The Bulldog will donate $5 per head that comes through the doors between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., said Emily Guidroz, CAUW’s director of relationship development. The Shaken or Stirred series will continue into 2010 with five more events featuring celebrities at various locations around Baton Rouge, Guidroz said.Matthew Nomey, general studies senior and bartender at The Bulldog, said getting behind the bar to serve drinks requires a bit of work.”It takes a couple months of busy, busy nights to learn how to pour,” Nomey said. “It takes a while to learn how to count pours and how much goes into what drink.”Nomey said a few key characteristics can make a good bartender.”It’s important to know the beer and drink menus,” Nomey said. “You have to be personable. You are being paid to do [the customer] a service. You want to be engaging and know people’s names if they come in a lot.”Learning efficient ways to better serve the customers is key to success, said Jessica Scallan, bartender at The Roux House on 3rd Street downtown. “A good bartender is someone who can consolidate steps,” Scallan said. “[They need to be] someone who can multitask and grab what they need for later.”
 
 
 
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