Jon Taffer Reveals Bar Rescue Secrets, Biggest Successes

Bar Rescue has captivated viewers for nine seasons — and it’s safe to say a big reason for the loyal viewership is the fan-favorite host Jon Taffer,

in an exclusive interview our weekly To promote the series’ 250th episode, Taffer, 69, explained why he thinks the show is a must-watch.

“The audience is learning at the same time that I’m learning,” the TV personality said, adding that he knows nothing about the business and the owners before filming begins. “I’m never ahead of them, so it lends a certain authenticity. I’m not sure if all of that is true.” [other] A lot happens in the show. My audience is really smart and I never try to fool them.”

The owner of Taffer’s Tavern is proud of every accomplishment the show has made while on the air, including saving countless businesses. Taffer spoke about the former New Orleans hotspot, which he considers one of his biggest success stories. “The owners literally sold the business for millions of dollars.”

Most importantly, Taffer — who has 30+ years of experience in the bar and nightclub industry — prides himself on helping real families whose struggling businesses have impacted their personal relationships. “One that was very near and dear to me was the Moon Runner in North Carolina, which was run by the Alexander family,” he recalled. “Their son ran it, their daughter worked there, and the daughter would cry all day long. There was a serious family dynamic that was heartbreaking.”

“When I got there, I fixed that family dynamic and fixed the business, and they’re opening two new locations this year,” Taffer said. “That’s the coolest — when I can actually improve a marriage or a relationship between a father and son, and change a family dynamic for the better.”

Scroll down to see Bar Rescue Taffer shares his secrets We,

John’s initial attempt failed

Taffer was inspired to create a series on the bar industry when someone in Las Vegas approached him and said he should be on television. After coming up with a premise and title (at the time, he planned to call the show on the rocks) Taffer sought advice from friends in the network he consults for — but his idea was quickly dismissed.

“I put forward my idea [and] They told me, ‘John, you’ll never be on TV. You’re too old, you’re not even good looking, forget it,’ so I left the studio and thought the show would never happen,” he recalled. He didn’t let that stand in his way, though. “I said, ‘Only I can say no to myself,'” he added. “I shot my own sizzle reel, sent it to four production companies and got four out of four offers.”

Less than a year later, Taffer shot down a pilot Bar RescueAnd to his surprise, the show gained momentum after it was revealed it was unlikely to be picked up.

“We got picked up for the first season – which was incredible – [but] We didn’t know if we would be selected for even a second,” he shared. Now, 13 years later, he said, “I know I will make it to the next season.”

moments that slip away in the blink of an eye

A lot happens in each hour-long episode Bar Rescue Viewers don’t know any of this. First of all, the TV personality is only on the property for four days, and each day follows a strict schedule. The first day involves gathering information about the property, getting background from the owners, meeting the staff, and finally, renovating.

That same day, “we take the employees and owners, put them in a van in the parking lot, and I go to the bar that night and design it,” Taffer said. He begins strategizing, which includes meeting with his carpenter and crew and looking at key demographics and competitors in the area. “I have about a half-hour to come up with a concept.”

Day two’s events are shown on television, including “stress tests, training and staff meetings,” but behind the scenes, the crew is working on the renovation design, where some clever editing comes into play, Taffer explains.

“If you look at an episode Bar Rescue “If you look closely, you’ll notice that after a remodel, often times the bar stools don’t match,” Taffer said. “That’s because we have to get everything fixed in 24 hours.” We“I can’t make 60 identical stools in 24 hours, but I can make 20 of this style, 10 of that style, five of this style.”

Everything must be completed by the end of the second day—which is no easy task, as it also involves ordering new signs and equipment and preparing new recipes and menus. “It’s like a pressure cooker after a stress test,” says Taffer. At night, the remodel begins, and staff spend the next two nights working to get the property ready for the relaunch.

In total, the bar was renovated in 36 hours.

His arrival is kept a surprise

If you are a loyal viewer like WeIt’s likely you’ve wondered why business owners and their employees aren’t always on their best behavior when they know Taffer — and cameras — are around. The answer is simple, entrepreneurs say: They’re never sure if he’ll show up and whether their business will be filmed.

“The cameras are set up about a day and a half before I get there. [The staff] “I get told I’m coming to a bar in that town, and it’s either them or another bar,” Taffer said. “Sometimes I’ll get there a day early, just to catch them, so to speak.”

Sometimes Taffer and his team get a little more clever. “I asked the team to install some extra lights, [go] “People go into the bar and say, ‘Oh, John’s not coming, he’s going somewhere else,’ and they start drinking a light or two,” he said. We. “Suddenly, [the staff] They let their hair down, the liquor bottles come out, they start taking shots and compose themselves. Then I go in.”

“If they find out when I’m coming, their aunts are there, their uncles are there, they call every friend and the truth comes out,” Taffer said. “I have to be clever to keep it real.”

A clear sign of success

Taffer knows for sure whether the assets he saved will thrive or sink after he’s gone.

“I know when I walk out the door, because when I’m successful, you can see it,” he said. We,[The staff’s] The posture changes a little bit. They are more confident. Their facial expressions are more serious. They keep bouncing around.”

“You can just as easily see the people who actually went through the change as you can see the people who didn’t. The people who had no drive, no motivation, and no energy,” Taffer said. “Most of the time, the people who I think are going to fail, they do fail — and most of the time they’re the ones who you as the viewer think are going to fail, too.”

Of course, not all times that businesses close are due to their own wrongdoings. In fact, there are some instances where landlords have taken advantage of a recently renovated property.

“What happens is that the owner makes a deal with the landlord [telling them] Bar Rescue When the tenant is coming and the landlord says, ‘I’ll give you extra time because they’re coming,’ they don’t pay the rent, but the tenant doesn’t get any discount. [legal] “Get the documents from the landlord,” Taffer said. After Taffer and company renovated the bar, the landlord served a default judgment on the business owner, evicted them and rented it back for more money.

“This has happened three times, and it’s sad,” Taffer admitted.

Payment

Taffer admits there were times when he lost his composure during filming, recalling, “One incident that comes to mind is [was] Where my wife was humiliated in the initial days when she would go for reconnaissance.” However, most times, his warm conversations are driven by his passion to make someone’s life better.

“When [the business owners, staff and I] “When we hug at the end of the episode, the microphones are on our chests, so you can’t hear what’s being said because we’re covering the mics,” Taffer said. “The things they say to me during those hugs are incredible: ‘You fixed my marriage, you’re the father I never had before, I’m talking to my son again, my wife and I slept in the same bed last night for the first time in nine years.'”

“The people who fight me the most are the ones who hug me the tightest,” Taffer said. “When I get that hug, I realize that all the yelling and screaming was worth it because it accomplished something — it moved them forward.”

“So, next week I will scream even louder,” he said.

250th episode of Bar Rescue will air on Paramount Network on June 30.