Message from the Chairman
by Steven Ferry
As elements of society, and nations, egged on by the media that is really propaganda (to make readers and viewers think a certain way, rather than for themselves), become increasingly adversarial and contentious, it is well to remember that a butler’s approach to the problems we face, could do much to move civilization away from finger pointing, fisticuffs, and futuristic wars, and instead…
Butlers in the Media
by Steven Ferry
One of our own made a comment on social media this month, positing an old-fashioned idea that ran straight into a brick wall of political correctness, as well as modern expectations. I quote one response that relished casting him in a poor light. “For some reason, [name deleted] decided to remind his followers that ‘a Lady never looks at the bill.’ Primarily this is because…
Professional Standards of Performance, Applications #1. Today’s Issue: Professional Pay
by Prof. Richard Ratliff
Scenario: Suppose two butlers apply for the same position. One candidate is a recent graduate of a reputable butler school, holds a university degree, and has served two years as under-butler on a large estate. He is seeking his first position as a butler. The second candidate is a long-time butler for a high-level government leader, now retiring to a small country estate. She is in her professional…
The Wisdom of Butlers Past, Part 21: Removing Grease from Clothing
by Steven Ferry
How did butlers remove grease from clothing two centuries ago? They placed brown paper over the grease spot and applied a hot iron (not so hot that it burned the paper). The grease would transfer to the paper. They repeated with another section of the paper until no more grease came out. If grease remained, they added “spirits of wine” to a cloth and rubbed the spot while it was still hot…
The Butlers Speak: Construction Crews
by Steven Ferry
Judging by the number of responses, construction projects—renovations or new-builds—are not a large part of the modern butler’s/HMs/EMs brief. When such projects are engaged upon, the butler generally monitors the identity and numbers of workers and ensures they remain in their designated areas—the challenge being when there are many such workers in the house—and ensures…
Staff Training: Introduction to Training Methodology
by Frank Mitchell
In the next several installments of this series, we finally confront the nuts and bolts of how to train. As with Instructional Design, there are many theories and training methods. If you are a professional, you will no doubt have your own preferences. If not, I would like to share with you a popular method I have found most effective. I was drilled in the correct use of POPPER by a highly experienced trainer and…
Let’s Talk Mixology, Part 41: Low-Calorific Cocktails
by Amer A. Vargas
After a long Christmas and Holiday season filled with several family meals (normally quite heavy ones!), it is time for the New Year Resolutions! And one of the most common ones is losing those extra pounds or kilograms one has acquired during the festivities. Can we enjoy a nice cocktail and not break our weight-loss resolution? Yes! Some cocktails have even less calories than…
Consulting the Silver Expert: Is Your Silver Damaged or Respected? Part II
by Jeff Herman
Have you ever stopped to wonder what the ingredients are for silver dips and polishes, and how they might impact your health? Take a look at the ingredients of one common polish. So here is a modern look at a very old subject, one that takes into account your health and the environment, not to mention the health of your silver. Chemical dips including Tarn-X are some of the most destructive…
Placement Jobs and Vacancies
A Kuwaiti gentleman, educated in New York (NYU and Harvard) and with homes in New York, Boulder, and London, travels internationally ca. 70% of the year (mainly the US, UK, Continental Europe, and Asia), and spends time on his Yacht in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. He seeks a valet/butler to add to his small traveling team (currently 2 traveling assistants who handle his…
The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world. Contact us for all your training needs via email at enquiries@modernbutlers.com or via telephone: USA 1-813- 354-2734. We invite you to also visit our website www.modernbutlers.com for more information.
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