Message from the Chairman
by Steven Ferry
Many butlers in private service are still employed and there is evidence that the demand for staff may be picking up somewhat in a few areas, like the US. Other countries, such as England, are apparently seeing some slack, but the private sector, by virtue of its inherent wealth, is the least likely to be adversely affected with unemployment for our profession. In hospitality, however, it is a different story: Although some hotel and resort butlers are still employed, many around the world are finding themselves out of work and…
Butlers in the Media
by Steven Ferry
An interesting webinar is being hosted by The English Manner on September 10.
An article covers how hotels offering butler service can be leveraged for those concerned about social distancing and viral concerns…
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Letters to the Editor
“Excellent response to the “conspiracy theory” commentator. The three articles were interesting and valuable reads for sure. I always enjoy your newsletter, BTW.” RP
“Thank you for this article, all very well stated. The prospect of actually catching the virus is less stressful than navigating through all the agendas every day. Hopefully, this works itself out soon, with sensible solutions that allow adults the option…
The Wisdom of Butlers Past, Part 40: Dinner Service
by Steven Ferry
When serving, the butler would remain in the dining room all the time, positioning himself in front of the sideboard, a yard behind and slightly to the left of the person at the bottom of the table, so he had a clean view of the entire table and when a guest might need servicing. He did not wait to be asked for something but anticipated needs. “Be deaf to all the conversations of the company, and attentive only to their wants.” Here are some 1823 body language basics for butlers and footmen while serving…
The Butlers Speak: Principal Travel
by Steven Ferry
And so we come to the final topic of these surveys of our profession: Principal travel.
When your employers traveled, where did they go and what did they do?
“My previous employers traveled extensively for leisure; my current employer traveled globally mostly for business before the Covid lockdowns.”…
Let’s Talk Mixology, Part 59: Autumn Cocktail
by Amer A. Vargas
As Fall is about to arrive, I would like to devote this month’s cocktail to the beauty of that season. On this occasion, we present the Autumn Cocktail, as concocted by its creator, Simon Difford, Founder and CEO of world famous, Difford’s Guide, a must-have for any cocktail connoisseur and lover.
This cocktail is really quite simple to make, although it takes some additional work compared to more traditional cocktails. The reason for this is that a fresh Passion Fruit is used, as well as some freshly pressed apple juice…
Consulting the Silver Expert: Removing Labels
by Jeff Herman
If you just purchased a metal object with a label that won’t peel off cleanly, buy some inexpensive 100% orange essential oil. If you have skin sensitivities, wear nitrile gloves for this procedure. Apply enough orange oil to cover the entire label; you can apply it directly to the label or use a cotton ball or makeup pad. Wait five minutes and the label should come off easily. If adhesive residue remains, wipe it away with additional oil, wipe the piece with a soft cloth, and then use glass cleaner to remove any remaining…
Creative Corner
featuring Kobi Gutman
Following up on the mold made last month of a relief of a flamenco dancer, the presented mold was then used to make a chocolate figurine which was sprinkled with gold dust and presented to a young lady for her birthday, to joyous acclaim by said young lady and the rest of those at her table. Talk about creating good effects simply!
And here is another fondant cake, this one made to celebrate the birthday of a fan of the Chicago Cubs team….
Placement and Job Vacancies: Live-in Personal & Family Assistant Wanted
An upbeat, proactive, productive, and hands-on individual who pays attention to details and can turn his or her hand to many different skillsets that assist the employer in running three large estates in Canada, US, and Europe, and traveling between these together with the active and upbeat Family members. The ideal candidate needs to be a citizen of one of these countries/regions.
This is not a formal or 9-5 household, there no finite job description…….
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.
Please email the editor of The Modern Butler’s Journal at newsletter@modernbutlers.com with any article ideas, concerns, comments, or suggestions.
