TESTIMONIALS

“This nonprofit is redefining how venues think about support and responsibility. Their trainers come from hospitality and understand the realities of a busy Friday night. They don’t just offer tips. The training is practical, relevant, and it sticks. It helps staff build confidence, recognize red flags, prevent overconsumption, and intervene before something becomes bigger. "

"This kind of training is not just a nice extra. It’s a business asset. When your team knows how to handle tough moments, they stay longer. When your guests feel looked after, they come back. And when your brand is known for professionalism and care, people pay attention.”

Terrill Patterson Sr.

Founder, Rellies Hospitality

“By having the conversations with the SAFE Bar Network and being a part of their vision, we have seen such a positive impact on our culture with staff and customers. We’ve had a major increase in business because of the positive feedback from our community in getting the SAFE Bar Network’s word out.”

Brian Miller

General Manager, Fieldhouse

“We had an incident at a Speed Dating event that was at a SAFE Bar Network member venue. A man at the event went from 0 to 60 very quickly, making other participants uncomfortable.

Because our event hosts and the venue team were all trained by the SAFE Bar Network, they were on the same page. That made dealing with the issue as effective as it could have been. The event host shared that she didn’t fully understand why she needed the training until the incident happened.

When it did, she completely understood why we partner with the SAFE Bar Network and train all of our hosts, and prefer to host events at venues that are members of the SAFE Bar Network.”

Shannon Snow

Co-Founder, The Smitten Project

“Being part of the SAFE Bar Network and training our team has helped us empower our employees to identify unsafe or uncomfortable situations for coworkers and peers, and how to de-escalate situations. The Breckenridge Team at all locations now feels equipped with new ways of observing and understanding inappropriate behavior in our places of work. Our team now feels united towards the same purpose of protecting one another and our guests.”

Mara Willner

Breckenridge Brewery

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“After our first training in 2021, we kept the conversation going. The training was a great starting point. From the skills our team learned, we were able to make changes to our policies and how we work to prioritize noticing when people are uncomfortable, interrupting to help, and giving everyone a safe time out.”

Lauren Smith

Gentle Ben’s Brewing

Josh's Story

Josh had been on the security team at a popular college bar for a couple of years. It’s a typical, busy Saturday night, and the bar has just closed. He is standing outside watching people leave and is keeping an eye out for trouble. He notices a man helping a woman into a car. She looks like she has had too much to drink, and Josh’s gut tells him that something is off about what he is seeing. Josh asks Allen, another security guy, if things look off, and Allen agrees they should do something. Josh walks over to the car, leans in, and says, “Hey, are you okay?” The woman mumbles something that Josh can’t make out, and it seems like she doesn’t know where she is or what is happening. Josh and Allen help the woman out of the car and back inside. They work together to get her some water and try to find her friends and a safe ride home.

“I had done the online bystander training through SAFE Bar and got to know the program a little bit more. We ended up scheduling them to come into the venue and train our entire staff.

Gibson operates under the Mile of Music umbrella, and what we found is that SAFE Bar’s core values and our Vision of Respect are very closely aligned.

It really strengthens our commitment to keep everybody safe and know on our end of things that we have received that training and have the tools to intercept, when necessary.”

Melissa Freeman

Programming Specialist at Gibson Community Music Hall

"They provided excellent group interaction and expanded my knowledge of how people can take advantage of staff and guests' time and space."

“Being part of the SAFE Bar Network and training our team has helped us come together closer as a team and has broadened our vision on safety and care for our guests. Thank you, SAFE Bar Network!”

Richard Fifer

Gentle Ben’s Brewing

Kevin Fitzpatrick

SAFE Bar Network Co-Founder and Bar Owner

“Duke’s Spirited Cocktails in Healdsburg says that by providing a system of support and helping responsible businesses improve, the SAFE Bar Network creates a bar atmosphere that is built on respect, maturity, fun, and accountability.”

“For Duke’s Spirited Cocktails, it’s a great way to show customers that your business takes safety and respect seriously. Additionally, it’s a great way to create a more positive work environment for your employees.”

Duke's Spirited Cocktails

“The work SAFE Bar Network does has the power to change the bar scene for the better and lead the way in terms of increasing much-needed, valuable safety for all. From brewery tap rooms to festivals to hotel restaurants.”

“SAFE Bar Network is unique because of how personalized and interactive it is. It’s a conversation. Trainers go into a venue with, you know, basic principles to discuss examples of common issues and best practices for dealing with them, and impactful knowledge. But the educational system revolves around the specific venue at hand and its staff. Every single place is different, and every single person working there is different, and SAFE Bar Network responds to this.”

Courtney Iseman

Freelance Writer

"I got an urgent radio call from a team member to meet them over by the bathroom, when I got over there I could see a woman who was clearly distressed. She let us know her date started acting odd and aggressive, didn’t know where he was, and that she had driven down an hour from where she lived and had no support down here. We instantly offered to take care of her bill and walk her to her car to make sure he wasn’t out there waiting in the parking lot. She got to the car safe and sound, and it brought me a lot of pride knowing how my team stayed with her and made sure it was a priority. That’s the kind of environment we hope to achieve with SAFE Bar, and it’s great to see it’s working."

Evan

Stone Brewing in California

“Being part of the SAFE Bar Network and training our team has helped us come together closer as a team and has broadened our vision on safety and care for our guests. Thank you, SAFE Bar Network!”

Richard Fifer

Gentle Ben’s Brewing

“It’s been really fantastic to learn what to keep an eye out for as far as the safety of the staff and our guests, especially in a place where we serve alcohol.”

Clayton Smith

Midwest District Manager of Yellow Rocket Concepts

“[The training helped] out staff and restaurant employees to know and have knowledge on the safety of alcohol and what to look for in regards to customers coming in that may be having a few drinks, as well as within the restaurant between staff, and recognizing the signals and signs that maybe they need to take action or help out. "

Danielle Griffin

Training Communications Coordinator, Yellow Rocket Concepts

“Conversations about the safety of our guests and our staff in complicated and nuanced situations is important in order to be successful. This training provided an opportunity to create a base of dialogue and skills to refer to in situations that may be harmful and tools to de-escalate situations.”

Jackson Levy

Bar Manager, Teardrop Lounge