SpeedRailz Onboarding Guide

Built by Bartenders. Designed for Growth.

SpeedRailz started as a simple idea: create better mid-week industry events that actually felt worth showing up for. Not just another guest shift swap, but something that gave bartenders a reason to care, compete, and be seen.

From the beginning, we knew this could be bigger.

With John Pittman’s background in media and storytelling, SpeedRailz was always meant to spotlight talent that usually stays hidden. The bartenders whose names are known inside their bar or neighborhood, but not beyond it. The ones running strong programs, building loyal regulars, and executing at a high level without a camera pointed at them.

Right now, most hospitality content is told by consumers. That can be helpful, but it often skips the people actually doing the work. SpeedRailz exists to flip that script.

Since launching in September 2023, we’ve interviewed hundreds of bartenders across clubs, hotels, craft bars, restaurants, and neighborhood spots. The common thread has been clear: the bartenders who step into SpeedRailz care deeply about their craft, their team, and their venue. They are looking for ways to sharpen their skills, elevate their program, and create momentum beyond a single shift.

SpeedRailz is not just a competition. It is a skill development and visibility platform designed to help bartenders grow professionally.

Why This Edition Matters: Railz Relayz

One of the most overlooked factors in bartending success is the team you work with.

Solo shifts can make money, but the most impactful shifts—the ones that build culture, reputation, and long-term opportunity—come from strong teams who communicate well and execute together.

This edition of SpeedRailz was built to highlight that.

Railz Relayz is a two-person speed tournament designed to test:

• Coordination under pressure
• Clean mechanics and consistency
• Communication and trust between teammates
• Preparation, not luck

On the surface, Railz Relayz looks simple:

A two-drink, four-shot sprint relay.

Under the hood, it is a structured opportunity for you and a teammate to:

• Train intentionally
• Identify weaknesses in your execution
• Get sharper together
• Bring your community along for the ride

In SpeedRailz history, no champion has ever “just shown up” and won. Every winning team prepared. That preparation is where growth happens.

How the Railz Relay Tournament Works

Qualifier Round

Teams will first compete in a qualifier round to:

• Determine who advances
• Rank opponents
• Get real reps under competition conditions

The qualifier uses the same mechanics as the finals, without live product, so you can focus purely on execution.

Finals (3–4 Weeks Later)

The finals are a sudden-death, head-to-head tournament:

• One matchup at a time
• Win and advance
• Lose and you’re out

Prizes & Outcomes

• 1st Place: $1,000 cash + free media day at your venue
• 2nd Place: Free media day
• (Media Day powered by @B2Ccreative and valued at $1000 worth of media and marketing services)

The goal is not just to win money. The goal is to turn your performance into a storyline that builds awareness around you, your teammate, and your bar program.

Media days allow us to triple down on that attention by creating content that:

• Lives beyond the event
• Drives real traffic
• Opens doors to future opportunities

We have done this repeatedly and consistently see increased visibility and interest for winning bartenders and venues.
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Competition Onboarding Fee ($50 per team)

At SpeedRailz, our mission goes far beyond crowning the fastest bartenders. We are building a community-driven platform designed to create real, lasting value for the bartenders who participate.

Across cities like Houston, Austin, and Dallas, we’ve seen firsthand how SpeedRailz has opened doors for bartenders — from guest shifts and event curation opportunities to new skillsets and industry knowledge they would not normally gain inside their home venue.

SpeedRailz exists to elevate bartenders, not just promote businesses.

Why There Is an Onboarding Fee

Producing SpeedRailz takes real resources and real people.

Behind every event and piece of content are:

• Hours of driving between cities and venues
• Filming and editing interviews and competition footage
• Software platforms for scoring, networking, and campaigns
• Media production costs
• Staffing and coordination costs
• Prize pool contributions

Many of the people helping run SpeedRailz are also bartenders themselves. They take time off work, travel, and invest their own energy to make these events happen. Our partners and sponsors help, but they cannot cover everything.

The onboarding fee helps offset these real operational costs so we can continue delivering a professional, high-quality platform.

Commitment & Participation Matter

The onboarding fee also ensures buy-in.

We’ve learned that when competitors invest something upfront, they:

• Show up prepared
• Follow through on commitments
• Respect timelines and partners
• Take the experience seriously
• Maximize the opportunity

SpeedRailz works best when participants are fully engaged. This fee helps us prioritize bartenders who truly want to be part of the platform and make the most of it.

What Bartenders Receive in Return

SpeedRailz is an ecosystem designed to give back.

Your investment supports:

• Career & Industry visibility
• Professional skill development
• Cross industry networking opportunities
• Competition experience
• Media exposure
• Potential guest shift and private event opportunities

On qualifier day, all advancing competitors will also receive filmed interviews and media features that showcase their story, personality, and bartending philosophy. These assets live beyond the competition and help build your professional brand.

Media Creation & Collaborations

Competitors receive:

• Photo and video interviews featured on SpeedRailz channels
• Highlights from qualifier and city events
• Social media and livestream exposure
• Long-form storytelling content that showcases your journey

This is content many bartenders would otherwise pay hundreds or thousands for independently.

In short, the onboarding fee helps us maintain a platform built for bartenders, by bartenders, with real value behind it.

If you’re willing to invest in your growth, SpeedRailz is here to amplify your talent and connect you to a community that wants to see you win.

Community Networking Campaign

For Bartenders Who Want More Than Speed

In addition to the relay tournament, we offer an optional Community Networking Campaign, designed for bartenders and managers who want to showcase leadership, creativity, and community-building skills.

This is an eight-week campaign focused on real-world impact.

What This Competition Highlights

• Your ability to design a custom cocktail menu
• Your hospitality and guest experience
• Your venue’s identity and atmosphere
• Your ability to activate and engage a community

What Participation Includes

• Creating a custom three-drink SpeedRailz menu using our spirit partners
• Planning and hosting a social or networking event powered by our software partner Reuneo (free 30 day trial included with participation)
• Inviting guests to check in and rate their experience through Disgo, covering:
  • Cocktails
  • Service
  • Overall venue experience
• Visit at least 3 other Speedrailz competitor venues and check in on Disgo

Learn More About Disgo Here Below

Learn More About Reuneo Here Below

This campaign mirrors real skills needed for:

• Event programming
• Brand partnerships
• Bar leadership roles
• Long-term career growth

Prizing

Up to $1,000 in total cash prizes for the Community Campaign.

Participation is optional and intentionally separated so bartenders can choose the path that fits their goals and bandwidth.

What You’re Really Signing Up For

SpeedRailz is not about doing more work for exposure.

It is about turning what you already do into leverage.

This platform exists to:

• Make your skills visible
• Document your growth
• Strengthen your resume and reputation
• Connect you to a broader hospitality network
• Create opportunities beyond your current bar

If you want to sharpen your craft, test yourself, and be recognized for it, you’re in the right place.
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The Bigger Picture

SpeedRailz is one of the event concepts under the Railz Hospitality umbrella. We are building this platform through a four-phase growth strategy.

Step 1: Develop repeatable and scalable media and event concepts like SpeedRailz. We refine the systems, work out operational gaps, and then empower ambassadors and partner venues to run these events independently.

Step 2: Expand the Railz Network into a digital ecosystem where hospitality operators and event planners can connect, collaborate, and access relevant industry knowledge and opportunities.

Step 3: Deploy talent from our ecosystem into real projects. This ranges from private events and brand activations to consulting roles, partnerships, and even sweat-equity opportunities with restaurant and bar openings.

Step 4: Expand globally so members of our network can travel, share their expertise, and elevate hospitality standards worldwide.

The goal is to build a long-term infrastructure that creates real opportunities for hospitality professionals. By sharing the bigger picture, we hope to attract the right partners and talent who want to help build something meaningful from the ground up.

If you are interested in supporting the platform but not competing, email John@bartender2ceo.com with your proposal or join the Railz Network to follow the journey.

If you are ready to compete, represent your bar, and build your name in the industry, submit your application and onboarding to get started.

Are You Ready to Compete?