Post #719588 by Limbo Lizard on Sun, Jun 8, 2014 8:47 AM

This won't help with the gifts you've already received, but here's an idea that might help, going forward.

Collect and print pictures of other bars that you find attractive, and that represent the direction you want to go, in your own design and decor. The 'Home Tiki Bars' thread could probably furnish plenty of pictures, for a start. Maybe have them printed as 4x6 photos at Walmart, instead of on printer paper, so they'll be nice and vivid.
As you collect the pictures, put them in plastic sheet protectors, in a notebook, and keep it at your bar. Share it with your guests, telling them this is your "inspiration book", the direction you dream of taking your own bar decor, over time. Mention what you like about what they're seeing, and contrast it with the "bad plastic flourescent tiki" of Party City, etc. Keep adding new pictures, over time, and maybe also keep adding some "cocktail recipes of the month" you want to feature for your bar, so they'll revisit the notebook. Maybe they'll start to get "the vision", and their future contributions will fit in, better.