What is BUTLER Service? "SIR, Butler service is technical skills plus energy, passion, commitment, SIR! Âť No, this is not the yelling of shaved-head Marines but the rallying cry of the International Butler Academy summer class, located at the Castle of Zeist, seven miles east of Utrecht (Netherlands). 9 am: ten students of various nationalities (English, American, French Dutch, German, Italian) line up for the first morning review and clear their throat yelling the Butler's motto. The troup will have to show impeccably dressed (each trainee has to wear a made to measure hand-made suit with frock coat) for the inspection during which the head-butler will even check the cleanliness of their hands. But that is only the start of a long and demanding day of learning.
The International Butler Academy. Photos and text ŠGilles Bassignac/LightMediation Contact - Thierry Tinacci - LightMediation Photo Agency +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry@lightmediation.com
2050-03: Butlers will not have to do the housework themselves, butt hey have to know all the techniques.because they will have to check those who will do it.
2050-01: Mrs Klein Rouweler who teaches Etiquette and Protocol inspects the butlers during a deportment lesson. Keeping a book on top of your head helps you to maintain a perfect look
2050-02: Butlers will not have to do the housework themselves, butt hey have to know all the techniques.because they will have to check those who will do it.
2050-03: Butlers will not have to do the housework themselves, butt hey have to know all the techniques.because they will have to check those who will do it.
2050-04: Butlers will not have to do the housework themselves, butt hey have to know all the techniques.because they will have to check those who will do it.
2050-05: Butlers will not have to do the housework themselves, butt hey have to know all the techniques.because they will have to check those who will do it.
2050-05: Butlers will not have to do the housework themselves, butt hey have to know all the techniques.because they will have to check those who will do it.
2050-06: Hands must be perfectly clean. They are inspected at least once each day.
2050-07: Hands must be perfectly clean. They are inspected at least once each day. Like the Marines, butlers cry their professional creed: "Sir, Butler service is technical skills plus passion, energy and
2050-08: A long training is necessary to keep a plate between thumb and index or serve "a l'anglaise" in a single and similar action.
2050-06: Hands must be perfectly clean. They are inspected at least once each day.
2050-09: A long training is necessary to keep a plate between thumb and index or serve "a l'anglaise" in a single and similar action.
2050-10: A long training is necessary to keep a plate between thumb and index or serve "a l'anglaise" in a single and similar action.
2050-11: One of the main and most difficult mission of a butler is to set a table with the accurate cutlery in a perfect arrangement, according to the right menu for last minute guests.
2050-12: One of the main and most difficult mission of a butler is to set a table with the accurate cutlery in a perfect arrangement, according to the right menu for last minute guests.
2050-24: Mrs Klein Rouweler , executive headmaster of the academy, supervises the ironing of the morning newspaper before breakfast. Thus, Mister will not have ink stained fingers!
2050-13: One of the main and most difficult mission of a butler is to set a table with the accurate cutlery in a perfect arrangement, according to the right menu for last minute guests.
2050-14: One of the main and most difficult mission of a butler is to set a table with the accurate cutlery in a perfect arrangement, according to the right menu for last minute guests.
2050-15: Following the Etiquette, the table setting rules are a real headache for butlers!
2050-16: inspection by Mr Wennekes, headmaster of the academy, before service.
2050-14: One of the main and most difficult mission of a butler is to set a table with the accurate cutlery in a perfect arrangement, according to the right menu for last minute guests.
2050-22: Each butler receives a complete custom-made uniform from the the academy .
2050-17: Keeping a book on top of your head helps you to maintain a perfect look
2050-18: Keeping a book on top of your head helps you to maintain a perfect look
2050-19: Keeping a book on top of your head helps you to maintain a perfect look
2050-20: Each butler receives a complete custom-made uniform from the the academy .
2050-17: Keeping a book on top of your head helps you to maintain a perfect look
2050-21: Each butler receives a complete custom-made uniform from the the academy .
2050-22: Each butler receives a complete custom-made uniform from the the academy .
2050-23: Each butler receives a complete custom-made uniform from the the academy .
2050-24: Mrs Klein Rouweler , executive headmaster of the academy, supervises the ironing of the morning newspaper before breakfast. Thus, Mister will not have ink stained fingers!
2050-10: A long training is necessary to keep a plate between thumb and index or serve "a l'anglaise" in a single and similar action.
2050-25: Learning to serve Mrs' breakfast, walking backwards and without watching her.
2050-26: Learning to serve Mrs' breakfast, walking backwards and without watching her.
2050-27: A butler has to know the value of all the luxury articles and art in the house he serves. and all the techniques to keep them up. Here, carpets
2050-28: A butler has to know the value of all the luxury articles and art in the house he serves. and all the techniques to keep them up. Here, a paintig with a tear.
2050-25: Learning to serve Mrs' breakfast, walking backwards and without watching her.
2050-29: A butler must be able to buy a jewel for Mrs on Mr's behalf. The class takes place at a famous Amsterdam jeweller's
2050-30: After their lessons, students go back to their home, a few miles from the Zeist casttle. they must learn their daily lessons.
2050-31: The inspection of the butlers takes place once or twice a day in front of the Zeist castle, where the Academy is settled.
2050-32: The butlers live the castle aftre the class.
2050-33: Inspection made by Mr Wennekes, headmaster of the academy, of one of the most difficult duties of a butler: set a table with the accurate cutlery in a perfect arrangement, according to the right menu for last minute guests.
The International Butler Academy. What is BUTLER Service? "SIR, Butler service is technical skills plus energy, passion, commitment, SIR! Âť No, this is not the yelling of shaved-head Marines but the rallying cry of the International Butler Academy summer class, located at the Castle of Zeist, seven miles east of Utrecht (Netherlands). 9 am: ten students of various nationalities (English, American, French Dutch, German, Italian) line up for the first morning review and clear their throat yelling the Butler's motto. The troup will have to show impeccably dressed (each trainee has to wear a made to measure hand-made suit with frock coat) for the inspection during which the head-butler will even check the cleanliness of their hands. But that is only the start of a long and demanding day of learning. Butlers are generally not supposed to do the housework themselves when they're on duty but as they have to supervise the cleaning staff, they will have to know all the tricks of the trade. And here they go, armed with brooms, brushes, dusters, detergents and all kinds of cleansing products, walking on all fours under the desks, squatting down at the foot of the bookcase, polishing the mahogany table of a lounge specifically recreated for training.
But hunting around for dust was child's play. They now have to go straight to the point and deal with one of the most tricky side of butling. The Academy's school manager Robert Wennekes gives every trainee a menu composed of three or four courses. Their mission: "Ten guests are about to arrive unexpectedly". The butler will have to set a perfect table in a rush, laying plates, glasses, forks and knives (maximum four plate settings) with utter precision. Of course, this drill is timed, which puts the trainees under more stress. When the table has been laid up, much remains to be done: serve dishes. But only if "Monsieur" has gone for a service "Ă l'anglaise" (the dish is plated in the servants' hall and held out under a lid.). The "choreography" has to be perfect. Butlers walk in single file, take up their position behind every guest and simultaneously put the plate down on the table and remove the lid. All of them will need never-ending rehearsals to reach a faultless synchronization. To help students look distinguished and improve their carriage, Academy's executive director and expert in etiquette Mrs Klein Rouweler has a trick: the trainees have to walk forward, bearing a book on their heads. She also teaches them how to iron newspapers every morning so that their employer will keep his hands clean (the iron has to be lukewarm), and how to walk backwards into the bedroom in case "Madam" is scantily clad. Lessons also include: "How to handle a situation where there is a drunken guest at the table", "how to deal with a guest seen stealing", "organizing and running Christmas Day" or even "What you should never do and always refuse to do". At the very end of this intensive school session, the butlers will also know how to
clean gilded wooden pieces of furniture, deal with the gardener, interview and recruit a wine waiter. They will be knowledgeable about gems, champagne, finance and management. Indeed, they will have to be able to supervise dozens of servants in Paris, Saint-Tropez, Gstaad or Manhattan, and keep a close eye on their employers' cars and on their mansions' security systems. That's the kind of heroes who will leave the International Butler Academy after an eight-week-long 12 000 ? training course that will make it possible for them to expect a salary from 3000 to 15 000 ? a month, depending on their duties. And the nationality of their employers!