Ask a Bartender anything

36 Questions

Last Answer on September 09, 2013

If you can tell that two customers are on a date (perhaps a first date -- we all know what that looks like), do you tend to "help" the guy out a bit? Perhaps be a little extra attentive or give him a surprise buy-back?

Asked by Gregg over 13 years ago

Honestly, I'd probably tend to take a step back and leave them alone. First dates are awkward enough that you don't need some nosey server butting in and tryin to make small talk. If anything I might send over a round of shots to ease the first date pains... If they're really awkward I'd watch and giggle and point them out to my coworkers. We need entertainment too. ;)

515 Votes

What sort of certification did you need to be a bartender and how hard was it to get?

Asked by driver7898 over 13 years ago

I do have a ‘Bartending Certificate’. I took a 3 day long course about 10 years ago in the hopes that it would get me a job. Sadly, it was found to be completely useless. Most bartenders start out working as servers and either impress someone or happen to be in the right place at the right time. I guess that’s how I managed to become a bartender. I had done the odd bar gig in the past as well as some time with a catering company but I just happened to walk into this bar at the right time.

503 Votes

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At what point will a bartender cut someone off?

Asked by grinder1235 over 13 years ago

It’s usually a tough call for me. I have been through the Smart Serve training and I know what to look for. A lot of the time it’s just a feeling though. If their speech is slurred, don’t look me in the eye, or can’t walk properly I will cut them off. I then have to make sure that all of the other bartenders know that this person is cut off. We also cut people off if they are rude. It’s the power we have as bartenders.

499 Votes

How are tips typically divided between other bartenders, servers, and busboys?

Asked by Garmania00 over 13 years ago

At my bar there are typically 3 bartenders working on Friday and Saturday night. We pool our tips and at the end of the night we divide the tips by the amount of hours you work. It works very well because we all support and help each other through the night.

492 Votes

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When I put down my credit card, I'm always confused about how much to tip at the end of the night. If we drank 9 cocktails and the bill's $100, I feel like a jerk leaving only $9, even though I always thought $1 / drink was appropriate (even though it's only 9% for a bigger bill like $100).

Asked by member_togo over 13 years ago

Yes, $1 per drink is a good tip however that is for a typical drink. You have to remember that bartenders make minimum wage and live off their tips. Therefore if the bill is $100, you should be tipping the standard 15% if not more. I base my tips on the amount of the bill and the effort put into the service. i.e. if you order martinis all night you should tip more. In the time that I take to make your martini I could have made 3 drinks for other customers, therefore tip accordingly.

492 Votes

What's the craziest thing you have ever seen happen at your bar?

Asked by Addington004 over 13 years ago

Hmmm...this answer field may not be big enough!!! I have seen some ridiculous things. Probably just as much as anyone else who goes to a bar but I benefit from being sober and remembering. I've had a girl take a shot and barf on the bar in front of me, I saw a guy pick up a chair and throw it at someone's head, I had a giant 10 person fight break out with bottles smashing off the bar about a foot in front of me, Saw a pregnant woman smoking and drinking a martini, been screamed at, been proposed to....... But I think what tops it off is the time a guy snuck through 2 bouncers and walked up the middle of the bar towards me while taking off his shirt. By the time he got to me his shirt was off. It was pretty hilarious actually, but he got kicked out very quickly.

489 Votes

Do you ever date your customers?

Asked by whiteROOM over 13 years ago

I like this question. I will answer honestly. Yes. I typically have at least one phone number a night given to me. Part of my job is to be friendly, flirt with the guys, entertain them a bit, which usually led to getting bigger tips….and occasionally a date. There is something about being behind a bar that people find sexy. We also had a rule among the bartenders that I would serve the guys and the two guy bartenders I worked with would serve the girls. I went out on a few dates with guys I met at the bar. Probably the most entertaining story is a guy I ended up dating for about 3 months. He won me over with his Irish accent and asking me on ‘running date’. He was the first guy who ever asked me to do something other than going out for a drink. So I went. We started dating. He told me about 2 weeks in that he had actually saved the first bottle of beer that I ever served him. :S We began having issues with him coming into my work and getting upset that I was talking to guys. Needless to say…it didn’t last.

489 Votes

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