Bartender

If someone tips you generously, do you go out of your way to serve them ahead of others later in the night?

Asked by MissedItbyThatMuch over 12 years ago

YES!!! Actually…..HECK YES!! If someone tips me generously their face is ingrained in my memory for the night. Likewise if someone tips you poorly. You do not forget that face. Even if you tip poorly and walk away hoping for it not to be noticed, we see you. We know who you are. And we tell the other staff.

What's the most you've ever made in tips in a single night?

Asked by letsgetready over 12 years ago

A typical night I make about $200 in tips. My best night was $550. That is not usual though. The problem with bartending is that it is easy to fall into the bad habit of going to the after hours bars after work and blowing half or all of the money you make. Most people in the industry also do hard drugs to be able to work the long hours we work. A typical shift is around 10-12 hours with no breaks and running up and down stairs, hauling ice, changing kegs, etc.

What do you do when someone asks you to make a drink you've never heard of? How often does that happen?

Asked by kristelia over 12 years ago

My super cool answer is: that never happens. The reality: I always keep my iPhone handy. Google is a saving grace, or I'll just ask the customer. If you order a drink and don't know what's in it that's your problem not mine! Ha. Our getting what I give you, and you sure as hell better tip me for my troubles. :)

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to become a bartender?

Asked by Ed_Delono over 12 years ago

The biggest thing people need to know about is the hours. A typical shift goes from 5pm to 4am. You work nights and weekends which can be good or bad. You are working while all your friends are off work so its tough. The long hours and physical work is draining…. but I love it. I love meeting new people every day, I love sleeping in every morning, I love doing a job that is physically active and not sitting at a desk, and of course I love the untaxed money!! What I hate: Jerks that treat you like some uneducated lower class worker, working every weekend and missing out on parties with my friends, the monotony of the job, and the drama between bar staff. Overall….I have to admit it’s one of the best jobs in the world for a certain time and place. I love working as a bartender but I realize that this is not for life.

Ever serve anyone famous?

Asked by 10steps over 12 years ago

I have! But not in this bar. I once served Donovan Bailey (Canadian runner). He accused me of stealing his credit card when he couldn’t find it. He found it 10 minutes later in his pocket.

What's the best pickup line you've ever heard?

Asked by ROMEO over 12 years ago

Hands down..... No doubt about it because it still makes me laugh. I had a guy ask me if I am a lesbian. He was quite serious too. When I got slightly offended ( not that there's anything wrong with that) and answered 'no' his response was 'prove it'.

Have you ever gone home with a bar patron? Do other bartenders?

Asked by ITSANONYMOUS! over 12 years ago

Me... Nope. But absolutely other bartenders do. Girls are worse than dudes in a lot of ways and will throw themselves at guy bartenders. I see it all the time. Those guys could have the pick of any girl they want in the bar... As long as they're conscious enough to stay until we close. If you're a dude and you're struggling for a date, get a bar gig! My dating 101 for the day. ;)

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 12 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. ;)

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

Asked by driver7898 over 12 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.

At what point will a bartender cut someone off?

Asked by grinder1235 over 12 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.

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

Asked by Garmania00 over 12 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.

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 12 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.

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

Asked by Addington004 over 12 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.

Do you ever date your customers?

Asked by whiteROOM over 12 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.

Are bartenders allowed to drink on the job?

Asked by goBILLS over 12 years ago

That is a great question!! I was going to look this up but then I thought… that really wouldn’t be as interesting of an answer as me saying ‘I have no bloody idea!!’. My bar staff is not allowed to drink while working. That does not stop anyone. I have put vodka in water bottles, baileys in coffee, beer in take out coffee cups, and had other staff members be on the look out while taking shots. We look out for each other and it’s something that’s expected in the industry. It’s difficult to be around people drinking all night every night and not partake.

As a female bartender, is there ever pressure from your employer to look attractive, dress in a particular way, or be flirty with the customers?

Asked by Edna Krabappel over 12 years ago

Good question!! There is never pressure from my employer.... however I work in a bit of a 'grubby' bar. They are impressed if I wear jeans that don't have holes in them. I typically put on a bit more makeup on weekends but thats purely for a.better tips, and b. to pick up. Hey... working in a bar I don't get to go out on weekends, therefore thats my time to pick up too! ;)

Ever caught a customer stealing a tip off the bar?

Asked by BaronVon over 12 years ago

It happens all the time, but I've never caught the culprit unfortunately. I did chase a guy down the street one night for walking out on his bill though.

Do you prefer working a crazy Saturday night because you make more in tips, or a lazy Tuesday because it's less stressful?

Asked by Cowboys90 over 12 years ago

I love both. I like being able to chat with people and have the slower days. You would go insane if every night were like a Saturday. With that said I love the money and the fast pace of the weekends. I think in any job you need those slower days or else you'll burn out quickly.

What's an appropriate amount to tip a bartender?

Asked by 404chico over 12 years ago

An appropriate tip for a bartender…..hmm….that’s a tough call. I am of the mind set that just because you work at a bar doesn’t mean you deserve a tip. Customer service is key in this field as it is in any. However with that said, the expected or ‘appropriate’ tip is $1 per drink. As a bartender we make minimum wage, and minimum wage for someone in this industry is lower than the standard minimum wage. We live off our tips.

What are your favorite and least favorite drinks to make and why?

Asked by EmilyStylist over 12 years ago

favorite: cracking open a beer. Least favorite: anything that requires shaking, layering or multiple ingredients. We all dread making martinis, and/or shots that have 5 ingredients. They take so long to make and yet you're still making the same in tips!! Plus martini drinkers are typically uber particular.... never a good quality in a customer.

I've seen behind some bars where cleaning the drinking glasses just meant "double-dunking" them in a sink of water. Are these glasses really clean enough to drink from?

Asked by Phlipsyde over 11 years ago

The answer I would like to give you is: every glass all the time is cleaned perfectly. Unfortunately the honest answer is: There have been days when our glass washer was broken (ie not using soap) and no one noticed hours later. Mind you, typically we are very careful about this sort of thing. I have rinsed out beer jugs and re-used them, typically for the same table that has re-ordered another jug, and some customers actually specifically ask to re-use their same glass. As for 'double-dunking' ..... we stay away from that! There are strict health and safety laws that we must follow and it is not worth risking being shut down. Thats just us though.... I'd definitely question the bar if you get a glass with giant red lip stick stains on it!

Do female bartenders make more in tips than men?

Asked by Meghan over 12 years ago

Yes and no. Yes, female bartenders typically make more in tips from men and woman.... however in my bar I move a bit slower than the male bartenders, therefore I may make more in tips but I serve less customers. I am a believer in good service = good tips. I take my time with people, chat with them, ask them how their night is going. The male bartenders rarely do this. They just try and serve as many drinks as possible.

How many drinks do bartenders need to know how to make by memory? Was it difficult to memorize them when you were first starting out?

Asked by Mr Chicken Nipples over 11 years ago

When I first started out the only drinks I knew by heart were the ones that I drank... which is usually beer (so I had a bit of a rough start). You get to know the most popular drinks pretty quickly. Shots like a polar bear, broken down golf cart, porn star, or liquid cocaine become second nature.... I would say you should know at least 10-15 drinks off hand, or keep you fingers crossed that vodka cranberries are popular that night ;) And if all else fails..... make it up! People are usually too drunk to notice or too busy to come back and complain. FYI - If you're REALLY drunk.... the bartender might just skip out on the alcohol all together!

is it possible to hire a pregnant women to be a bartender?!

Asked by yee almost 11 years ago

Absolutely!  I would think that it would be a human rights issue if you didn't hire someone because they were pregnant.  

 

Now a better question is; Can you/should you serve a pregnant woman!?  

What do you think?  

I had a woman come into the bar, clearly pregnant and order a martini.  I was not serving her at the time.  My bartender friend made the martini and handed it to her.  I was absolutely shocked.  My take on being a bartender is having that common sense to tell someone when they shouldn't be drinking.  I would not have served her thats for sure however do we have that right to decide for other people?  I have no idea.  

 

 

How do you feel when your friends who work 9-to-5's show up at your bar while you're working? Do you ever feel like they treat you like "the help?"

Asked by not2precious over 11 years ago

Never! They really wouldn't be friends if they did that would they? I've found my biggest issue is friends showing up and expecting to get free drinks. When you ask them for money they can get almost offended. I love to help out when I can but sometimes it's just not possible. It is difficult being on a completely different schedule from people with 'real' jobs, but the way I like to look at is that I'm making money while they're spending it and I still get to be social and go out! Best of both worlds? At least that's the thought that sucks you in!

Do you expect to be tipped more on drinks that are harder to make? If I tip $1 for a beer, how much should I tip for a mojito?

Asked by SoCalTal about 11 years ago

Absolutely! I find it funny how people think $1 a drink should be standard. If I went up to a bartender and order 5 bottles of beer I would not tip $5. But that's just me. I can't justify tipping $5 for someone to take 10 seconds to crack open beer bottles. I think it should be based partly on the service, the speed, and the amount of time put into making the drink. I personally do not expect to be tipped if I'm a massive jackass to a customer... no matter what drink I make. Too many bartenders these days think they are holier than thou and expect to be tipped no matter what kind of service they provide.

do you do a two point pour for Guinness?

Asked by jc-nimmer over 10 years ago

The proper way is a three part pour...    but it all depends on how much time I have.

 

If I have the time to pour a proper guiness I absolutely will.  If not then I will pour a two part.  I would never do less than that though.  

 

I am a guiness drinker myself and know the difference...  and respec that most people who drink guiness will know the difference as well.  

 

Slainte!

Hi my boyfriend is doing six Weeks training then he might get employed he's 18 what shifts would they start him off with?

Asked by Aaliyah almost 10 years ago

I’m doing the tipsy bartender jungle margarita juice that has 14 bottles of tequila for peach snaps for triple sacks a bunch of orange juice and pineapple juice And lime juice…How do I make it so it’s more like a mango margarita

Asked by Hunter over 2 years ago

when making a mojito is there anyway to stop lime & mint from floating to top?

Asked by alex over 2 years ago

So I have a question. I'm super shy and because of this I don't go drinking very often because I don't know what to order. At my local bar orange crushes are on the cocktail menu. Is this something I can order at any bar? Any alternatives?

Asked by Nicole over 1 year ago

My husband has had to quit drinking, but we miss our favorite bars. What can we order that doesn't contain alcohol but also isn't cheap and annoying to a bartender? We want to support the places and staff like we used to, just as sober patrons.

Asked by Cyd about 3 years ago

Hi I'm very interested in exceeding a career in flair bartending! I'm 20 years old and currently looking at good bartending schools, I was just wondering if you had any school or course suggestions to help me out ? :)

Asked by Carrisa over 9 years ago

What would you use for ingredients to make a French 75 Mocktail?

Asked by Jamie Cameron about 3 years ago

Are bouncers really typically doush bags or is that just a stereotype

Asked by Carlene over 5 years ago