Bartending

TheFlyingBomb · November 13th, 2007, 12:39 PM

I got offered a part-time job as a bartender at my local watering hole today.
In no way am I going to let this interfere with my full-time news job, but I'm thinking about doing it. It came about this way: I asked the owner if I could work behind the bar on the busiest night of the year (where I live, it's the night before Thanksgiving) and write a first-person feature story about a night as a bartender. He said yes, but asked that I work a couple nights beforehand so I know what I'm doing when the big night comes. I've worked there two nights so far.
Apparently, my two nights impressed the manager and the owner enough that they asked me if I wanted to do it on a part-time basis. It's weird because outside of one job busing tables and another cooking sandwiches at a Schlotzky's, I've never been involved in the service industry. I think it'll be fun if I decide to do it.
Anyone here have any experience of this sort?

baidaho · November 13th, 2007, 01:53 PM

I've done some bar-tending and managed a couple of bars/saloons. Is this a good move for you? It all depends on the regular customers. If they're a bunch of dead-beats who show up to cash and then drink their SS check, move on. If the regulars are quality people, it will be a quality job.

My only advice, don't ever repeat a word you hear and don't discuss anything you see. One of the biggest responsibilities is to be private and discreet. This will gain respect faster than anything else, and as the bar-tender, you are in charge of the scene and should demand respect.

I'm sure the bar-tending job you may take is different than some of the ones I had. I've ran dive bars in a mountain town through the middle of long hard winters, with the closet law being over 60 miles away. Getting some of those gold miners and cowboys drunk was fine line to walk. I have stories if anyone wants to read.

Nat · November 13th, 2007, 06:04 PM

You're also obligated to a certain extent to be a conversationalist. You do have to set limits, ie. someone needing a drink shouldn't take a backseat to someone wanting to talk, but it's amazing how stepping foot behind a bar automatically makes you "the show".
I'm a full-time waiter who bartends the in-between times when our restaurants don't have a regular tender on duty, and it's sometimes hard for me to adjust philosophy....customers at a table prefer to be left alone while customers at the bar go for the interaction. You have to keep in mind said interaction is why people pay the extra cost to drink at a bar vs home in the first place.
And yes, ba, drunken cowboy & goldminer stories are always welcome!

TheFlyingBomb · November 13th, 2007, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baidaho

Is this a good move for you? It all depends on the regular customers. If they're a bunch of dead-beats who show up to cash and then drink their SS check, move on. If the regulars are quality people, it will be a quality job.

It's really a restaurant-slash-bar, but I find myself there the most at night, so to me it's a bar. That said, the regulars are kind of a mix of everybody — there are a couple guys who could buy and sell me and my friends, and then there are some who are probably too poor to be there in the first place. Most are in between. It's the one classy (as classy as you can get in big-city Sanford, NC, anyway) non-chain restauarant in the town I live in, so it's got a fairly unique flavor to it. I think it'll be good. Like I said, it's my watering hole. I know most of the regulars, if not by name, by face. So I think I'll do alright.

Quote:

Originally Posted by baidaho

I'm sure the bar-tending job you may take is different than some of the ones I had. I've ran dive bars in a mountain town through the middle of long hard winters, with the closet law being over 60 miles away. Getting some of those gold miners and cowboys drunk was fine line to walk. I have stories if anyone wants to read.

First, yes, I'd love to hear those stories. Please do tell. Having to toss a drunk is one of my fears. Doesn't happen too often where I hang out, but I'm not the biggest rumbler the world has ever seen, so that's something I'd like to know how to handle. The law is close, though, so there's that.

AlexdeLarge · November 14th, 2007, 04:34 AM

Can you say "second hand smoke" ?

No thanks, I'd rather sweep streets and save my lungs

TheFlyingBomb · November 14th, 2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexdeLarge

Can you say "second hand smoke" ?

No thanks, I'd rather sweep streets and save my lungs

I'm more focused on dealing with the problem I've got with first-hand smoke right now.

AlexdeLarge · November 14th, 2007, 12:09 PM

you make an excellent point

Nocahoma · November 14th, 2007, 05:14 PM

Bomber, I'm coming to Sanford for some free drinks!

Don't forget that there are many secondary benefits to tending bar, as well.

Nat · November 15th, 2007, 04:59 PM

i.e. chicks!

DiamondDave · November 15th, 2007, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nat

i.e. chicks!

The cute fuzzy yellow ones that go 'peep peep'??? Or the hopefully not so fuzzy ones that say 'I am leaving and I want alimony'?

TheFlyingBomb · November 16th, 2007, 02:07 PM

Worked my third night on Wed. Made $91. I think I like this.

And you guys are right about the chicks. They suddenly, like, talk to you when you're behind the bar. One of the veteran bartenders told me later that if you're a "5" naturally, being a bartender makes you an "8.5" right off the bat. Pretty funny.

And all you North Carolinians, or anyone else for that matter, please feel free to come get a drink from me if you find yourself in my neck of the woods. Best beer selection in the county. Which isn't saying much, but still. Something like 25 different draft beers.

LongtimeBravesFan · November 16th, 2007, 02:24 PM

One problem with bartending at a place where you were friends beforehnd with all the regulars is that it is hard to step out of a friend role into a role where they are your customer and you have a legal responsibility to make sure they don't have too much to drink.

marshallz · November 16th, 2007, 03:00 PM

"Schlotsky's"

The fake deli chain for the goyim out there in the hinterlands

Bartending is a breeze, dude, and once you have a following, the bucks can really flow. Unless you're an alcoholic, it's a great gig and lots of fun.

Nocahoma · December 12th, 2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFlyingBomb

And all you North Carolinians, or anyone else for that matter, please feel free to come get a drink from me if you find yourself in my neck of the woods. Best beer selection in the county. Which isn't saying much, but still. Something like 25 different draft beers.

You'll need to tell us the name of the establishment first.

LongtimeBravesFan · December 12th, 2007, 09:46 PM

Could you post the article you wrote for us, please?

November 13th, 2007, 12:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
TheFlyingBomb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 779	Bartending I got offered a part-time job as a bartender at my local watering hole today. In no way am I going to let this interfere with my full-time news job, but I'm thinking about doing it. It came about this way: I asked the owner if I could work behind the bar on the busiest night of the year (where I live, it's the night before Thanksgiving) and write a first-person feature story about a night as a bartender. He said yes, but asked that I work a couple nights beforehand so I know what I'm doing when the big night comes. I've worked there two nights so far. Apparently, my two nights impressed the manager and the owner enough that they asked me if I wanted to do it on a part-time basis. It's weird because outside of one job busing tables and another cooking sandwiches at a Schlotzky's, I've never been involved in the service industry. I think it'll be fun if I decide to do it. Anyone here have any experience of this sort? __________________ Oh, whatever.

November 14th, 2007, 04:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
AlexdeLarge Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: England Posts: 1,409	Can you say "second hand smoke" ? No thanks, I'd rather sweep streets and save my lungs __________________ I've been a bad boy again Now I've been a bad boy again And all the trouble that I'm in Makes me a bad boy again John Prine

November 14th, 2007, 12:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
AlexdeLarge Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: England Posts: 1,409	you make an excellent point __________________ I've been a bad boy again Now I've been a bad boy again And all the trouble that I'm in Makes me a bad boy again John Prine

November 16th, 2007, 02:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
TheFlyingBomb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 779	Worked my third night on Wed. Made $91. I think I like this. And you guys are right about the chicks. They suddenly, like, talk to you when you're behind the bar. One of the veteran bartenders told me later that if you're a "5" naturally, being a bartender makes you an "8.5" right off the bat. Pretty funny. And all you North Carolinians, or anyone else for that matter, please feel free to come get a drink from me if you find yourself in my neck of the woods. Best beer selection in the county. Which isn't saying much, but still. Something like 25 different draft beers. __________________ Oh, whatever.

November 13th, 2007, 01:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
baidaho Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 300	I've done some bar-tending and managed a couple of bars/saloons. Is this a good move for you? It all depends on the regular customers. If they're a bunch of dead-beats who show up to cash and then drink their SS check, move on. If the regulars are quality people, it will be a quality job. My only advice, don't ever repeat a word you hear and don't discuss anything you see. One of the biggest responsibilities is to be private and discreet. This will gain respect faster than anything else, and as the bar-tender, you are in charge of the scene and should demand respect. I'm sure the bar-tending job you may take is different than some of the ones I had. I've ran dive bars in a mountain town through the middle of long hard winters, with the closet law being over 60 miles away. Getting some of those gold miners and cowboys drunk was fine line to walk. I have stories if anyone wants to read.

November 13th, 2007, 06:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nat Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,353	You're also obligated to a certain extent to be a conversationalist. You do have to set limits, ie. someone needing a drink shouldn't take a backseat to someone wanting to talk, but it's amazing how stepping foot behind a bar automatically makes you "the show". I'm a full-time waiter who bartends the in-between times when our restaurants don't have a regular tender on duty, and it's sometimes hard for me to adjust philosophy....customers at a table prefer to be left alone while customers at the bar go for the interaction. You have to keep in mind said interaction is why people pay the extra cost to drink at a bar vs home in the first place. And yes, ba, drunken cowboy & goldminer stories are always welcome!

November 14th, 2007, 05:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
Nocahoma Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,238	Bomber, I'm coming to Sanford for some free drinks! Don't forget that there are many secondary benefits to tending bar, as well.

November 15th, 2007, 04:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nat Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,353	i.e. chicks!

November 16th, 2007, 02:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,660	One problem with bartending at a place where you were friends beforehnd with all the regulars is that it is hard to step out of a friend role into a role where they are your customer and you have a legal responsibility to make sure they don't have too much to drink.

November 16th, 2007, 03:00 PM	#13 (permalink)
marshallz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Jersey Posts: 1,296	"Schlotsky's" The fake deli chain for the goyim out there in the hinterlands Bartending is a breeze, dude, and once you have a following, the bucks can really flow. Unless you're an alcoholic, it's a great gig and lots of fun.

December 12th, 2007, 09:46 PM	#15 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,660	Could you post the article you wrote for us, please?