Ever wonder who's sitting at your bar

Whats up people. I'm sorry I haven't been blogging lately but your favorite bartender has crossed over into the world of promotion and event planning as well. Things have slowed down and I'm back to posting on a regular basis. I also once a week will let it be readers choice..You have anything you ever wanted to ask a bartender I will pick the best subject and post something about it. This post is strictly a small vent session, but will have some helpful hints for my fellow mixologists. In this line of work, customer service is the key. The bartenders service and attitude will determine #1 How well his/her night goes as far as tips and, #2 how well the party/club/bar operates for that evening. One bad bartender who couldn't leave his/her attitude or issues at the door could ruin the evening for everyone. Here is an example...

Last month I was able to go to New York for the annual Bar Show. It was a great experience and I certainly will be back next year as well as visiting Tales of the Cocktail too. But myself and my buddy, who also is a trained mixologist(shameless plug for you Ramon...lol) were hanging out in Times Square the day before the actual show. We stopped at a bar(which shall remain nameless) and decided to have a few drinks. The bar decorum was nice, and they had a happy hour special that ran all day long. Needless to say we were excited about that. So we sit at the bar. Its 2 bartenders and a barback working. We wait about 15 minutes before the bartender even greets us. Then this cat acts as if he has somewhere better to be. We try to make small talk, since neither one of us really knows that much about the happenings in New York that night, and he completely ignores us. I was pissed and it showed in his tip.

So, as i was preparing to fly back to Chicago, me and my buddy go into the same bar to have some lunch. Different bartender there and the service was great. Small bar talk at the bar with another patron, turns out he has an artist that is looking for a record deal. Now, I have a family member that is artist development rep for a large record company and is always looking for more talent. So we exchange info, and guess who his artist is??? The same bartender who treated his 2 customers like garbage. Needless to say he has been calling and emailing me like crazy.

So the moral of this post is, to all my bartender buddies, treat every customer as if they are your only customer. You never know who is on the other side of the bar when you are serving. If you having a bad day, you have to check that at the door before you start your shift. Our profession is Customer Service. We are not only bartenders, we are marriage counselors, a shoulder to lean on, big brothers/sisters, and sometimes just a get a way from the everyday stress for our customers. SO always have your gameface on and be prepared to give it your all, Because you never know who is on the other side of the bar.

Ok ill be back to my regular posts later this week, but i had to get that vent session out.

L8tr

J.O.

Drinks On Me, Inc

Follow me on Twitter.com/MrMixologist

Part #1 My rules at the Bar

Whats up everybody? I finally got this whole blog thing going. So bear with me as I'm getting used to this. So Ill start by giving a little background info about myself. I have been a bartender for over 3 years professionally. Before that i was the bartender at all the parties and I was in Retail management. Bartending is a passion that i have had for many years. I remember watching "Cheers" with my grandmother when I was younger, and telling her I want to do that one day! So lately I've taken the moniker " The Black Sam Malone". lol I've worked in a few different environments from a nightclub, a neighborhood sports bar, to now I work at a banquet hall. All of these different locales have given me an interesting perspective to the nightlife industry.

Now that you have a little background about me, I feel the need to let you all in on a few secrets to making your bar experience a great one. Whether you are at a busy club, sports bar, or a wedding reception there are a few rules that you should always apply.Your bartender should always remain even tempered and always place customer service at the top of his/her priorities but here are a few things you guys(patrons) can do to make the night go a little easier on us and help to keep the party going... SO without any further adieu here is part #1 of my rules at the bar.


1. Do not make eye contact with the bartender if you do not want a drink.

Most bartenders are working a long bar. So if we have 10 customers on one end, and you are standing at the other end, if you make eye contact we will come down there to you. No one outside of the bartender can really understand how disheartening it is to leave customers just to go to the other end of the bar(usually running with 2 or 3 bottles in your hands) just for you to say you don't want anything.

2. You offer to buy a woman a drink and she refuses, she does not like you.(...which means: STOP TRYING)

Fellas take it from me, most women come to the bar to hang out just like we do. It doesn't always mean an open invitation to bug her the whole evening. I once saw a guy go down the whole bar, with the same rap offering to buy all the ladies a drink. All refused!! He gave up and tried to get the female bartender that was working with me with the same game!!! Trust guys, everybody likes free, so if she refuses, just pick up your pride and WALK AWAY!!!!!

3. If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to drink in a bar. Go to the liquor store.

Self explanatory...Its been many nights I've worked a patron to death, answered all his questions, made the drink he had at his buddies house 2 weeks prior, and still only got a very small tip for a very large bill. Gratuity is a part of the game, so if your bartender takes care of you, take care of him/her.

4. Don't tell us you bartend too!

Yet another self explanatory one here. If you do bartend, Great!! But for the most part, making drinks at your friends house does not constitute as bartending. We don't come to your job and tell you how to be a banker, construction worker, accountant, etc.. So please don't give us mixology tips.

5. Don't string-order your drinks.

Please try and give me all your drinks at once. Don't tell me "2 sex on the Beaches" then i make those and you ask me for 2 more then after that a rum and coke. If its you and a few of your friends, have your order ready when you step up. I guarantee you will get the drinks faster and wont piss off the bartender either!

6. Do NOT lean as far as you can over the bar, in case I didn't see you. I see you.

I see you, and you leaning or standing on a chair or waving and yelling won't get me to you any faster. If anything it will get you ignored and just irritate you and me!!

7. Don't start the order off with, "GIVE ME A STRONG DRINK!"

Any respectable business has costs. And those costs stay down when the bartender measures the liquor and uses the right amount in each drink. A " Strong Drink" really doesn't exist. You want it stronger, order a double.

8. Don't COMPLAIN ABOUT PRICES!!

See Rule #3. If you got Hornitos money don't order Don Julio. Well and Call liquor are not as expensive as premium. And domestic beer is cheaper than Imported. So check your wallet before you get there. Complaining about the price is not gonna change them!!

9. Our names are NOT "Hey" or "Yo", nor do we respond to whistles, psst, or banging your bottle, glass or hand on the bar!

See Rule #6. This is a surefire way to get ignored, and then when i do get to you, I can guarantee the weakest drink EVER!!!!!

10. Last call is LAST CALL!

Please don't hang around the bar continuously asking for one more drink. Or sipping your drink slower. There is alot that goes on in the bar after hours. And the longer you are there that's the longer we are in the bar. Inventory, clean-up, glassware, money, trash, all need to be taken care of. We cant start until the bar is clear. So please respect the Last call and exit. 9 times outta 10 you'll be right back at the bar the next evening.

So I hope this gives you a little insight on how to keep the night going smooth for you and the bartender. We are the party starters and want you all to have a good night!! But we want a good night as well. So remember these tips and be sure to TIP YOUR BARTENDERS!!!!

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