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Anxst · 03-01-2009, 10:39 AM

Having been a past bartender:

1. Know what goes into basic drinks. Memorize it. Sure, many drinks involve only two things and have a silly name. It's part of the mystique.

2. People will ask for weird shit they heard of which you never have. Just ask what's in it. If they don't know, oh well. You're a bartender, not Googledrinkipedia. Offer to make them something else that has a similar name you have heard of. Or make something up with an equally silly name right then and there. One night some guy came in while I was tending and asked for a 'Swayback Turtle'. I've still never found what the hell is in one, and he didn't know. I made up a drink and called it the Komodo Rampant and gave him the first one on the house. He ordered them all night long, and tipped well.

3. Pay attention. The crowd is unruly, and will turn against you if they can. If you look like you're watching them, they'll never get that far.

4. All customers are untrustworthy. Not stealing everything untrustworthy, but they're all vying for your attention and will do what they can to get it.

5. Stay away from the girls/guys. Treat it like a job, and remember they're all customers. Flirting is expected, but I've never seen anythign further go well for anyone involved.

6. Presentation is super important with drinks. They're just liquids in a cup, until you add some garnish, put it in a fitting glass, make sure the beer has a nice head on it, etc.

Do that, and you should do well enough.

03-01-2009, 10:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
Anxst Condensing fact from the vapor of nuance. Location: Madison, WI	Having been a past bartender: 1. Know what goes into basic drinks. Memorize it. Sure, many drinks involve only two things and have a silly name. It's part of the mystique. 2. People will ask for weird shit they heard of which you never have. Just ask what's in it. If they don't know, oh well. You're a bartender, not Googledrinkipedia. Offer to make them something else that has a similar name you have heard of. Or make something up with an equally silly name right then and there. One night some guy came in while I was tending and asked for a 'Swayback Turtle'. I've still never found what the hell is in one, and he didn't know. I made up a drink and called it the Komodo Rampant and gave him the first one on the house. He ordered them all night long, and tipped well. 3. Pay attention. The crowd is unruly, and will turn against you if they can. If you look like you're watching them, they'll never get that far. 4. All customers are untrustworthy. Not stealing everything untrustworthy, but they're all vying for your attention and will do what they can to get it. 5. Stay away from the girls/guys. Treat it like a job, and remember they're all customers. Flirting is expected, but I've never seen anythign further go well for anyone involved. 6. Presentation is super important with drinks. They're just liquids in a cup, until you add some garnish, put it in a fitting glass, make sure the beer has a nice head on it, etc. Do that, and you should do well enough. __________________ Don't mind me. I'm just releasing the insanity pressure from my headvalves.