Occasionally, we bartenders end up on the other side of the bar. It's kind of fun because you can take notes on what works and what doesn't. Here's a lesson in what doesn't work...
I have recently been going to a fabulous little pub in an industrial area downtown. It's small, intimate, relaxed and has great patrons. If I didn't already love where I work I would definitely be chatting up the owner about employment. I may do that anyway! ;)
The only negative about it is they do not have gin at the downstairs bar. Seriously. No matter where I hang out in the pub I have to go to the upstairs bar to get my usual Tanqueray & tonic with lime. Oh, well, I'm cool with some extra stair work in my night out. (Now, just FYI, the downstairs bar has a crazy amazing selection of vodkas so it's cool.)
Alright, back to the story... I pop upstairs and order my first drink. It's good. Served perfectly. Nice and smooth with a little bite. Then again, it is a bit difficult to screw up a G&T. I go back downstairs and commence to doing a little partying with my friends. I like to drink gin because it's a bit of a sipping drink. You don't guzzle the stuff. You don't get totally wasted. You don't make decisions that end up being really embarrassing You Tube videos. When I finished my cocktail I headed back upstairs for another round. Here's where it gets interesting...
First off, there's a group of rowdy boys around the bar so I slide myself in between a couple of them. I get the bartender's attention and let her know I'd like another. Now, knowing that very few people order gin in this establishment you would think she'd remember the 1 person who is drinking it. She didn't. (boo! hiss!) I placed my order and then watched her begin making my drink. She started out with original Tanqueray and then (when the bottle ran out) she switched to Tanqueray Rangpur. SAY WHAT?!?! I didn't order that. I don't even like Rangpur. I like natural lime in my cocktail and I like my gin to be free of extras. Here's the kicker, she didn't even tell me she finished it off with the Rangpur! She just set it on the bar in front of me, let me know it was $6.00 and waited for the cash.
When I asked if she added it she looked at me like "Oh, crap. I'm busted." I asked if they were out of Tanqueray and she said they were. She then asked if the Rangpur was okay. I told her I didn't care for it. She said they had Bombay. Now, I know I'm probably going to sound like an Elitist Snob but I don't really care. I like what I like. I'm not going to take whatever gin you've got like I'm some kind of gin lush. I told her thanks but no thanks and walked back downstairs.
I would NEVER serve a customer something they didn't order. If I was low on what they asked for I would find out if the replacement would be fine. I don't know what kind of training this girl had but I would venture a guess that it's little to none. Maybe she thought that since I'm female I wouldn't be tipping her well and it just didn't matter. WRONG! I'm a fabulous tipper since I'm in the industry but she'll never know that because broke a cardinal rule in bartending.
So, word to the wise, fellow bartenders and future bartenders... DO NOT use the old bait & switch. A real customer will know the difference. It's not cool at all.
Serving the masses and getting it right,
007
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Birthday Celebration
My birthday is Tuesday. I am off work for it. Actually, I'll be in Vegas for a long weekend. So, during my last shift everyone wanted to buy me a shot. I don't drink on the job. Now, why couldn't anyone just pop the $5 that my shot was going to cost them into the old tip jar???
Just curious,
007
Just curious,
007
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Do the job you're paid for
Today is a red letter day... I work so hard at being the most focused bartender in regards to my staff members and the one time I'm not it totally comes back to bite me in the butt.
My barback has been off work for over a month. He had another gig to cover so he was not at our club. Last night was his first night back and I was very excited. He has been my barback for over 2 years and we have a great working relationship. I don't have to follow him around and make sure he's doing what he is supposed to do... well, normally.
Welcome "exception to the rule"... I knew he was a bit out of sorts because there were many, many times when I couldn't find him. Literally. He was no where to be found. Then when I would call for him and use our short cut sign language for items that I needed he was oblivious. It's like he had only been working with me a couple of days. That is insane! Just a month ago I knew that when I locked the door behind me to close up everything would be done the way it was supposed to be.
I recieved a call from my boss (who is also one of my closest friends) and he had on his "you're in trouble" voice. Now, I've heard this voice 2 other times in the four years I've worked at the club and I really don't like to hear that voice. Again, I try very hard to do my job and do it right. He said that my barback did very little of the closing duties he is assigned and, of course, because I didn't double check his work it was on my back. I didn't even think about double checking his work. He's been doing his job and doing it well for quite a while.
I apologized to my boss and told him that I would talk to my barback next shift. I will not put up with him making me look bad. The worst part about it is this kid not only gets paid by the club but also gets tipped out from me and the 2nd bartender. He makes serious bank for 2 1/2 hours of work. I mean, I'd love to put that little tip out right into my pocket! The worst part of it is I tipped him extra last night. EXTRA and I get a call today about his shoddy work. This is not good. Mama is not happy.
Next week should be interesting... stay tuned.
007
My barback has been off work for over a month. He had another gig to cover so he was not at our club. Last night was his first night back and I was very excited. He has been my barback for over 2 years and we have a great working relationship. I don't have to follow him around and make sure he's doing what he is supposed to do... well, normally.
Welcome "exception to the rule"... I knew he was a bit out of sorts because there were many, many times when I couldn't find him. Literally. He was no where to be found. Then when I would call for him and use our short cut sign language for items that I needed he was oblivious. It's like he had only been working with me a couple of days. That is insane! Just a month ago I knew that when I locked the door behind me to close up everything would be done the way it was supposed to be.
I recieved a call from my boss (who is also one of my closest friends) and he had on his "you're in trouble" voice. Now, I've heard this voice 2 other times in the four years I've worked at the club and I really don't like to hear that voice. Again, I try very hard to do my job and do it right. He said that my barback did very little of the closing duties he is assigned and, of course, because I didn't double check his work it was on my back. I didn't even think about double checking his work. He's been doing his job and doing it well for quite a while.
I apologized to my boss and told him that I would talk to my barback next shift. I will not put up with him making me look bad. The worst part about it is this kid not only gets paid by the club but also gets tipped out from me and the 2nd bartender. He makes serious bank for 2 1/2 hours of work. I mean, I'd love to put that little tip out right into my pocket! The worst part of it is I tipped him extra last night. EXTRA and I get a call today about his shoddy work. This is not good. Mama is not happy.
Next week should be interesting... stay tuned.
007
Oh, what a night...
Sometimes even the most fabulous night can turn into a total mess. The evening starts out terrific. The crowd is busy and in a great mood. The music is flowing so that everyone is either drinking or dancing. The cocktails are shaken, stirred and blended to perfection. It should've been one perfect night. Should've been.
We always have a floor show during our busy nights. It keeps it interesting because you never know what we're going to do. The way people know the show is about to begin is the club darkens. The music changes, too, but the main deal is the lighting changes. So, this female customer (we're going to call her Ms. Daggers) comes up to my well, orders a Bud Light Lime and tells me we need to turn the lights down. Um, okay, wait... she told me. She didn't ask me. I told her that I would see what I could do. Actually, there wasn't anything I could do. When the owner is on site all decisions like that are up to him. So, I asked him about the lights. He said he'd turn them off when he was ready to. I did my part but, obviously, that wasn't what she wanted. She spent the next twenty minutes glaring at me and telling everyone who would listen "I asked them twice to turn the lights off but she's not doing anything about it." Lucky me.
It gets better... Ms. Daggers even walked over to my 2nd bartender's well and stood there for 10 minutes glaring at me again. I mentioned it to my boss and he told me to go "knock her out." He wasn't serious but it would've been such fun. Then my 2nd bartender comes down to me and asks me what her deal is. I hadn't told him about the lighting issue but he knew something was up. I told him and he actually laughed and pointed at her. It was a pretty funny thing, too, because she stormed off into her well lit area.
In the end the show started, the lights went down and the night got crazy busy. It was actually a bit overwhelming for a while. I felt myself really getting edgy and I don't like that. Maybe I should switch to decaf?? The customers just seemed to be rude and ultra high maintenance. I'm used to drama and craziness but this was more than the norm.
I guess I just want people to know that your bartender is a person, too. They have bad days and good days. They get stressed out and over worked and are doing the best they can. Have a little patience and I probably will make you one hell of a cocktail.
Still human after all,
007
We always have a floor show during our busy nights. It keeps it interesting because you never know what we're going to do. The way people know the show is about to begin is the club darkens. The music changes, too, but the main deal is the lighting changes. So, this female customer (we're going to call her Ms. Daggers) comes up to my well, orders a Bud Light Lime and tells me we need to turn the lights down. Um, okay, wait... she told me. She didn't ask me. I told her that I would see what I could do. Actually, there wasn't anything I could do. When the owner is on site all decisions like that are up to him. So, I asked him about the lights. He said he'd turn them off when he was ready to. I did my part but, obviously, that wasn't what she wanted. She spent the next twenty minutes glaring at me and telling everyone who would listen "I asked them twice to turn the lights off but she's not doing anything about it." Lucky me.
It gets better... Ms. Daggers even walked over to my 2nd bartender's well and stood there for 10 minutes glaring at me again. I mentioned it to my boss and he told me to go "knock her out." He wasn't serious but it would've been such fun. Then my 2nd bartender comes down to me and asks me what her deal is. I hadn't told him about the lighting issue but he knew something was up. I told him and he actually laughed and pointed at her. It was a pretty funny thing, too, because she stormed off into her well lit area.
In the end the show started, the lights went down and the night got crazy busy. It was actually a bit overwhelming for a while. I felt myself really getting edgy and I don't like that. Maybe I should switch to decaf?? The customers just seemed to be rude and ultra high maintenance. I'm used to drama and craziness but this was more than the norm.
I guess I just want people to know that your bartender is a person, too. They have bad days and good days. They get stressed out and over worked and are doing the best they can. Have a little patience and I probably will make you one hell of a cocktail.
Still human after all,
007
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Somehow I don't believe you...
Want to know the favorite sentence uttered to me when I'm bartending? Of course you do! It's a tie between "I bartend." and "I used to bartend."
This past shift I had a real winner! This guy actually covered many of the bartender pet peeves in just two little trips up to my bar!
First stop... he orders a Cape Cod for himself and NOTHING for his girlfriend. She had to not only order her own drink but pay for it herself, too. Now, I know you are wondering... "how do you know she's his girlfriend?" They ended up being part of our little floor show later in the evening and, trust me, they were together. ;) (So Strike 1 for Mr. Cool. I believe in chivalry.)
A few minutes later Mr. Cool returns to the bar with his partially empty glass asking "Did you put liquor in this?" (Strike 2 for Mr. Cool.) I said "Yes, of course I put liquor in it." What did he think I put in it? Magic?? UGH! So, I assured him of the glasses liquor content (1 1/2 shots of vodka in comparison to the 1 shot at other local bars). He then informed me that "I used to bartend." I asked him where. Well, he then stammered and said he bartends at a real dive known for the worst drinks in town. Of course! Just seconds ago he "used to" bartend but now he currently bartends. Sure he does! He then asked me to top his glass off with vodka. Seriously?!? Oh, well, I did it and asked for another $3.50. He looked at me like I was from Mars but paid up anyway. Needless to say, he didn't leave a tip. I'm not shocked and really didn't expect a tip from him anyway.
Later in the evening he comes back up to my bar. He orders another Cape Cod. I make it for him. He pays his little $3.50 and taps the top of my tip jar. He says "I tip when I take care of my tab." I tapped the top of my tip jar and said "You're paying cash, slick." (Strike 3.)
Poor guy. He didn't know who he was messing with. I sent a couple of friends over to truly embarrass him. I'll be shocked if he shows his face at our club again and I say "good riddance."
So, people... here's a tip from a girl who is a really good bartender (voted First Runner Up in the Best Bartender contest for our state) with really great customer service skills... TIP YOUR BARTENDER! They know more people at the bar than you do and can really make your life suck!
Take a warning,
007
This past shift I had a real winner! This guy actually covered many of the bartender pet peeves in just two little trips up to my bar!
First stop... he orders a Cape Cod for himself and NOTHING for his girlfriend. She had to not only order her own drink but pay for it herself, too. Now, I know you are wondering... "how do you know she's his girlfriend?" They ended up being part of our little floor show later in the evening and, trust me, they were together. ;) (So Strike 1 for Mr. Cool. I believe in chivalry.)
A few minutes later Mr. Cool returns to the bar with his partially empty glass asking "Did you put liquor in this?" (Strike 2 for Mr. Cool.) I said "Yes, of course I put liquor in it." What did he think I put in it? Magic?? UGH! So, I assured him of the glasses liquor content (1 1/2 shots of vodka in comparison to the 1 shot at other local bars). He then informed me that "I used to bartend." I asked him where. Well, he then stammered and said he bartends at a real dive known for the worst drinks in town. Of course! Just seconds ago he "used to" bartend but now he currently bartends. Sure he does! He then asked me to top his glass off with vodka. Seriously?!? Oh, well, I did it and asked for another $3.50. He looked at me like I was from Mars but paid up anyway. Needless to say, he didn't leave a tip. I'm not shocked and really didn't expect a tip from him anyway.
Later in the evening he comes back up to my bar. He orders another Cape Cod. I make it for him. He pays his little $3.50 and taps the top of my tip jar. He says "I tip when I take care of my tab." I tapped the top of my tip jar and said "You're paying cash, slick." (Strike 3.)
Poor guy. He didn't know who he was messing with. I sent a couple of friends over to truly embarrass him. I'll be shocked if he shows his face at our club again and I say "good riddance."
So, people... here's a tip from a girl who is a really good bartender (voted First Runner Up in the Best Bartender contest for our state) with really great customer service skills... TIP YOUR BARTENDER! They know more people at the bar than you do and can really make your life suck!
Take a warning,
007
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