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Starting bartending in a week - what do I need to know??

M

Maverick2002

Diamond Member
I'm starting to bartend a week from today. I told I'd be trained for less than 1 day, then go from there. It's at a pre-opening of a restaurant/bar so it probably won't be too slammed, although I am scheduled for a weekend night with 1-2 others. I know it's not rocket science, but I've never done it. I've worked in sales and around people plenty so that's not a problem, just want to know the technical stuff. They didn't ask about prior experience and my friend who vouched for me knows I have none, and the hiring manager didn't say anything about it, just said "I just have to show you our systems, if someone doesn't know how to bartend I'm not teaching them".

So, I need to know. I got a copy of the wine list and specialty drinks. I'm going to look up standard drinks I should memorize (any recommendations?) and make some flash cards. I have a week to study, so I should have plenty of time to get most drinks down.

Anyone who has/is bartending, anything I should know or do between now and then?
 
Been doing it full time for about 3 yrs now. Try to learn as much as possible, but remember that you'll never learn everything. Learning how to deal with people is the most difficult part, but always remember that your on the center stage, and you're leading the show. If you have time, talk to every single person at the bar, even for a tiny bit, just to leave some sort of impression and not just be a drink pourer.
 
gorcorps said:
serve the hotties first
Click to expand...

Not necessarily true. But keep them around. Keeping hot chicks at the bar brings in guys who actually spend money. Flirt your brains off, but the real goal isn't to score any of the ladies, its to keep their butts in your bar's seats. Its actually one of my secret games to get a chick drunk and have her go home with some random guy.
 
TallBill said:
Learning how to deal with people is the most difficult part, but always remember that your on the center stage, and you're leading the show.
Click to expand...

Difficult how?

I'm pretty good at getting people to open up, so definitely looking forward to conversations if time allows.
 
There are a lot of "standard drinks" ... not sure how good your memory is but I'd have a hard time memorizing the recipes for them in one week during my down time.
 
Do your best to learn the recipes, then figure out where they keep everything!

And don't sampel the warez?
 
Maverick2002 said:
Difficult how?

I'm pretty good at getting people to open up, so definitely looking forward to conversations if time allows.
Click to expand...

Drunk, demanding, impatient, cheap, etc. If I'm super busy and someone asks me the price of a shot, I walk away and come back in about 5 minutes and ask "what can I get for you". If they ask a price again, they are gonna be thirsty all night. Obviously this doesn't work when theres 5 people at the bar.

Then there are the hammered chicks that are like "we want 9 fun shots!!!" ... so you do your best to think of something "fun" and then when they get their tab for 60 bucks, they cry that their shot wasn't strong or good enough, etc.

You'll learn to deal with above scenarios with time. Its a really fun job, and I love doing it 4-5 (currently 4) nights a week. The money can be great, and if you're doing it right, you'll have a blast at work and get paid doing it.
 
torpid said:
There are a lot of "standard drinks" ... not sure how good your memory is but I'd have a hard time memorizing the recipes for them in one week during my down time.
Click to expand...

And if I don't memorize them, you recommend a small cheat-sheet (like taped to a cabinet behind the bar out of sight) or?
 
Imp said:
Do your best to learn the recipes, then figure out where they keep everything!

And don't sampel the warez?
Click to expand...

Depends on the bar's rules. Technically its against the rules to drink at the bar that I work at. They only say that to cover their asses should something bad happen. None of my managers cares if I drink a bit before or during my shift, as long as the liquor is accounted for or one of our free bottles. Obviously, stealing is bad.
 
My pet peeves for bartenders.

1) Make sure my glass is clean.
2) Know your booze. If you say you have 30 beers on tap, either have a list to give me or know what you have. I hate bars that lists craft beers and a bartender who says "ummm, and ummmm, ummm, ummm" when I ask what IPA or Porter is on tap. Likewise, if you have 10 scotches on the menu, know what region they are from at the very least.
3) Know when a guy needs his drink made right. At least make my first drink strong so I don't realize the rest of the night is watered down 🙂
 
sourceninja said:
My pet peeves for bartenders.

3) Know when a guy needs his drink made right. At least make my first drink strong so I don't realize the rest of the night is watered down 🙂
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Order a strong drink if you want it strong 😀 Order a Makers Mark on the rocks, splash of coke, and you'll get 2 oz of Makers Mark. Order a Maker's and Coke and you'll get 1.25 oz.
 
Use frosted glasses. I hate getting a beer in a warm glass.
(you probably have little control over that)
 
TallBill said:
Order a strong drink if you want it strong 😀 Order a Makers Mark on the rocks, splash of coke, and you'll get 2 oz of Makers Mark. Order a Maker's and Coke and you'll get 1.25 oz.
Click to expand...

Oh I agree, I typically will do whiskey neat. But if I order a Old Fashioned and get a glass of sour mix I'm usually not going to tip well, unless that was my 4th+ drink (in which case I probably wouldn't notice LOL).
 
Maverick2002 said:
I'm starting to bartend a week from today. I told I'd be trained for less than 1 day, then go from there. It's at a pre-opening of a restaurant/bar so it probably won't be too slammed, although I am scheduled for a weekend night with 1-2 others. I know it's not rocket science, but I've never done it. I've worked in sales and around people plenty so that's not a problem, just want to know the technical stuff. They didn't ask about prior experience and my friend who vouched for me knows I have none, and the hiring manager didn't say anything about it, just said "I just have to show you our systems, if someone doesn't know how to bartend I'm not teaching them".

So, I need to know. I got a copy of the wine list and specialty drinks. I'm going to look up standard drinks I should memorize (any recommendations?) and make some flash cards. I have a week to study, so I should have plenty of time to get most drinks down.

Anyone who has/is bartending, anything I should know or do between now and then?
Click to expand...

how the fvck did u get a bartending job w/o any expereince in this econ?
unless you are hot and its a gay bar??
 
sourceninja said:
Oh I agree, I typically will do whiskey neat. But if I order a Old Fashioned and get a glass of sour mix I'm usually not going to tip well, unless that was my 4th+ drink (in which case I probably wouldn't notice LOL).
Click to expand...

Gotcha 🙂 Old Fashions are done differently all over the place. I muddle some cane sugar syrup, bitters, a cherry, and an orange together, add ice, add 2oz of desired whiskey.
 
edro said:
Use frosted glasses. I hate getting a beer in a warm glass.
(you probably have little control over that)
Click to expand...

You're the opposite of every beer drinker unless it's the American Light Lager category. I really hate frosted glasses ...
 
Learn to upsell -

Always ask what kind of liquor they want, Rum and Coke does not mean go for the well, get them to buy up to call or top shelf premiums.

Keep your regulars around, shave a drink off their tab now & again -
 
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