Advice to New Bartenders

At some point in most people's lives, you will work in the service or beverage industry. For most recent college grads and twenty somethings, bartending is a great way to make extra money, paid in cash at the end of your shift. So many things about it seem ideal: you'll be rewarded for your beaming personality, your friends can come visit you at work, and it is in theory getting paid to party. However, as a longtime part-time bartender, I know from experience that there is much more to this "fun job" than meets the eye. Here are some tips for making the most of a bartending position.

Picking Your Employer is Tricky

You're all ready to go - you've obtained your bartending license, taken the class, and completed a killer resume. Well, there are a lot of things to consider when submitting your resume to different bars and clubs. First off, many first time bartenders seek employment at a huge party or dance club in hopes of making huge amounts of money. But there are aspects to working at one of these sorts of places that most people don't take into consideration. First of all, it's hard. Really, super, calculus-homework-with-a-migraine hard. When you're at a club ordering a drink, do you ever get frustrated at how long it takes for the five bartenders to get to you? It's not because they're slackers, it's because there are five of them and a few hundred of you. Remember that when you're a bartender, it's not just making drinks and taking your tips. While many people pay in cash, most people run tabs on their credit or debit cards. You will have to keep all the tabs and cards straight, and at a large club they can really pile up. Putting a drink on the wrong card is a big deal, and the wrongly charged customer will notice and be none to pleased. Furthermore, you will need to usually memorize upwards of hundreds of shot and martini recipes, and be able to make them in under two minutes. There is no room for having to consult a bartender's recipe book.

There is, however, this luxury at a small bar, especially if it's a corner bar with a following of regulars. At places like this you'll rarely have more than thirty people. The money is significantly less, yes, but the stress level is also slim to nim. A bar like this is the best training ground for larger clubs, and also way more fun. You're usually allowed to pick the music that's played, there is often cable television, and you can often cultivate a crowd of regulars that not only know you by name but tip a little extra because they like you.

A Cheerful But Reserved Personality

The best motto for a bartender is to not speak unless spoken to. If you've taken my advice and gotten your first job at a quiet corner pub, there may be numerous regulars who come in looking for a good conversation with you. However, there are also a lot of couples and groups who will come in specifically because they want a quiet atmosphere where they can have a meaningful conversation - not necessarily with you. A good bartender is cheerful, friendly, but does not hover. If a customer wants to have a conversation or play bar dice, they will initiate it. One of the perks of working in a small bar is that if you have a couple on one end of the bar and a group on the other, you can serve them and then go accomplish your side work or read. Too many bartenders make a first time mistake of thinking every customer is their new best friend, and there a lot of customers who would prefer that the "help" just lets them and their company be.

Budgeting Your Tip Money Wisely

You've gotten a job at a quiet tavern. You are working the Happy Hour shift and out by 8PM. You've spent all evening watching people drink and have fun, and now have seventy five dollars - cash, of course - in your pocket. Time to party, right? Absolutely not. Too many first time bartenders see their tip money as "free cash" and decide to rely on their hourly, while blowing their tips frivolously. However, an hourly for a bartender is usually minimum wage, and living on minimum wage is not comfortable. A bartender who averages thirty to a hundred dollars in tips plus hourly can easily enjoy a nice, comfortable lifestyle. I've had friends who've saved their tip money and purchased a used vehicle after a couple of months. But I've also had friends who've finished a great hundred dollar shift and then been broke a few days later. My best advice is to maintain a checking account and give yourself a rule - no matter what party or what clothing sale is coming up, you must deposit 75% of your tips for every shift. No exception. That may only leave you with five or ten dollars in your pocket, but it will also leave you with a flourishing, growing, and full checking account.

Happy Serving!

Hopefully this briefer will help you when you break into the bartending world. Above everything else, remember that bartending may be fun, but it's still a job. Always maintain a professional and courteous demeanor, and you will do just fine.