Bartender?

[P-Train]

Who has been or is now a bartender?



I've never done it but always wanted to when I was younger.

I still think it would be kinda fun every other weekend or so.

[mookow]

Originally posted by P-Train
Who has been or is now a bartender?



I've never done it but always wanted to when I was younger.

I still think it would be kinda fun every other weekend or so.

It can be a good time, but every now and then I feel like I am babysitting little kids:
-"wait your turn"
-"stop yelling"
etc.

The upside, at least where I work, is that I can drink whatever I want for free. And we've got a nice 70 bottle selection, and usually about 7 good beers on tap. Right now I've been enjoying Left Hand's Milk Stout.

[Jughead]

I took a bartender course at a local community college. It was lots of fun. I managed to find that 1 night a week job, but only held it for about a month, then I got canned. Not enough experience. The course was still worthwhile though. With tips and the tax writeoffs, I came out ahead.

[hockeynut]

I bartended in college. Had a great time and loved every minute of it. Did it for about 3yrs and then my wife, girlfriend at the time, decided that there were too many others of interest so she convinced me to quit. I still think about going back to it but my current profession would be counter productive to that ( probation officer).

The only downside to it was the hours, but if you can take 7p to 3a, then go for it. You really see the interesting side of life from behind the bar!

[Jake]

My Dad was a bartender and the hours he worked made life difficult for the family.

[wortchillergoal]

I had to pull a couple of bars shifts when I ran the front of the house for a Ground Round restaurant.

I also took a mixology class at Delhi, a 2 yr school that has a hotel/restaurant managemnet major.

[ClockworkOrange]

I bartended for about 4 years at my buddy's club. Everyone that frequents a pub should experience it from the other side of the bar at least once. I still can't believe what some people are willing to pay for a few beers after last call.

[guildofevil]

A couple of years ago a friend and I were sitting at the bar in a pub in Cork. Last orders had been served about twenty minutes earlier and the bar manager was bagging up the takings, as we finished up our beers. Another patron approached the bar and pleadingly asked the bar manager if she would sell him a beer, even though she was obviously finished and counting the takings. She just shook her head as she counted and I, on impulse, said “Relax, tomorrow's another day.”
The bar manager was so surprised to hear sense, at that time of night, that she lost count and had to start over.

Séan

[Seymour]

My wife hated it. She made good money but had a hard time putting up with cretins.

[MeridianFC]

Nothing will make you hate humanity as much as being a bartender. Oh, it has many great moments and you'll make lots of friends (and "friends"), you're usually flush with cash, and you rarely pay for drink because you most often consort with other bartenders and food service types (though your tipping will cease to have anything to do with reason). The since of entitlement, boorishness, and just general lack of civility by a very small but very vocal member of the paying public will certainly bring you to your knees.

If you like your weekends, have a significant other, and a weak constitution the bar trade is not for you.

That said bartending is a sacred profession one below brewer.

:D

[Seymour]

I let my wife do all the tipping when we're out and about. Having waited tables and bartended, she's the master of the rewarding tip, the "sorry my kid made a mess" tip, and the punitive tip. I've seen her tip 1 penny when we've had a particularly lousy waitress.

[chazwicke]

Please Mr. Bartender
Don't you be so slow.
I've got time for one more beer
and a sixpack to go.:D

[surfadelic23]

I had a blast bartending. Great fringe benefits abound! It was a hell of a lot more fun than bar-backing or bouncing. I would not do it now as the hrs. would likely kill me.

[Ooompa Loompa]

Originally posted by mookow
Right now I've been enjoying Left Hand's Milk Stout.

I LOVE Left Hands Milk Stout. I am soo jealous

[Seymour]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Please Mr. Bartender
Don't you be so slow.
I've got time for one more beer
and a sixpack to go.:D

Hank Thompson. Chaz, you continue to amaze me with that library of music you keep in your head.

[chazwicke]

;)


I'm also a longtime collector of music.

[mookow]

Originally posted by Ooompa Loompa
I LOVE Left Hands Milk Stout. I am soo jealous

Ehhh, it's not even my favorite of the draft beers of the month that we've had. That would probably go to Corsendonk Pale. Although watching people get truly hammered at the "kill the keg party" (basically, if you bought the souvenier glass, the last Saturday of that month the glasses are about half off all night long) with Piraat (10.5% ABV) was quite entertaining. But I'm not complaining about the Milk Stout. Especially when I'm drinking it for free.

Also, the bottled Corsendonk Grand Cru was a great beer to be drinking for free.

[Erin W]

I am now, and have been tending bar for about the last 12 years with a couple years off to have the kids. (2 kids, one of each)
It's made child psychology easier to understand, and having children honed other various skills that are complementary to bartending.
It is a bit of a roller coaster, which ironically, is what I love about it.
I suppose I haven't found anything I like better, and the money is pretty good, too!

People just fascinate me...especially the irritating ones:D


E

[gone_fishing]

Originally posted by Seymour
I I've seen her tip 1 penny when we've had a particularly lousy waitress.

I once sat and waited to give a waitress a 2 cent tip...then told her, "but the real tip is get a ^^*&^$ personality or you'll starve in this business!

Of course, that was after several more beers than I should have had!:)

[BluesHarp]

I bartended for a year, as well as bouncing, at a hard rock club back in around 1990.
I met some really cool people, as well as some real tools!
It's amazing watching people's personalities morph as they drink...some quiet people become Robin Williams; some really decent people become raging a**holes...facinating really.

[DecoJuicer]

I never bartended, but I bounced for a lot of years, and I have to say that I have the utmost respect for a good bartender.

I have seen bartenders put up with things from customers that would get them thrown out a second story window(something that I almost did one night...only thing that saved the guys life was that my parents were there and watching me, but that's a whole nother story) if they did it to me.

I guess that's why bartenders get tips and bouncers were hourly. I didn't have to kiss some drunks butt to make a $.50 tip. If they got stupid, it was out the door with them. In fact, believe it or not folks, I have had waitresses and bartenders accuse me, the big teddy bear, of being a little heavy handed with the patrons.

I always looked at the waitresses and bartenders as my little sisters, and God help anybody that messed with my little sister. Of course, I have mellowed considerably in my old age.:)

[BluesHarp]

I hear you, Deco...NOBODY meeses with your waitresses, especially!!! :D
My problem was, at 5'9", I had lots of idiots that thought they could kick my a** because I was "short"...well, a wrestling, martial arts, and powerlifting background (plus being the sober one in the confrontation) tended to prove otherwise...
I had to prove myself to earn my stripes, but ended up having the backing of most of the regulars.