If you've ever been to a busy bar and tried to order a drink, please read this. I've actually been meaning to write this post for some time but just haven't gotten around to it until now. But after working four shifts in a row at the Bell this past weekend, I couldn't put it off any longer.
Consider this a free lesson on how to order a drink in a bar without pissing off the bartender. We'll call it Bar etiquette 101:
1) Don't whistle, frantically wave, or just blurt your order out if I'm in your area. Odds are I already see you, but until I acknowledge you, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!!
2) When I do come over to you make sure you have your order ready. There's nothing I hate more than when I'm on the go, ask what you'd like, and then see the back of your head because your asking your friends what they want. Newsflash: I'm already gone when you do that.
3) Have your money ready. This is something you can be doing when I'm getting your order. You should have it ready for me when I return. Don't leave me standing there while you fish through every single $1 bill in your wallet. Hand me a $20 and be done with it!!
4) If you do give me a credit card OPEN A TAB!! I can't tell you how many times I've had to run a card for one $4 beer, "it's the last time, I swear." If we're running your card three times, we're not making money and that annoys bartenders. If you're getting more than one round of drinks, open a tab. We're not your personal ATM. If you don't want to leave your card, pay cash or get some from the real ATM and pay with that.
5) Don't call me sweatheart, baby, honey, sugar, doll, darlin, babe, dollface, beautiful or any other name besides my own. Those who I like enough to tell, I will. Otherwise just get my attention by standing patiently at the bar or having your money out if I'm busy. I'll spot you a lot better this way. I'll ignore you otherwise.
6) Tip according to service. If we're good, show us on the dotted line. I'm so sick of getting tips that stink just because you pay with a credit card and want it to be an even withdrawl. OR you don't like the prices and you take it out on us. Example: $18.75 for the order, you write $1.25 for the tip. Ridiculous. If the service was bad, you have every right not to tip. But don't blame us for the prices of the items. We don't make them and it's not fair to punish us. If you don't want to tick off your bartender, tip accordingly. Because trust me, we remember you and it will be pretty hard to get a drink from us again if you ain't showing the love with some paper!!
That's all I've got right now, but I'm sure there's more. Long story short, just be an adult. We're working hard and we'll get to you when we can. There's ways for us to get to you sooner and they're all listed above. Take these rules out for a little test spin this weekend and see how you do. Guarantee you'll get served ahead of everyone else.
Thank you and good night.
11 comments:
The only thing I don't agree with is KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, while I agree the whistling etc is soo not a good idea, a polite excuse me, if you truly believe that you haven't been noticed is not out of line. Even if its just to bring to the mind of a good bartender just how long you have been waiting. Certain times I have been at a bar where the tender gets so in a rhythm at one end of the bar that the other end gets ignored, understandable but sometimes a little POLITE attention request is needed. Unlike the cute Irish boys who were throwing pens at the women bartenders at the place I was at this past weekend!!
Oh and for all of those bartenders out there, please read this. I've been meaning to write this for a long time. We'll call it Bartender-Actually-Wants-A-Tip 101.
If you give your customers attitude like you are a gift to the service industry, don't expect a good tip.
Maybe you should stick to dancing on bars....
especially when all you're doing is pouring a beverage into a cup and ringing up.
Call me stingy but I'll never tip the 15-25% (based on service) I give for waiters/waitresses (unless I'm eating at the bar). I really don't see the point in huge tips for bartenders who are usually obnoxious to patrons anyways.
I realize when bartenders are busy and it's fine, but if you ignore 1/2 the bar / people, talk to you're friends and on the cell, and are just rude, don't expect big tips (same as you would if you're waiting tables). From observation and friends, those who complain about tips, usually don't make em, compared to those who smile through and suck it up. They might not like it just the same, but end up making a killing.
I guess there's a little bit of the soup nazi in all of us, eh?
I bartended for over 15 years because loved working with people, I like the night life & the money was great. it was great because I worked hard for it.....That means by being nice. You sound like a creep & its attitudes like yours that give the service industry a bad name. Go work with the beer slingers at Fenway....Bartending is an art form that you obviously cannot grasp.
Yet another reason to avoid bars: fucked up bartenders who don't understand the concept of "the customer is always right".
You are lucky I don't own the bar, or you would be pounding pavement.
Hey - how about we all lighten up a little, huh? I think these are valid points. Rude customers only create grouchy, rude bartenders and so on.
You can guess my next point, right? Polite, respectful customers . . . tend to create polite, respectful bartenders. It's a cycle that just makes sense. ;)
an 'artform'?!?! Dude u are serving drinks, just do your job
Wish some of you anonymous peeps had the stones to tell me who you are. Big tough guys when you're anonymous.
Reasonable requests from someone looking for a little respect in a generally disparaged profession. Booze is good & bartenders bring it to us!
Wow... uh, this is nuts, man.
Maybe you should write posts like this more often!
Post a Comment