What’s Expected of a Bartender?
Imagine your self in your favourite bar. What is it that makes it so good? The decor? the drinks? the music? probably a combination of a lot of little things come together and create your perfect watering hole.
You never have quite put your finger on why, you just feel more at home there over other similar places that your mates might enjoy more.
The truth is that without the right type of bartender who tends to the decor, makes the drinks and has power over the music you would most likely hate that bar. what would happen if you went in one day and the bar staff had all been turned into vending machines (an interesting concept, leave a comment if you want to invest…)? It just wouldn’t feel right to not have that human interaction. Don’t you agree?
But what exactly is expected of a bartender?
Most complaints aren’t about the products or the state of the toilets. They are about the human input or most importantly the lack of it. Put simply if there is a bad bartender then the chances are it is perceived as a bad bar. We have all had an experience like this before surely?
Lets take a look at life working within a restaurant and compare. In a restaurant the customer effectively rents the table from the proprietor. It is the waiter/waitresses role to simply provide a service to their guests whilst they are in the dining room, being careful not to intrude into the guests’ space, whilst still providing a high level of service.
In bars however it is a different story, so here’s what we think makes a great bartender.
The guest and the bartender share the bar. So it is really down to the bartender to welcome customers into the bar. They need to work with the customer to not only provide great quality drinks, but also conversation, laughter, education on drinks, and sometimes even counselling. It does happen…
To ensure every customer has a fantastic experience the bartender must ensure they provide all of the above for each and every customer who comes into their workplace. The environment set by the bartender must feel completely comfortable to the customer, which may mean having to clean up any unpleasant messes in the customer area, ensuring toilets are kept to the highest standards (even on the busiest of holidays) and management having to deal with any unruly customers who may be impeding on the other guests’ experience.
It is left to the bartender to not only dispense great drinks, educate customers in the wonderful world of alcohol, turn difficult customers into long time regulars but also entertain and wow each and every guest who comes through the doors.
The things that are expected of a truly great bartender though is to not only make great drinks, but be able to do so with a smile whilst reading each guest they serve…
Do they just want a quick beer undisturbed? Are they unsure as to what to drink? Is this the first time they’ve tried a cocktail? What cocktail would they therefore enjoy?
Are they seasoned drinkers who are looking for a different cocktail to experience their spirit of choice in? Or do they just want to sit at the bar and enjoy some light conversation with another human being?
Remember that the bar is a stage. The bartender should love it.
Bartending is not just a part time job — it is a profession. They need to represent themselves and the bar to the standards that they have been trusted with. Knowledge can be taught but passion for service cannot.
So lets have a quick recap about what we believe should be expected of a bartender;
Let us know if you agree with us in the comments? Is there anything else you would add?
Let us know what you think?
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Originally published at www.beabetterbartender.com on June 21, 2014.
