Why I’m A Bartender For One Day A Week

Alex Huntly
Sep 3, 2018 · 5 min read

Working in the creative industry requires a different way of thinking, and I’ve often struggled to switch off my thinking about design work. I sometimes lack the willpower to simply let go, so instead I occupy my downtime with a completely different job to avoid becoming consumed.

Even though I work full-time as a designer at Lunar Works, I willingly give-up nine hours every Saturday to work as a bartender — here are the reasons why.

“I treat it as a ‘reset button’ so I’m refreshed and ready to for a new week”

1. It’s A Change Of Rhythm

Sitting in front of the same computer at the same desk for five days a week can sometimes feel repetitive. Doing a different job in a different location helps change my rhythm of work. At first I wondered whether I would have the energy to do so, but soon realised this wasn’t an issue, and would sometimes even look forward to working on the weekend. I’ve ultimately found a way to put my creative ideas to one side and occupy my mind with other things.

Bartending isn’t the most mentally taxing of jobs, and I use this to my advantage. Due to the creative thinking nature of design I can feel mentally drained by the end of a week. Being able to change the workflow for a good chunk of time can be quite effective. I treat it as a ‘reset button’ so I’m refreshed and ready to for a new week.

It’s a different work mentality; serving drinks and waiting on tables has a simple routine to it, whereas developing design concepts requires a lot of focus and thought. The contrast between the workplaces helps me see my design work from a new perspective. While I’m pulling pints, I can allow my mind to digest ideas and concepts, thinking about them in a different way that I probably wouldn’t have thought about while sitting at my desk.

“Getting ideas out of your head and written down is a good mind clearing technique.”

2. It Gives Me A New Perspective

Distancing yourself from a creative problem can be difficult, but ideas need to be left alone from time to time. I’m often so excited by a project idea that I can’t let it go. I found I had to remove myself from the scenario in order to think about it differently; I needed a way of occupying my mind with other tasks so I wouldn’t be constantly thinking about the concepts.

Any ideas I have are jotted down in my pocket notebook, which I always carry with me. Getting ideas out of your head and written down is a good mind clearing technique. You can become distracted if all your ideas are still in your head, writing the ideas down gets them out of your head allowing you to focus on the here and now. While I’m working behind the bar I can be focused on the task of serving drinks instead of being distracted with project ideas. After my shift I would review the ideas with fresh eyes, seeing new paths for projects I otherwise wouldn’t have uncovered if I was constantly thinking about it.

By forcing myself to leave the ideas alone for a period of time, I have a new level of energy and I’m eager to solve the problem when I revisit them. Our minds are complex, and we still don’t fully understand them, yet I know when I’m struggling to devise a solution I need to step away and clear my mind.

3. It’s A Social Opportunity

Working at my desk during the week can be pretty anti-social. Sure, I could browse the various social media platforms but it isn’t the same as talking to someone face-to-face. Working as a bartender allows me to talk to a variety of different people.

Of course the first topic of conversation is the weather, but it’s not long before it moves on to something more personal and in-depth. This is a nice change of pace from responding to emails or talking with clients over the phone. The conversation also has a different mentality to it; when I’m speaking with clients we usually have a specific topic or goal to discuss, whereas behind the bar we have the freedom to talk about almost anything. No two shifts are the same, there are similarities, but there is always something different happening. This level of variety keeps the job interesting and unpredictable.

I used to be a severely anxious person and for a long time struggled to talk to people. After working as a bartender for a number of years, my confidence grew and now I would likely be the one to encourage the conversation with a stranger.

4. It Keeps My Creative Spark Alive

After reading Twyla Tharp’s I learnt how other creatives have certain rituals that allow them to be creative. A couple of examples mentioned in her book were one of a painter who “can’t do anything in her studio without propulsive music pounding out of the speakers”. Another example was of a writer who “can only write outside. He can’t stand the thought of being chained indoors to his word processor while a ‘great day’ is unfolding outside”.

Different creatives have different ways of keeping their creative spark alive, mine is by stepping away from my desk for an entire day, longing to return and continue expanding on an idea, wanting to work instead of feeling like I have to.

“being yelled at by intoxicated people late on a Saturday night wasn’t my idea of a rewarding job.”

5. I Enjoy It

Before becoming a designer I used to work as a bartender full-time, it was a good work experience but it did wear me down. I eventually lost the enthusiasm for the work, being yelled at by intoxicated people late on a Saturday night wasn’t my idea of a rewarding job. I began reducing my hours to part-time and eventually stopped working behind the bar altogether.

Upon reflection, I realised it was the day-in-day-out mentality that wore me down. I did enjoy being a bartender and realised I would still enjoy the work if it wasn’t so frequent. I limited my commitment to a single shift and returned to a job I not only enjoy, but that I’m good at too.

I’m also a person who struggles to do nothing, I always need to be doing something productive. I find it difficult to relax, which isn’t helpful when I knowingly need to take a break from my design work. Bartending allows me to be productive while keeping me away from my desk.

What’s Your Method?

Bartending is my method of stepping away from my design work and pushing the reset button on my creativity. Many other designers will agree it’s good to leave your work alone for a time and return to it with fresh eyes. I’ve found my method, what’s yours?

Lunar Works Lab

Lunar Works is a specialist digital design and development agency based in Kent & East Sussex. We build high performance websites, web & mobile apps, and digital platforms, utilising forward thinking design and cutting edge technology such as React, AMP, and Progressive Web Apps.

Alex Huntly

Written by

Design Director at Lunar Works. Here to design valued digital platforms.

Lunar Works Lab

Lunar Works is a specialist digital design and development agency based in Kent & East Sussex. We build high performance websites, web & mobile apps, and digital platforms, utilising forward thinking design and cutting edge technology such as React, AMP, and Progressive Web Apps.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade