Responsibilities of the Bartender

The bartender is often thought of as a person who simply makes drinks. In reality, there is much more to the job than meets the eye. In the majority of cases, the bartending job title entails many duties and responsibilities. It is believed to be the second oldest profession behind politics.

There are even schools to teach bartending techniques and terminology, mixed drink recipes, the different types of alcohol, and many other things that most folks do not really stop and think about when the person behind the bar is taking their drink order.

Quite often, the ambiance within any establishment will be dependent upon the personality of the individual, or individuals who are tending the bar, since they are often part of the entertainment. This is particularly true in the case of flair bartenders. A feisty and fun guy or gal behind the bar tends to be infectious and rub of on patrons in the bar making them happy and in high spirits.

It is obvious therefore, that as well as having to learn bartending skills this profession also demands that you are a people person as well. You will likely have to listen to confessions as well as being an agony aunt to your customers. In addition, you will have to entertain as well as serving as an age patroller since it is your responsibility to ensure that everybody you serve is of legal drinking age. As you can see barkeeping duties are definitely not limited to mixing drinks.

In addition to basic bartending and dependent upon the type of establishment, the bartender will also likely to be responsible for maintaining the supplies for the bar. This can include all the usual bar paraphernalia including the liquor, the glassware, napkins, ingredients needed to mix cocktails along with anything else that may be required or used behind the bar. In a restaurant bar, there may even be appetizers or other food items, and an updated inventory must be kept.

In the majority of these environments, irrespective of where it is, the individual tending the bar is usually responsible for collecting the money. Once again, depending on the establishment, the customers may be allowed to run a tab, which means that the server will be responsible for keeping the tab and collecting payment at the end of the evening. This is a big responsibility since many patrons order more than one drink each.

The next time you order a drink at a bar, think about everything that a bartender has to do. Not only does he or she have to cater to your wishes, but they also have many other customers and responsibilities. It may seem like they have a very simple job, but remember that you are only one of perhaps hundreds of folks that the bartender has to cater to on any given night. Remember that the next time a bartender is a little slow making your drink order.

Benefits and Risks of a Professional Bartending Career

Professional bartending is a fast-paced, rewarding career with a unique set of skill requirements and risks. When considering this as a career choice for yourself, be sure to first research whether your area has a large enough demand for bartenders.

You will also need to evaluate your experience level, and determine whether you will need further bartending training to be successful. Make sure you know the risks and benefits of the profession as well, before either looking for a bartending job, if you have the experience, or deciding to attend a bartending school in your area.

There are different schools of thought as to what qualifies a good barkeep. Some say that when bartending professionally, the most important qualification is the individual’s social skill set. Others suggest that bartenders are at their best if they have a friendly yet humorous and sometimes flirtatious attitude towards their patrons. After all drink tends to make folk, more sociable and they often look to the bartender to share in conversation and joke around with them. Psychologically, a customer who thinks that the bartender is one of them will typically tip far more generously than to one that is seen as not joining in with their banter. Since your income as a bartender heavily depends on the tips given by customers, it is important for you to develop a good rapport with your customers.

Having a good memory is another important qualification of being a bartender. A good barmen or barmaid will generally be able to remember customer orders without having to write everything down. In addition, they will be able to mix the vast majority of drinks without having to resort to a mixed drinks recipe book. The ability to instantly recall the steps and ingredients required to make any drink the customer orders is the sign of a successful bartender.

If you are a female bartender, then walking the fine line between friendly and over friendly can be enormous. While it is important to have that unique personality many experienced bartenders are known for, being too flirtatious with men who have been drinking can be very dangerous. Due to the late hours when bars close, the poor lighting in most parking lots, and the state of mind of many of the patrons, it is often recommended that bar employees do not walk alone to their vehicles. Many bar managers and owners make it their policy to escort barmaids to their vehicles.

It is also important to keep an eye on customers while they are in the establishment. Bartenders need to keep mental notes on how many drinks each patron has had, as well as any suspicious behavior. Responsible, professional bartending may also mean having to refuse alcohol to an already intoxicated customer, or perhaps even asking a customer to leave the premises if they start to become aggressive.

It is often said that the biggest risk for a bartender is becoming an alcoholic. Being around alcohol so often can be too tempting for some. If you can avoid being sucked into that trap, you will likely enjoy bartending as a career. The people you will meet will be unique, with many stories they are just dying to share. You will see friendships grow with co-workers, and enjoy a full time income while only working part time hours. Best of all, professional bartending is certainly nothing like just another day at the office.

Theme Bars are the Bar Scene of Today

The song lyric, "where everybody knows your name" became well known in the 1980s when the hit show Cheers hit the airwaves. The show made us familiar with a group of bar frequenters, bartenders and employees, as well as with the bar setting of a friendly, New England based tavern.

Even those who had never stepped foot in a bar for a few drinks could tell about this bar's ambiance by explaining the show. Today, not all bars would fit the description of the Cheer's venue. There are many different types of bars that cater to several different types of crowds.

The bars that were portrayed on television series from years ago are nothing like those we have nowadays. Indeed, asking somebody today if they are into the bar scene will more than likely be met with a vacant stare. Instead, the bar is viewed as nothing more than a favorite place to go for a drink.

Nowadays, theme bars are the in thing where the type of entertainment provided together with the clientele that frequents the establishment, categorizes what type of bar it is. For example, there are so called sports bars where patrons can gather to watch various sporting events on big screen televisions. Alternatively, there are dance bars that cater for those folks who prefer to boogie the night away or singles bars where the majority of folks are free, single, and looking to meet that special someone.

While an owner cannot always control the type of customer they will draw into the bar, they most likely had a particular type in mind before opening the establishment. Those who are looking to open a karaoke bar will hope to draw in a crowd that likes to sing, while a singles bar owner will hope to bring in single folks to mingle, and to of course purchase drinks. While an establishment's crowd may tend to change over time, the initial thought when opening is normally to draw in a specific crowd.

No matter what your style is or the bar type that you enjoy frequenting, depending on where you live, you will probably be able to find one that suits your requirements. While you may not be worried about the type of entertainment that is provided, and are more focused on the drinks, others may frequent the establishment for just the entertainment or for the theme they offer. Maybe you would rather watch the embellishments of a flair bartender than dance the night away. If this is the case, then there is most likely a bar out there, with a barkeep that will serve your cocktails or your favorite drinks with panache.