Why being a good bartender is important
Being a good bartender isn’t only about making good drinks. While you may make a killer cocktail, you’ll also need to mix up some good conversation. The experience the customer has with the bartender can make or break their visit. After one negative experience, 51% of customers will never do business with that company again.
Therefore, giving your customers a good experience should be you’re number one priority as a bartender. While you still may get a ridiculous Yelp review no matter how good of service you give, you should worry less about one angry customer and more about mastering the basics of being a good bartender. After all, the better service you provide, the better tips you’ll receive.
Here are 10 things you can do to be a good bartender:
Master the Basics
As a bartender, it’s important to know the basics of mixology. This includes knowing your spirits, mixers, garnishes, and proper measurements. Begin by familiarizing yourself with the basic tools of the trade, such as shakers, strainers, muddlers, and glassware. Understand when and how to use them. Nobody wants to drink a martini in a rocks glass.
Once you know the tools, you can get to know the various types of alcohol, mixers, syrups, and garnishes commonly used in cocktails. It is important to know their flavors, characteristics, and how they interact with each other. This will allow you to experiment with your own drink recipes down the line. But before you get ahead of yourself, make sure you have the basic cocktails down to a science. Classic cocktail recipes like the Martini, Old Fashioned, Mojito, and Margarita will be ordered constantly, so you’ll want to practice these until you can make them in your sleep (because you’ll probably have a work dream or two).
Stay Organized
Keep your bar area clean, stocked, and well-organized. A tidy workspace makes you more efficient and professional. A well-kept bar also looks more appealing to the customers when they walk in. Make sure to put any tools or bottles back in the right spot as well. This makes it easier for your coworkers to find what they need and eliminates any unneeded stress.
Develop People Skills
I can’t emphasize this enough, bartending is as much about serving drinks as it is about serving people. You don’t have to be your customer’s therapist, but you’ll need to have good communication skills and be friendly, attentive, and approachable. As a bartender, it is important to read people’s body language. Some customers may want to talk, and others may want to be left to themselves.
Also, sometimes there’s a time to listen and a time to get to work. If it’s a quiet afternoon, then having a conversation with a guest is perfectly fine. If it’s a busy Friday night, tell the guest you’ll be back to hear the story when things settle down. Getting people their drinks quickly should be the first priority, and keeping your customers entertained should be your second.
Know Your Customers
In every bar, there will be regulars. Pay attention to your customers’ preferences and needs. Remembering regulars’ favorite drinks or remembering a detail from a previous conversation can create a welcoming atmosphere. You don’t have to remember every customer who walks through the door, but if you’ve interacted with them a few times, you should at least remember that they’ve been into your bar. A friendly “good to see you again”, when they walk through the door can go a long way.
Knowing your customers won’t only make them feel welcome, but it will also help you get more money. At a taproom I previously worked at, I had multiple customers tell me after I left that they don’t really go there anymore, and that I was the reason they would choose to go in there versus other bars in the area. However, after I left, they’d frequent the other bars instead since the new bartenders didn’t take the time to get to know them. Paying attention to your guests and being friendly will always pay off!
Practice Time Management
It’s inevitable that at some point, your bartending job is going to get busy, and at other times, it will be painstakingly slow. Managing your time wisely can help you be efficient in the busy times and keep yourself busy in the slow times. Before your shift starts, make sure items are stocked, so you don’t get stuck having to restock during a rush. When you’re busy, prioritize tasks, stay focused, and strive to serve drinks promptly without sacrificing quality. Remember to prioritize getting your customers served over socializing with them.
Stay Calm Under Pressure
Your bartending job can get hectic, especially during busy hours. It’s important to remember to stay calm and cheerful even if you’re freaking out on the inside. Your attitude sets the tone for the entire atmosphere, so it’s important to stay positive. You’ll also likely come across some rude customers who will make you irate. As angry as they make you try to stay as calm as possible while also maintaining your boundaries.
Be Knowledgeable:
As mentioned earlier, the first thing you’ll want to do is master the basics. You’ll also want to stay informed about different types of alcohol, new trends in mixology, and any specials or promotions your bar offers. This knowledge helps you make recommendations and engage customers. You’ll also probably get questions unrelated to the bar, like “Is there anything fun to do in the area?” or “Where should we go to eat after this?”. Having knowledge of not only your bar but the area you work in general can help you connect with your customers.
Practice Responsible Service
Know your limits and recognize when a customer has had too much to drink. As a bartender, you can lose your job if you overserve a customer, and you may be responsible if something happens due to your overserving. Always promote responsible drinking and be prepared to intervene if necessary. The customer who gets cut off will likely not take kindly to it; however, their safety is much more important than keeping them satisfied.
Stay Updated on Regulations
Familiarize yourself with alcohol laws and regulations in your area. This includes age restrictions, serving hours, and any other legal requirements. Make sure you’re able to recognize IDs from various states and how to tell if they’re fake. Serving someone underage will result in large fines for you and the establishment, so it is important to take the time to ensure the ID is valid and not expired.
Continuously Improve
If you want to be a good bartender, you’ll want to never stop refining your skills! Try new drink recipes, get feedback from customers, and attend depending on how seriously you take your craft, there are bartending courses and workshops to help you improve. When you’re out on the town, look at drink lists at other bars and see if there are any mixed drinks that catch your eye.
At the end of the day, one of the best parts of bartending is the tips. If you’re always on top of your game, then you can work your way up to nicer and nicer restaurants, and earn great money for a few hours of work. If you’re looking for bartending jobs near you, Grub Gigs has listings for positions all across the U.S. You can also get notifications to your inbox of jobs in your area. We never send spam- just jobs! Read the blog for more awesome bartending tips and tricks.