Any tips for bar work?

Question

I've been offered a job trial on Saturday working behind a bar in a club at 8pm-11pm. I've never done this work before and I was wondering if anybody has some tips for me?

Answer 1

I bartended for 8yrs and all I can tell you is to relax, dont try to serve everyone at the same time and if it gets busy just work from side to side...I find that if you keep your head up and make eye contact with the ppl waiting and simple mouth the words "be with you inna sec" you'll find that they tend to be a lot quiter and a lot more patient while their waiting. If you want to get fancy the little things like always having a cloth by you to wipe down the counter and always placing the bottle or mixer to your left of the glass will help you to stand out in the eyes of management, serve every drink with a beer mat/coaster...I worked in a club in Ireland that held 3000 ppl every Sat night so if you need any tips at all feel free to IM or e'mail me.

Answer 2

Your gratuity covers this, however any additional tips will be gratefully received by the staff for a job well done. If you don't want a tip jar on the bar (which would make people inclined to think they had to tip) then you are well within your rights to say so. To the Americans who were confused by this question, America is a tipping culture, Ireland is not. In Ireland it is not customary to tip with every drink. Open bars at weddings are a relatively new thing to the masses in Ireland that used to be a luxury for the rich, spending your entire life savings on a wedding used to be considered unnecessary. When you consider how much the Irish like to drink, this was probably a sensible precaution to avoid bankruptcy! It's a very generous gesture to provide an open bar at a wedding. It should be considered automatic for guests to provide a small contribution to costs, but it's not. Good luck with your wedding and remember you can talk to your caterer about anything, that's what they are there for.

Answer 3

Bar work is easy as long as you dont get too stressed when it gets busy. Like some1 said in a previous answer as long as you ackknowledge that the waiting customers are there they usually dont get annoyed. If its quiet try to have a laugh an a joke with each customer. In a way you can always tell by the persons demanour,the way they approach the bar and the way they give their order. If they barely talk to you the whole laugh and joke thing goes out of the window. Pulling pints is also very easy-it usually takes some1 at most 3 attempts so you have nothing to worry about. The only hard part will be the till. Ive worked in a couple of bars over the last 3 years and on the whole is good fun, except for the pay. That reminds me im in work in about 3 hrs lol

Answer 4

3 hours is a short enough shift so dont worry. Wear comfortable shoes that wont slip on a wet floor.
Get there 15 mins early to learn the layout of the fridges for the mixers and bottle bears, and to work out the till.
Always repeat back the order to the customer if it is more than three drinks, this helps you.
Remember you can put a pint pot upside down and balance another on top, under the beer tap, so you can leave it to fill whilst you get other drinks.
Dont rush around or you will crash into things.
Smile and be friendly, have manners and expect them from customers. Have a sense of humour.
Remember, no body will die from having to wait, enjoy yourself and dont be afraid to ask the others for help, they were all new once. good luck.

Answer 5

just be friendly,don't be afraid to ask questions(even silly ones),once you show an interest and a willingness to learn there should'nt be a problem with you not doing bar work before.. .It will get easier once you are more familiar with where everything is etc...then its just fun after that ...also when you take a drinks order key it into the till first then organise the drinks and you can check on the till what drinks you've done , also , clean as you go , watch what change you give back ,especially the notes .Good luck, relax and enjoy

Answer 6

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When my brother got married in Atlanta there was an open bar, and there was a tip jar on the bar. Guests will probably put a decent amount of money for one tip.

Answer 7

learn how to pour pints, lip read and make change in the dark! Aslo always smile and don't take any nonsense. If anyone wants to buy you a drink take a couple of quid out of the change, put it in a pot under the bar and say you will have it later - the money is always better then booze!

Answer 8

Don't let yourself be discouraged ... drunk men will make you feel sleazy if you let them. The name calling, cat calls, and the looks can make you feel two inches tall. Don't let it get to you. Be flirty, be sweet. And yes, a low cut top doesn't hurt (I wouldn't recommend a short skirt until you've gotten comfortable with the job). Always smile. Make each and every customer feel like he/she is the most important person in the room. Since you're an amateur at the drinks, your service and attitude are what will impress your employer and bring in the tips.

Above all ... SMILE!!! : )

Answer 9

Be friendly to the customers, but remember you have to keep working so don't let a customer talk your ear off.

Answer 10

check the cellar for camera's, find a blind spot, then when you wanna get pissed take a straw an a bottle of reef place the straw in the bottle, rap your lips around the bottle allowing part of the straw to stick out of your mush. this allows you to down a bottle in seconds, one every 20 minutes and the night goes quicker. if your a lager drinker, accidently on purpose make it really frothy then take out the back to dispose of, and finally when pouring spirits, throw in the wrong mixer such as diet coke instead of regular and dispose of down your gullett