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nrr posted:Holy geez, thread. It was shorter than a tipping argument at least.
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Aug 18, 2013 03:41
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Well just had my first bartending shift in about a year. I got sent home early cause it was dead, said they would call me if they wanted me back basically. hosed up the one drink I made. Thing about it is, I bartended a little and barbacked a shitload at a decent bar that tried craft beers, cocktails, etc. This is a blue collar everyone knows everyone and the nicest beer there is Corona. They don't even have shakers. Also, I am the only dude bartender and I look like a hipster. There was about 5 dudes sitting at the bar, I walk in talk to the manager "Hi Im Tastic" then my glasses break. She starts talkin to me and all the guys leave. I misheard the one drink I had to make. I overthought everything and was nervous as poo poo the whole time. And to top it off, I had the worst week of my life before this. Ugh.
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Aug 18, 2013 04:26
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Tastic posted:Well just had my first bartending shift in about a year. I got sent home early cause it was dead, said they would call me if they wanted me back basically. hosed up the one drink I made. Thing about it is, I bartended a little and barbacked a shitload at a decent bar that tried craft beers, cocktails, etc. This is a blue collar everyone knows everyone and the nicest beer there is Corona. They don't even have shakers. Also, I am the only dude bartender and I look like a hipster. There was about 5 dudes sitting at the bar, I walk in talk to the manager "Hi Im Tastic" then my glasses break. She starts talkin to me and all the guys leave. I misheard the one drink I had to make. I overthought everything and was nervous as poo poo the whole time. And to top it off, I had the worst week of my life before this. Ugh. Don't worry. Consider it a warmup for your next, proper trial shift. That said I've never known anyone ever do a full shift for a trial shift anyway. You always get sent home early.
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Aug 18, 2013 10:52
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Masonity posted:Don't worry. Consider it a warmup for your next, proper trial shift. I went in today to say I had to jump town for a few days and everything was cool. I was just wiggin out cause dam I miss working behind a bar and this is really my only shot to get back into it. Plus, it is under new owners and a lot of good stuff is happening. Its just one of those things where it was comical how everything went wroung. Anyone have any advice on how to bring in some more blue collar folk to a bar? There was mention of bringing in glass front coolers to show off the imports they would be bringing in. Thing is, I don't think the bar manager knows poo poo about imports/crafts. Even then, there are soooo many pretty fuckin amazing bars in this town doing that it would be stupid to try and compete with em. We are out of the way from a lot of places so not really anything you can hop to. The other big thing is live music. There was a mention that they cant hold music because the previous owners screwed up something. I am aware there is some sort of live music liscensing thing? Does anyone have any experience with that? I am in the state of Illinois if that helps.
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Aug 19, 2013 03:55
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Tastic posted:I went in today to say I had to jump town for a few days and everything was cool. I was just wiggin out cause dam I miss working behind a bar and this is really my only shot to get back into it. Plus, it is under new owners and a lot of good stuff is happening. Its just one of those things where it was comical how everything went wroung. If it's Chicago, you sure as poo poo have to have licensing for live music, and it's pretty annoying. It's known as a PPA. Blue collar? Be open during earlier hours, advertise High Life, and have a jukebox stocked accordingly with hits blue collar sorts might like. Old country, some classic rock, Gordon Lightfoot, I don't know. That sorta thing. I can point you in the direction of a few places to take notes from if you are indeed in Chicago. Edit: Also man, relax. The clientele will warm to you or they won't. But chances are, if you're the only bar they can go to (key point: be open during hours others aren't), they'll make do with you. They're old codgery sorts and don't like change and don't like new poo poo. The day you get one of them to try a Hooegarden, and they like it, they will order it maybe once, maybe twice ever again, then have a lovely day, order their usual, and things will be the same as ever. At least that was how it was for me. Ally McBeal Wiki fucked around with this message at 23:31 on Aug 19, 2013 |
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Aug 19, 2013 23:27
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Also if all the bars downtown are doing A and people love A and you're not downtown that isn't necessarily a reason NOT to do A. Give them what they want closer to home and maybe they won't go down there for it but stay nearby instead. Depends on what A is, of course -- Coyote Ugly in the burbs doesn't work. Is there a bar that has Quiz / Trivia Night locked down in your town yet? If not you should be that bar. Blue Collar people like quiz night. Any major industries in town? Go directly to them and talk to HR or whatever, see if you can get them to hold their holiday party or other events at your place instead of wherever they usually do it. Offer a great price / open bar for an hour or so or whatever, see what can be done. Send a thank you card afterward with a tray of sandwiches or something to try to seal the deal.
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Aug 20, 2013 02:05
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Tomorrow I take my leave of the wood, 3:00am drinking, and all the other poo poo. I'm not out of the industry yet, stepping into a busy breakfast place to serve (no tender, and the only booze they have is vodka (for caesers), sparkling wine (for mimosas), and poo poo local beer) - closes no later than 4pm, so I can actually spend time with my 9-5 partner and friends. Hopefully a year from now I'll be out of the industry entirely.
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Aug 21, 2013 01:32
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JawKnee posted:Tomorrow I take my leave of the wood, 3:00am drinking, and all the other poo poo. I'm not out of the industry yet, stepping into a busy breakfast place to serve (no tender, and the only booze they have is vodka (for caesers), sparkling wine (for mimosas), and poo poo local beer) - closes no later than 4pm, so I can actually spend time with my 9-5 partner and friends. I'd love to work until 4 or 5pm. I'm considering leaving the trade for it. I doubt I'd have much luck looking for office roles even though I have a degree (2:2 in economics and law, 2007) so I'll probably look for management jobs in more daytime places like sandwich shops and the like. Pretty much for the same reason, I want to spend more time in the evenings with my wife. I loving love my current job though. The venue, my colleagues, even the customers. I just don't love not being able to have a normal life, spending evenings with my wife and kids.
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Aug 21, 2013 02:07
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That was harder than I thought it would be, regulars buying me shots all night, waitresses tearing up at the almost-homilies some of my favorites were delivering about me. It was the percolation of what I like about the social aspect of the industry. if only the nights weren't so late.
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Aug 22, 2013 19:48
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JawKnee posted:That was harder than I thought it would be, regulars buying me shots all night, waitresses tearing up at the almost-homilies some of my favorites were delivering about me. It was the percolation of what I like about the social aspect of the industry. if only the nights weren't so late. I never accept the shots; if they want to buy me shots, I've got a day off and they can meet me at the bar I plan on going to that day. Drinking on the job never helps your tips or work, and if it helps your mood, you need to get into another business--one where you don't need to be tipsy to be happy. I drink plenty, but not when I'm working (or 8 hours before).
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Aug 24, 2013 07:59
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Kaizoku posted:I never accept the shots; if they want to buy me shots, I've got a day off and they can meet me at the bar I plan on going to that day. Drinking on the job never helps your tips or work, and if it helps your mood, you need to get into another business--one where you don't need to be tipsy to be happy. I drink plenty, but not when I'm working (or 8 hours before). Good for you, how's the puritan bar scene these days? Also it was my last shift.
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Aug 24, 2013 08:26
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Kaizoku posted:I never accept the shots; if they want to buy me shots, I've got a day off and they can meet me at the bar I plan on going to that day. Drinking on the job never helps your tips or work, and if it helps your mood, you need to get into another business--one where you don't need to be tipsy to be happy. I drink plenty, but not when I'm working (or 8 hours before). I never read the posts. If they want to make posts at me, they should make them the very last post. right in front of me, not 2 posts up where I have to read them to not look like an idiot.
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Aug 24, 2013 09:36
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But guys, drinking on the job is dangerous, and, and did you hear? Sometimes it's not even legal!
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Aug 24, 2013 10:34
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I'm honestly not into drinking while I work - I work in a high-volume place where precision drinks are the norm. I don't have room to be remotely sloppy.. if I was in a laid-back noonegivesashit "what's in an old fashioned?" kinda place I may be swayed. Even when I did work a more relaxed place it just made me pine for freedom and made the hours longer when I drank
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Aug 25, 2013 08:57
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That's not even the point. The whole reason JawKnee is even bringing any of this up at all is that this was his last bartending shift. Ever. Dude has the right to get blacked the gently caress out behind the wood if he wants to. It's his farewell. ie. I'm going off to war and there's a good chance I'll never see any of you again.
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Aug 25, 2013 12:17
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Exactly. I never drink at work. I don't even drink at the big Lush Life events I put on, where all the work is done and there is no reason not to. I find it unprofessional. But hey, last day behind the stick? Drink'em if you got'em.
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Aug 26, 2013 09:41
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Speaking of events and professionalism, what cabin are you in this year?
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Aug 26, 2013 16:21
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Just met a female barback who had the job for around a year and actually moved to a new barbacking job at my new place. She knew enough about cocktails to make me a completely acceptable perfect Rob Roy and was socially awkward to a point where it was actually quite charming and uninhibited. I'd open a bar just to hire her. Will be campaigning for her promotion. I say campaigning, I'll be tell the head bartender he's dumb as rocks for not hiring her straight up as a bartender.
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Aug 31, 2013 01:14
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The barback < bartender pipeline can be weird, but a motivated person makes their own luck. Where (geographically) was this?
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Aug 31, 2013 04:03
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I'm recently out of the military after 8 years and am going back to school and thinking of taking up a bartending job while in school. It seems like most of this thread is about bartending in actual bars, what about restaurants? There's a few restaurants opening up in my town (about the style of something like Applebees) and I was thinking of applying to one of those. Any advice on looking into that scene?
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Aug 31, 2013 06:05
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nrr posted:That's not even the point. The whole reason JawKnee is even bringing any of this up at all is that this was his last bartending shift. Ever. Dude has the right to get blacked the gently caress out behind the wood if he wants to. It's his farewell. ie. I'm going off to war and there's a good chance I'll never see any of you again. I missed the last shift part, sorry. I just have worked with too many people I have to put to bed mid-shift and wake up for closing at the end of the night to be okay with it. Last shift is definitely an exception--you get hosed up! I'd like to note, I am from and did my first decade in the industry in Wisconsin. The people who can pace themselves are out of the norm. I still feel, in a regular shift, shots aren't a good idea the same way a waiter sitting at their table isn't--"You did a shot with them, you like them better than us?"
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Aug 31, 2013 07:33
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I haven't kept up with this thread, but I read your old one and loved it. I have a few questions on my liquor of choice: gin. My first drinking love was and still is a gin and tonic. At home, I like making it with Bombay Sapphire or Tanqueray with Schweppes in those tiny bottles so it's always fresh. However, I remember from the last thread that it was labeled a "girly drink," and I do hate having the bartender serve it with one of those tiny straws. Is there any "manly-er" alternative I might like? I'll sometimes drink a fancy gin like Hendrick's straight, but not every bar has that. The parts of the gin and tonic I like: the rich herbal taste of the gin, the fizziness of the tonic, and the dash of lime. And unrelated, what are some other drinks I might like if I like amaretto sour?
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Sep 1, 2013 01:52
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Gin and tonic isn't girly, whoever told you that is wrong. Amaretto sour is girly.
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Sep 1, 2013 02:20
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Cantorsdust posted:I haven't kept up with this thread, but I read your old one and loved it. I have a few questions on my liquor of choice: gin. Is there a specific thing about an amaretto sour that you enjoy? Is it the tart of the sour, or the sweetness of the amaretto, or a combination of both? I tend to get a lot of girls asking for ridiculous drinks I've never heard of ("can you make me a purple swirly panty twister?") and they act like its completely outrageous if I don't know exactly how to make it. Over the years I've learned that if I can get them to identify one particular flavor of it they enjoyed I can generally create something that's close enough to what they wanted to make them happy. This tends to work for a lot of people; most folks who aren't professional drinkers tend to find something they like and stick with it, so I look for a common thread in what they already have experience with to use when trying to turn them on to something else. And the next time someone calls you girlie for drinking gin and tonics, remind them that you'll be the one laughing at their bedside when they've come down with malaria. Gin recommendation: Hendricks. It's a cucumber gin and it's quite tasty.
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Sep 1, 2013 02:21
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Benny D posted:Gin recommendation: Hendricks. It's a cucumber gin and it's quite tasty. He mentioned that one. I'd also recommend Citadelle or Port of Barcelona, for either straight drinking or martinis (not necessarily G&T).
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Sep 1, 2013 02:31
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Also I don't really care for tonic water so my usual summer drink is a Tom Collins. With Hendricks if it's around / I have paper in my pocket.
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Sep 1, 2013 02:52
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Thanks for the reassurance of my manliness, I guess. For amaretto sours, I like the sweet start and the tart punch afterwards. Are whiskey sours similar?
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Sep 1, 2013 02:55
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If they serve it, try sipsmith. It's really good gin. And girly? It originated in the British army. Real girly. I bet Andy mcnab wears a bra.
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Sep 1, 2013 03:00
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Cantorsdust posted:I haven't kept up with this thread, but I read your old one and loved it. I have a few questions on my liquor of choice: gin. I am a big fan of rickeys, be they gin or rye. Your choice of liquor, half a lime (NOT Roses), and mineral water.
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Sep 1, 2013 03:03
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Cantorsdust posted:Thanks for the reassurance of my manliness, I guess. For amaretto sours, I like the sweet start and the tart punch afterwards. Margarita (not frozen). Request Grand Marnier or Cointreau instead of triple sec (if it's a classy place they will do this or sub some other nice orange liqueur by default anyway). No salt on the rim that's dumb. If you asked me for a drink that you would like like that I'd make a chocolate cake martini (half lemon vodka and half frangelico) and put about a half lemon's worth of wedges into the shaker before shaking it. I would change the name to something more manly. raton fucked around with this message at 03:16 on Sep 1, 2013 |
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Sep 1, 2013 03:11
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If you want a classic "manly" drink with a bit of sweetness, I'd have to recommend the Manhattan as well, especially if you're a fan of the herbal aspect of gin (which is what tends to turn people off of Manhattans, I've found). There's not really any sourness to speak of, mind you.
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Sep 1, 2013 03:24
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Cantorsdust posted:My first drinking love was and still is a gin and tonic. At home, I like making it with Bombay Sapphire or Tanqueray with Schweppes in those tiny bottles so it's always fresh. However, I remember from the last thread that it was labeled a "girly drink," and I do hate having the bartender serve it with one of those tiny straws. Is there any "manly-er" alternative I might like? I'll sometimes drink a fancy gin like Hendrick's straight, but not every bar has that. The parts of the gin and tonic I like: the rich herbal taste of the gin, the fizziness of the tonic, and the dash of lime. My absolute favorite G&T is Hendrick's with Fever Tree tonic water. I highly highly recommend trying out some tonic waters besides Schweppes. I find that it makes a huge difference, especially if you are splurging on some nicer gin. You won't look back.
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Sep 1, 2013 07:12
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For something like the third Saturday this month, one of my co-workers failed to show up for his shift, without telling anyone, or responding to texts/calls. It's frustrating because I feel like he's being kept on because he's the only one with a significant bartending experience, but he clearly has no intention to actually read his schedule, which is frustrating for me, because I always have to end up staying a few extra hours just to cover for him, and once I have to leave, my manager, who (at least today) has been there since 9 in the morning doing various other poo poo and would like to get home to his wife/kid, takes over, and bartending isn't actually his thing. On the bright side, I had my first >$100 day on Wednesday. Funnily, it was at my second bar job, which is just beer and wine, but I think having to go to the liquor store next door during the first act of the play I was working and pick up a bunch of cold beer because we ran out impressed a lot of people. It felt good to bring home that much.
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Sep 1, 2013 08:39
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Mr. Tibbs posted:My absolute favorite G&T is Hendrick's with Fever Tree tonic water. I highly highly recommend trying out some tonic waters besides Schweppes. I find that it makes a huge difference, especially if you are splurging on some nicer gin. You won't look back. Also, Old Tom, and while it lasts, Malacca.
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Sep 2, 2013 03:19
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I actually prefer schweppes, or even Sainsburys sugar free tonic water, to Fevertree.
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Sep 2, 2013 14:41
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Let's say I am at a bar discussing something with colleagues and I am sick or really do not want to have any alcohol for some reason, what is something I can order that won't make me feel like I am drinking chocolate milk in the corner while my father is pounding Jack Daniels at the bar.
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Sep 2, 2013 20:01
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Soda water with a lime.
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Sep 2, 2013 20:05
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N/A beer, too.
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Sep 2, 2013 20:10
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What's wrong with water or Diet Coke? If you're at a bar and people are giving you poo poo about not drinking, they're the one with problems, not you.
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Sep 2, 2013 20:38
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| # ? May 31, 2024 19:34 |
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Coco13 posted:What's wrong with water or Diet Coke? If you're at a bar and people are giving you poo poo about not drinking, they're the one with problems, not you. It's a (very, very mild) annoyance when people come up and apologize for asking for a glass of water or a coke because they're the DD or because it's loving hot. If you're going to treat me like Gunga loving Din, yeah, I'll be annoyed, but I don't give a poo poo if you're a DD looking for the odd pop or glass of water. I loving encourage it, actually.
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Sep 2, 2013 23:19
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