Becoming A Bartender

Being a bartender is one thing, but being a good bartender is another! There are many cocktail bars around the world today, and if you have been in any of them, you will have noticed that the bartender is charismatic, skilled, and captivating in their approach. If you want to know how to be a good bartender, read on for some top tips.   

Before we provide you with these tips, though, let’s take a look at this career role. There are a number of different roles you will have as a bartender; it is not just about creating exciting cocktails. You will also need to manage bar operations, as well as ordering and managing liquor and bar supplies. You also need to collect payments from customers, operate cash registers, and return change. 

There are a number of other duties you will have. This includes cleaning bars, tables, and work areas, as well as checking customer ID to make sure they are of the legal drinking age. You will also need to mix drinks according to the recipes, as well as taking drink orders from customers, greeting them, giving them drink menus, and inform them of daily specials. 

So, now that you have a good understanding of this career, let’s take a look at some tips to help you excel. 

Have a good attitude – It is vital to have a good attitude in the hospitality industry. No matter how bad your day is going, maintain a smile and treat all customers the same. Be polite and never complain in front of your customers. 

Make sure customers can easily recognize you - You need to make sure that customers can easily recognize that you are the bartender. This could be by wearing a lanyard with a bright printed ribbon or a specific uniform, for example. After all, no one wants to experience that awkward moment when they ask the wrong person for a drink!

Be professional at all times – This is a vital tip for most careers! Being professional does not only relate to the way in which you interact with your customers, but it also refers to how you prepare drinks and store the tools you use. For example, you should always keep a bottle opener strapped to your belt so that it is handy whenever you need it. In terms of preparing drinks, make sure they are served in the right glass and at the correct temperature. For instance, a Margarita glass should always be chilled before pouring. You should also make sure you never engage in anything more than general chitchat with your customers; don’t talk about anything personal. You should never overstep the line even if you do feel comfortable with the customer in question.

Be entertaining – The bartender who interacts with their customers is the bartender to be remembered. If you provide a fun experience for your guests, you can rest assured they will come back time and time again. The best bartenders have plenty of tricks up their sleeves. If you take a look on the Internet, you will find lots of bar tricks for you to master. Choose tricks that you feel comfortable with, as the last thing you want to do is fall flat on your face by making a mistake. But, if you do make an error, just laugh it off. The most basic trick to start off with is flipping a bottle. To perform this trick, all you need to do is grab a bottle of liquor by the neck, then gently swing it up and catch it once it is flipped. Make sure you have a cocktail glass on hand so that you can impress by pouring the drink as soon as you have caught the bottle. 

Get creative and make suggestions – Show your experience by making recommendations to customers about drinks for them to try. Ask them what sort of drinks they usually enjoy, i.e. fruity, sweet, or sour, or what spirits they like, and then make your recommendations based on this. Don’t simply choose the cocktail you like the best. Most of the time the customer will take your recommendation, as they will value your expert experience. Moreover, you can alter cocktails that are currently on the menu to suit your customers’ taste. Ask for feedback, and if there was something the customer in question didn’t really like, suggest making it with less of a certain ingredient to see if they like it better the next time. 

A clean bar is a happy bar – One of your main bartender duties is to keep the bar clean. If the bar is covered in spillages, not only will it look unsightly, but also it will start to smell as time goes on. This will make you appear unprofessional, and it can even put people off from ordering a drink. Make sure you replace napkins regularly and dispose of empty straw wrappers and glasses. Wipe down the bar regularly too. This will also make the environment more enjoyable for you. After all, you will quickly get frustrated if you are working in a messy area. 

Take a bartending course – The best way to perfect your craft is to take a bartending course. After all, you will learn from professionals who know all of the tricks of the trade to make certain that you are successful in this career role. There are many different types of bartending courses that are available today. All you need to do is a quick search online to find one in your local area. 

If you follow the tips that have been provided above, you are guaranteed to take your skills to the next level. A good bartender does not merely create delicious and unique drinks; they provide an outstanding experience for all of their customers. If you remember this, you should have no trouble.