The Different Bartender Personalities

If you’ve been in the service industry for a while, or are a seasoned bar-goer, you know there’s lots of different kinds of bartenders out there; some good, some… slightly less good.  Whether you head to the local watering hole for a nightly bottle of wine (don’t judge), or just have a few social beers after work, you’re sure to have encountered some of these types.  Read on for some common personalities you’ll find lurking behind the stick.

Of course, this is all in good fun so no mean comments.

The Inattentive Bartender

Can I call ahead and give you my order?  Because waiting 10 minutes for a draft beer makes us feel STRESSED.  You are so nice when you finally notice us doing cartwheels and/or loudly weeping in the hopes of capturing your attention, but damn your ass is slow!

Signs to look out for:

• Brow permanently furrowed in partial confusion
• Constantly laughing at his phone
• 19-year-old girl

The Angry Bartender

Ah the grumpy bartender.  We can’t get mad at you because… alcohol.  What can we do to make you happy, cause good tips and politeness don’t seem to do it?  Your service is surly and your drinks weak, but we just can’t quit you, because, again… alcohol. 

Signs to look out for:

• A thousand-yard stare
• Reminds you of your unhappy childhood
• Plays obscure electronica no one else wants to hear

The Flirty Bartender

You’re hot, but you’re not that hot, you know?  But, we’re weak and insecure so we’ll take all the attention we can get.  Wait, you just got us a free drink.  Maybe you’re hotter than we thought.

Signs to look out for:

• Muscles
• Sparkly eyeshadow
• Tribal tats

The Super Serious Bartender

You make every drink with the intensity of a surgeon saving a life.  You ALWAYS measure and never have time to talk, which is actually fine cause you scare us a little.  You might not have the gift of gab but that’s ok; we’re here to smother our emotions not chit chat.

Signs to look out for:

• Weirdly shaped bottle openers
• Visibly upset when a glass breaks
• Sweaty

The Genuinely Really Good Bartender

We’ve seen you hold 6 bottles of Corona in one hand, open them with the other and take three orders all while dancing along (in a funny, not cringey way) to the music.  You flirt the exact right amount, chat the exact right amount, and make us feel oh-so-special.  We know it’s all for show and we’re not really your best friend, but JUST LET US HAVE OUR DREAMS OK?

Signs to look out for:

• You’re broke leaving the bar

The Tipsy Bartender  

You’re always giving us shots as an excuse to take one yourself and we see you sneakily pouring that crappy house whiskey into your coffee.  By midnight you have to hold on to the tap handles so you don’t fall over.  Your coworkers may hate you, but we LOVE you for your um… generous spirit.

Signs to look out for:

• Glazed eyes
• Inappropriate laughter
• Napping
• We took the same amount of shots, but surprisingly I’m drunker than you.  hmmmm…

Original Article: https://botyapp.com/blog_different-bartender-personalities/

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Hard to Leave Bartending But Why?

Bartending is often referred to as a means to an end. You hear it all the time when people say they’re only bartending until they get back on their feet. “I didn’t go to college and get a degree in Biology to be no bartender,” says the 10 year bartender veteran. “We didn’t take out all those loans to pay for college,” says the parents of the 10 year bartender vet. Let’s be honest it’s one of those jobs you get stuck in but why?   

In my many experiences at the bar, I have met bartenders with no formal education, to bartenders who own their own businesses, have advanced degrees, and even met ones that have other jobs that pay them significantly more. Yet they can’t seem to escape that short-term bartending job.  

The barriers to entry are not hard so it’s easy to start bartending to make some extra money. And you can do so with the comfort of knowing you are not committing for the long-term. Or so you think? A lot of bartending jobs come with no benefits, no career development plan and the prospects for future growth are minimal. Yet it is still a distinctly rewarding job for so many and people are drawn to the career in droves.  

The People

When you bartend you will encounter the most interesting people. You can be standing in front a homeless person to the CEO of a fortune 500 company. You interact with folks who are celebrating the highest of highs to those who are trying to get through tough situations. And regardless of his or her status in life, they end up in your presence. At times, being a bartender is the equivalent of being a performer on stage. The more you put on a show, the more people enjoy and tip you. One night you are a comedian  telling jokes, and on other days you may be asked to be a therapist. You get to hear all the juicy gossip and learn intimate details about people’s home life. People who drink tend to be more honest, funnier and just looking to get some things off their chest that they may have been holding onto for some time. That can be pretty addictive and hard to give up.

The Money

Every day is payday. You can make great money bartending although it is highly likely you won’t be getting any benefits so you have to save your money wisely. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly bartender salary is only around $21k. That doesn’t sound like much, but so much of your money can go undetected by the government. So going home with $400-500 a night cash can be pretty appealing and keep you around for a while.  

The income may not be steady, but it can be significant at times and depending on where you work. Say you get you a regular that ends up tipping big every time. And then are nights you may get that one customer who is really excited about life because they either hit big gambling, won the lottery or got a huge promotion. They got money to burn and end up giving you a $100 tip on a $20 bill just because. This can make for a pretty awesome night.  

The Fun

Being a bartender is like being a chaperone for an adult slumber party. You oversee people at their most vulnerable moments in life. And we all know drinkers are much more fun than when they are sober. The goal of a bartender is to make sure everyone else is having fun and oftentimes you get to see the evolution of a person real-time. They start out as sober, then a little more talkative, and ultimately become your best friend after a few shots of tequila.  

Sure if they drink too much it can become annoying, but most people do control their liquor you are the overseer of all that. And if you buy them a free drink, they may be your best friend for life. So now you are making new friends, getting tipped well and now you also have developed a new admirer. Of course this can be irritating, but everyone loved to be admired a little.   

The Freedom

The people, the money and the fun are extremely compelling reasons to get hooked in the profession. But I believe the main reason why it’s so hard to just exit the profession is the freedom. Sure you can go to other jobs and make more money, but none offer the freedom a bartending job offers you. Sure you have more opportunities to be a responsible adult, but who really wants that? Bartending keeps you committed because:  

• Forget about working a 9 to 5. You have the ability to sleep in and make whatever you want depending on how good you are.
• You don’t take your work home with you. You are not stressed with finishing an assignment at home.
• You get to hang out with all the cool people. Yeah you may have your share of stuffy co-workers, but with all the people you meet, you are always in the middle of an interesting discussion.
• You know how well you are doing on the job. People are more empathetic when they drink, and if you do a good job, you will hear about it. I mean who doesn’t want to be acknowledged for the good work they do? 

Original Article: https://botyapp.com/blog_bartender-hard-to-quit-but-why/ 

 

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Incredible Layered Drinks for Special Occasions

Sometimes, a regular cocktail just doesn’t do it, especially during the holidays. It’s not that it tastes bad, but sipping something that looks like a regular glass of alcohol doesn’t really scream “holiday spirit,” if you ask me.

Behold the layered drink.

The idea of layering your alcohol might sound like something from a high school science project—you know, the old oil-versus-water trick—but layered drinks have some serious kick to them, both in presentation and taste. Not to mention a lot of them are downright perfect for major occasions, such as Valentine’s Day and Halloween.

Here are five incredible layered drinks you can make for some of the most popular occasions:

1. Love Bite

Perfect Occasion: Valentine’s Day

 Ingredients:

• Cherry liqueur
• Clear orange liqueur
• Cream

Not everyone supports the idea of Valentine’s Day, but why hate on a day that encourages the sweetest, fruitiest and most mouth-watering flavor combinations? Here’s where the Love Bite comes in. It’s a beautiful layered shooter, fruity in some areas and tart in others, and perfect for a small toast between two or a date with Netflix.

To make it, layer the orange liqueur on top of the cherry liqueur. Finally, top with cream and sprinkle with love—or self-pity, if that’s what you’re into.

2. Pot o’ Gold

Perfect Occasion: St. Patrick’s Day

Ingredients:

• Bailey’s Irish Cream
• Goldschläger Cinnamon Schnapps 

St. Patrick’s Day usually means either way too many beers or way too many green drinks, so I say it’s time we break these traditions by downing some lucky Pots o’ Gold instead. This definitely-not-green drink consists of a sure-fire combination of Bailey’s Irish Cream (Duh!) and Goldschläger Cinnamon Schnapps.

It’s nontraditional, delicious and easy to make. Just layer the cinnamon schnapps on top of the Irish Cream and enjoy. Garnish with a microscopic leprechaun if desired.

3. American Flag

Perfect Occasion: Independence Day

Ingredients:

• Grenadine
• Crème de cacao (white)
• Blue Curacao

If you ever find yourself bored to tears while waiting for a fireworks show to start, consider passing the time by making an American Flag. Not an actual flag, mind you, unless you’re a descendant of Betsy Ross or something. This colorful and oh-so-patriotic combination of red syrup and blue and white liqueurs makes it a guaranteed hit at a Fourth of July barbecue.

Simply layer the ingredients starting with the grenadine and ending with the Blue Curacao. The drink has a couple of variants; one includes swapping the crème de cacao for peppermint schnapps or vodka and the grenadine for cherry brandy. Either way, you will be the one chanting “Amurika!” once you get one of these in your hand (and a sparkler in the other).

4. Alien Brain Hemorrhage 

Perfect Occasion: Halloween

Ingredients:

• Peach schnapps
• Bailey’s Irish Cream
• Blue Curacao
• Grenadine

Eek! Now this is one scary-looking drink. The Alien Brain Hemorrhage is one of those how-the-heck-did-anyone-come-up-with-this kind of cocktails. Perfect for a Halloween party, the shot looks eerily similar to what we imagine a bloody and stringy section of brain would look like. Weirdly, though, it tastes pretty good.

To make it, fill a shot glass halfway with peach schnapps and then layer Bailey’s Irish Cream on top. Add a dash of Blue Curacao (it will sink past the Irish Cream, giving it that “zombified” glow) and a little grenadine for the goopy brain bits. Prepare yourself for some grossed-out glares.

5. Santa Shot

Perfect Occasion: Christmas

Ingredients:

• Grenadine
• Green crème de menthe
• Mint or peppermint schnapps

 Stuck at one of those boring company Christmas parties? Ask the bartender to whip up a couple of Santa Shots for you and your coworkers. These Christmas-colored shots are simple yet sophisticated and pumped-to-the-max with zesty holiday spirit.

For this concoction, start with the grenadine, and then layer the crème de menthe and schnapps on top (the two may mix together). For an even stronger Christmas twist, use a candy cane to stir your shot or garnish it with a handful of crushed candy cane pieces. Oh, and be sure to offer one to Santa—he’ll need a drink more than anyone.

No matter the occasion, rest assured there’s a layered drink you can make for it. Remember, not only do these drinks look impressive, but they also taste pretty good. So brush up on your layering skills and start planning those lame holiday parties, pronto!

Original Article: https://botyapp.com/blog_incredibl...

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Bartenders: 5 Things to Look for During Training

Training at a new bartending job is tough. It takes time to develop the relationships and workflow that make any service industry gig worthwhile. Sometimes, by the time you get a new job, you may not have the luxury of stressing over whether it’s a good “fit” or not.

Of course, if you’re super hard up for money, you may have to take what you can get. That said, we don’t want you to accept a job that will ultimately make you miserable. Here are some things to look out for during your training shifts that can give you a better overall idea about the establishment and the position as a whole.

How do the Managers and Staff Interact?

This is a big one, and thus, number one on the list. Every bartender or server knows that the difference between a crappy job and one you love; many times comes down to management. So, during your first few shifts, take a look at how the staff reacts to their higher-ups. Do they roll their eyes when the boss walks away? Are they comfortable and relaxed, yet remain respectful? It has been my experience that my relationship with a manager can make or break a job.  

If the staff seems comfortable approaching the boss with problems and mistakes that need fixing, and the manager reacts in an understanding and professional way, that’s a good sign.

What are the Shifts Like?

It’s important to understand what you’re getting into as far as shifts go. I’ve seen many a place where they sort of “feel” like they need someone else, but in reality they’re overstaffed. This leads to a lot of tension between colleagues, and possibly less money for you.

Ask some relevant questions like, “What will my shifts be?” and “Is it a set schedule?” You obviously want to do a great job and it may be an amazing establishment to work for, but if there’s not enough shifts, or more shifts than you feel you can handle, it might make sense to walk away sooner versus later.

Who Cuts Who and When?

In every place I’ve ever worked except one, getting cut is a huge source of stress and frustration for the staff.  It can range from the downright unreasonable to the totally inconsistent. So, if you’ll be on the night shift, try to figure out who gets out when and who makes that decision.  

Being released at an appropriate time may mean the difference between a good night’s rest and an insufficient one. It also can affect your wallet. It may be super busy for happy hour, but if you’re tipping someone else out until 3 am, the money may be a disappointment.

What’s the Food Like?

This one’s pretty simple. This is, most likely, the food you’ll be eating almost every day, sometimes twice a day! If it sucks, that could be a real bummer for your stomach and your health. Similarly, if you have to keep apologizing to customers and comping their bills because of subpar fare, it could turn into a real drain on your paycheck.

Speaking of Paychecks…

Please don’t let this be a mystery to you. You have a right to know how much you’ll be making (including training) and how often. Will your tips come in a check? How do they tax you? These are all things to keep track of and fair questions to ask an employer before you start the job.  

Restaurants and bars often give the impression that being asked to train is not the same as being hired. If that’s their attitude, then you should take the necessary steps to train them in and see if it will be a good fit for both of you.

Original Article: https://botyapp.com/blog_5-things-to-look-for-during-training/ 

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