I'm a Bartender
October 25, 2005
I started my second job this weekend, bartending. When I arrived, I was assigned one person to follow around and they would show me the ropes. He asked if I had any experience bartending, to which I replied, "no."
Him: Did you go to school?
Me: No
Him: Do you have any drinking experience?
Me: Plenty. At the minimum four years of undergrad experience.
Him: I have four years experience in the Marines. I can outdrink any college boy.
Me: ...
Obviously, a very mature bartender. In his first five minutes he turned our conversation into a pissing match. Anyway, as I continued helping out I learned where we have to pick up the clean glasses and set them up; where we get the big tanks full of bottles of beer; how we set up the bar; how to run the registers; and the "legal way*" to mix various drinks that I've been making for years.
It was a lot of fun. My favorite part about it is chatting with the customers. I love it. It is very much providing a customer service, but not under the normal circumstances. What I mean is that you're not dealing with people who are in a bad mood because their internet isn't working. All the people that come up to you are in a good mood and of course are getting in better moods with every swallow.
My first shift I pretty much watched, rang up a few customers, opened bottles of beer, and salted some rims of glasses for margaritas (which along with cosmos are the strongest drink that we can make). The second shift I would take several turns running the bar for several minutes at a time with a veteran bartender watching and providing expertise.
On Thursday I'll be running my own bar without anyone providing any help. Yeah, I'm a little nervous, but I'm sure that once I get my first few drinks made and I start chatting it up with the customers I'm sure I'll do just fine.