Amanda Talmage started out as a waitress at a pool hall when she was just
out of high school. Eventually, she decided to give bartending a shot -- she
thought she could make more money and have more fun. As it turns out, she
liked it so much that she's now going to a school where she can learn more
about it.
Talmage wants to do more behind the bar than simply make cocktails. In
the end, she wants to actually run the business behind the bar.
Dealing with drunken patrons can be difficult, but Talmage has a clean
history of dealing well with her customers. So is she just lucky, or is there
a trick to it?
If you make a point of getting to know your customers, they will probably
gain respect for you and the decisions that you make behind the bar. When
the time comes to cut them off, they already hold your judgment in high esteem.
"If you build a rapport [with your customers], I think you're doing really
well. You have one or two that get really drunk. For the most part, you get
to know them and they know you'll just set a cup of tea in front of them if
necessary."
According to Talmage, regular customers are one of the most rewarding aspects
of the job. "Your regulars get to know you. Your regulars are the ones that
make you smile every day." She is quick to add that the regulars are also
the ones who tip you the most.
Since they're dealing with the public during every minute of a shift, bartenders
stress the importance of professional service. In the eyes of the public,
a tidy appearance goes a long way in providing good service.
Talmage understands the value of a professional appearance. "I think if
I were a bar owner, I would want to have somebody who was neat, clean, attractive
-- guys with combed hair, girls with make-up."
A bartender's appearance, explains Talmage, mirrors the image of the establishment.
"It's a reflection of the business. It's what people are going to see and
it reflects directly on the owner or the manager of a business.
"Dress to impress."
In other words, street clothes and bad hair may go unnoticed at school,
but they'll create the wrong impression in the bartending world.
Ernie Luke has worked in a variety of settings. For over 30 years, he has
bartended in casinos, hotels and private bars. Like many others in his profession,
he follows the money. However, Luke points out that "if you're good, the tips
actually end up coming to you."
Luke reaffirms that appearance and a professional manner are important,
but he explains that a good bartender is skilled in a number of ways. "Good
bartenders know their recipes by heart. They're fast, and they're efficient."
Another vital skill in the bartending world is sociability. You have to
have the gift of the gab. A good bartender, says Luke, also spends a lot of
time with his customers. "You learn a lot about people," he says. "You gain
people skills that will open up a lot of opportunity for any career where
you're going to be dealing with the public."
As most bartenders will tell you, people who've had too much to drink can
be difficult to deal with, as well as dangerous. You may have to use your
ability to communicate as a means of self-protection. Luke has worked in places
where there have been several knife fights in one night. He says, however,
that if you follow your instincts, these kinds of places are easy to spot
and to avoid.
For the most part, says Luke, his customers become just like old friends.
"I've got customers that send me live lobsters all the way from Maine!"