6 facts you need to know before becoming a bartender

All races have their positive and negative praise, it is almost impossible to find the perfect job. Since there will always be factors or situations that will test our endurance and our patience but above all, our attitude.

Most careers or professions have positives and negatives, there is nothing 100% good or bad. If you, for example, want to be a doctor. There will undoubtedly be many advantages when you work in your career, such as the fact that it is quite well paid. However it has its negative side, as it is the case that it is a highly stressful. Also difficult and especially with demanding schedules and a lot of pressure.

One might think that the Bartender profession does not have negative aspects, since the Bartender seems to always be having fun, has an active nightlife, meets many different people every night at the Bar and also receives juicy tips one night, when the bar is full.

Truth about bartending

The truth is that the profession of Bartender is not simple at all. The night hours do not allow you to have a normal social life with your partner or friends. Sometimes you have to attend to hundreds of people in a single night while standing for hours. You must memorize the names of customers, drinks, cocktails, food and even ingredients and implements of the Bar that you must know how to use.

But if you are already a professional Bartender, we are sure that you probably know about all the negative and positive things about your job. As everything in life, there is a balance, and even when the positive things are way more valuable than the negatives. We always need to consider both.

However, if you are new in the bartending business or you are thinking about becoming one in the future. It is important that you take into consideration certain facts regarding your job and all related activities. Here are 6 of them:

Fact #1: If you understand all about flavors and chemistry, you will create the best drinks

Bartenders are working with a set menu and classic drinks almost all the time. However, a good bartender needs to prepare for a not so popular drink request. There are over thoughts of cocktails, but you should not be afraid. Most of them are easy. They based one two ingredients, it shouldn’t be too hard. If sometimes, you’re not sure. Just ask the guest. For example, “what was that cocktail?” or “is that with vodka?”

As a bartender, you should know most of the drinks, but it is almost impossible to remember everything. Do not be shy to ask the guest. Also, we live in the digital era, so there are dozens of great apps that could be handful to look up. However, during busiest times at the bar. There won’t be time to look up because by wasting every minute. You’re not making extra tips. Over the time, you will learn most of them. In some way, one of the best parts of this job is being able to create new drinks and cocktails for the customers, based on their preferences.

Fact #2: Not everyone can or should be a bartender

Bartending is a total boom nowadays, and more and more people want to dedicate themselves to this profession. For many reasons, especially for the good tips and for the nightlife and hectic that comes from the hand of work in a Bar or an event. The truth is that it is not an easy job and more importantly, it is not for everyone.

Maybe you are thinking that this is an easy job but the truth is that it isn’t that simple. Even when you master the art of making drinks. You will need to have other skills like enjoying conversations and party time with people. Bartender is a people person job. You always have to be ready to communicate with guests and other works of the venue.

Most profitable working bars are the hardest place to work due to loud music. Therefore, even having to take orders might be difficult. Also, bartenders’ shifts might be very difficult due to long working hours, and two or three days in a row. It is especially harder for event bartenders. They get hired for long hours. As a bartender not being able to sleep much it is quite normal. If you aren’t ready for any of these, you should think about doing something else.

Fact #3: You will have to deal with some unwanted flirting

You need to be prepared to deal with things like unwelcome comments. Customers leaving their phone numbers on napkins or receipts or some others who will ask you out. It is especially very common for female bartenders. If a bartender is nice with people, it does not mean that they like them and want to go out.

You can always say deal with this in any way you want, however we recommend to do it most politely and nicely is possible.

This not only happens in the Bartending profession, it can actually happen anywhere. However when it comes to bartending work, you usually have to deal with a wide variety of clients. All with different attitudes and personalities. Even more so when those customers mix their personalities with alcohol, which is where things can get tough.

Fact #4: Bartending job is very physical, so invest in a good pair of shoes

Even when this is a relatively safe job, you can suffer some injuries like Tendonitis or Carpal tunnel pain, because of all the time you spend standing and preparing drinks. In this case, a nice pair of comfortable shoes could make a difference.

The truth is that all work has its risks in physical and mental health, some to a greater degree than others. In the case of Bartending, it is important to take care of both aspects. Especially because what was mentioned before with problems with the Carpal Tunnel or Tendonitis, can become something more serious and must be treated, that is with regard to the part physical, however also and in equal measure, the bartender must take care of the stress that can be produced by overwork and pressure during the long working hours to which he is subjected. It is important to have ways to release pressure such as practicing meditation or taking walks outside or doing some exercise.

Fact #5: You will be tempted to sleep until very late in the afternoon

If you work in a busy city like Los Angeles or New York, you will be working at the bar until 4 or 5 am, so you will get home early in the morning, is always tempting to sleep until you are close to getting back to your next shift however if you do that, you could miss other opportunities like working in a private event or a well-paid gig.

However, it is also advisable to take time to rest since one cannot work all the time either. It is necessary for the bartender to make time for himself, to spend time with friends and family, exercise, go out, enjoy the city or simply rest.

Fact #6: There is a big drinking culture among all the bartenders

There is a debate between bartenders about if it is ok or not to drink on the job, some are totally against it while some others are ok with drinking a shot or a cocktail once in a while. Especially when they are closing the Bar and need to relax a little bit. In the end, it will be your choice.

The answer to this dilemma comes more depending on the policies and rules of the Bar. Or restaurant or Lounge where the bartender works. It may be that in the Bar where he works every night they do not allow the Bartender to drink a single drop of alcohol during his shift. However, it may be that the opposite happens and that during their shift they are allowed from time to time, to take a Shot to help them with stress and to cope with the night.

Questions and Answers

Being a bartender requires more than having proper skills to serve drinks and cocktails, you need to be aware of all those facts and things that are part of the job and be prepared to deal with them.