Working with clients is always difficult. Especially, when our work forces us to be in contact with them all the time. There are jobs where contact with the client is minimal, and there are others where it is constant. The bartender is in contact with customers, every day.
There are many things that bartenders can do while working with customers, and these 6 tips are going to be the most useful.
When you are working as a bartender in a regular bar or in a mobile bar. You know that besides preparing delicious cocktails and creating the best mixes. You are going to have a close interaction with your customers. In some way, you are not only going to serve drinks. You are going to have to listen to them and try to make them happy. Customer service is one of the most important aspects of the bartender’s job.
In short, the bartender basically becomes a friend to talk to. Or even someone to give you advice. The Bartender has to be friendly, courteous, respectful and smile all the time. In addition, you must have a special gift for dealing with all types of clients.
Part of being a Bartender is having that kind of approach with the customer. Also doing it in the best possible way. Why it is not enough to serve them a good cocktail or drink, but you also have to go further and make them feel special. The bartender must always be attentive to the needs of the customers.
Working with the client becomes as or more important than knowing how to make cocktails and juggle bottles. Some bartenders go further and learn juggling and special tricks to entertain customers. While they wait at the bar for their drink or cocktail. These Bartenders with special abilities are called Flair Bartender.
When someone is looking for a bartender to hire to tend to their bar. It is important that they tend to the customers in the best possible way but how can they do it? What do they need to do to keep the customers happy? How can they increase their tips every night? Well, we are going to provide 6 tips that will help you to keep your customers happy and most importantly, to make them come back every night.
- Have a good attitude: Customer service relates to having the right attitude. For a bartender it is important to cultivate a positive attitude because in some way. The success of your job as a bartender relates to this. Having the right attitude is always very relevant.
Attitude is super important, not only in personal life but also in work. If the bartender always has a good attitude, he will undoubtedly convey it to the customer in the same way. In addition, you must have a positive attitude taking into account the more you do it. The more tips you will receive from customers satisfied with your service. This is all thanks to bartender etiquette.
- Serve your customers quickly and efficiently: When the bar gets busy you are going to have to work fast but at the same time. You are going to have to still provide excellent customer service. Customers hate to wait, so you are going to need to tend to them as soon as possible. You can’t afford to be fast and messy, you need to be prepared to be fast and provide excellence in your service.
Prompt customer service is essential, especially since no one wants to wait hours for a drink or a cocktail. When the customer arrives at the bar. He wants to be served immediately and the Bartender to make his cocktail or drink the right way.
But it must not only be fast, but also effective and efficient. This means that by doing things quickly you should not waste resources during the process. You must make the cocktails quickly without wasting ingredients and taking care of the implements you use to prepare them.
3. Talk to your customers but not too much: Most of the time the customers love to talk to bartenders and that is fine. However, there are some things that you can talk about with your customers. But also there are other things that you are going to have to avoid. A golden rule: Never talk about religion or politics, talking about these topics can end very badly.
The bartender must have an appropriate balance between relating well to the customer and talking to him, but at the same time, setting limits. There are lines that should not be crossed and you have to know how to mark them, finding a correct balance. It is fine to listen to the customer, but the bartender must be careful when giving opinions or advice.
4. Keep your work area organized and clean: if you keep your bar organized and clean you will be working better because you will be working in a more efficient and hygienic place but also because it will make that your customers feel better and they will be willing to order a drink or more if they feel comfortable in your bar.
Cleanliness is important first and foremost. Not only because having the work area neat and clean, facilitates the work of the Bartender. But also because customers will feel much more comfortable if they perceive a neat and clean bar. No matter how neat and well presented the bartender is, the bar must be so presentable and clean as well.
5. Never stop paying attention to your customers: You can be sure that your success as a bartender it’s in the way you serve your customers at the bar. If you see their glass empty, offer a refill or ask them if they want anything else. Is important that you pay attention to your customers’ needs all the time.
Customers must be served from the moment they enter the bar, until they leave. The Bartender must have eyes on his back and everywhere, always attentive to each client. All customers are different, and for that reason they deserve to be treated differently.
Some clients enjoy chatting for a while at the bar, while having a drink; you have to listen to those. Other customers prefer to just sit and have a cocktail without speaking, let him do so without interrupting or disturbing you. Other clients ask for advice, listen to it and if necessary, support it.
The Bartender must know how to handle all kinds of customers who come to the bar, from the happiest to the most uncomfortable. And you must also know how to deal with an argument between one or more clients or a fight. All this is related to customer service and at the same time, with the care of the bar and all its spaces. The Bartender must always be alert and attentive to everything.
- Be always prepared with bartender etiquette: Sleep well the day/night before your shift, check if your bar is fully stocked and if everything is in the right place, customers hate to ask for a specific drink and have the bartender say that they are out of it.
Preparing the bar as well as the utensils, ingredients and other products is vital. Also, having the bar clean and all the implements that you use to prepare the cocktails is important. In addition to all those elements that the bartender must consider, it is important to maintain a good attitude.
Other items that the bartender should always carry with them are: A lighter, gum, mints, tissues and any other item that customers may request while they are in the bar.
Questions and Answers about bartender etiquette
Good service is essential in spaces such as Bars, Restaurants, Lounge, or events of all kinds. The Bartender, beyond being a creator of cocktails and drinks, has to provide good customer service, since this not only generates more profits for the bar, but more tips for them.
Serving each client as if they were a VIP client is essential. And it is precisely one of the most important tasks that every Bartender must consider.
Positive attitude is important, serve them with a smile. Be empathetic, know how to listen and communicate appropriately, without crossing certain limits of course. In addition, the bartender must always serve everyone in the same way, without exceptions.
Preparing for any contingency is always important, or situation that arises. Also carry basic items such as chewing gum or a lighter, in case a client needs one, you always have to go one step ahead.
When you enter a bar, the first thing you see is the Bartender, which is why they basically represent the image of the bar. The bartender not only has to be well presented, in his physical appearance, but also, he must have a good attitude and disposition.
A good attitude will not only provoke a positive reaction from customers. But also, it will generate more tips and profits for the bar and the bartender.
Practicing all these 6 steps/tips, you can be sure that your customers will come back all the time because you provide them with the best customer service in town.
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