There are many jobs that are obvious. Because they are jobs where the person who performs it clearly knows what their functions are. This makes it clear about the work they have to do. We refer for example to an accountant or a financier. They both have a specific job to do and they do it every day.
Some of the things about bartending are not so obvious and this is what we are going to be discussing in this post.
However, there are other jobs or professions where it is really impossible, Mainly for people to fully know all the work that the person who performs it has to do. One of these cases is Bartender 101.
What functions does the bartender perform that are known to people?
Before delving into the things that many people do not know that every bartender performs. It is always important to emphasize what are the functions and actions that a bartender does every day and that are visible to people.
A professional bartender must be able to do all the functions of a bar. Not just mix the various ingredients at his disposal or entertain customers.
Some start as waiters or as those who are known as barbacks (bar assistants) and evolve that they get to know the bar backwards. Also to the right and to know each cocktail, each drink and each drink that must be prepared from the most popular to the one that almost nobody asks for.
The main functions of a bartender are:
1) Serve drinks, cocktails, beers and shots.
This is undoubtedly one of the main functions or task of the bartender is being able to prepare the most popular cocktails and drinks. Also, those that are not so popular. You must also know your menu backwards and forwards and you have to know it well. So much that you are able to answer any questions you may have about its preparation.
2) Serve customers, to make them feel more than welcome.
Customer service is essential in the world of bartending. The bartender is in charge of treating the customer in a VIP way. So they have to serve them all equally. Attention at the bar goes beyond just serving cocktails. The bartender must be an excellent seller of the image of the bar and of the bar itself as a bartender. In this way customers will become loyal customers to the bar. Which results in more tips and income for the bar.
3) In some cases collect and carry sales.
Many times one of the functions of the bartender is to charge customers and at the same time, keep track of sales, so it is important that you know how to handle money, and if possible, have basic knowledge of mathematics and accounting.
4) Keep inventories and control of liquors:
The bartender has to take care that the bar is full of all the liquors, ingredients and elements. Things that are needed to prepare each cocktail or drink. You must keep track of inventories and you must be sure which liquors are in the bar and which are not.
5) Prepare your own signature drinks: The best bartenders in the world have created their own drinks and cocktails. Because part of the art of being a bartender is the ability to try and experiment with new flavors. Also colors or ingredients and thus create your own drinks and cocktails with your own personal brand.
When you get into a bar or a restaurant and you see a bartender making drinks You probably think that being a bartender is all about serving drinks. Talking to the customers, and create cocktails. However while they have a way of making their work effortless and easy. The truth is that thereโs more that bartenders do in a daily basis besides making cocktails.
Most of their customers have no idea of all those extra duties and things that bartenders do. From keeping an eye on the customers who are getting a little wild. To prepping and cleaning your workspace, there is a lot more that they need to get done.
In case you are wondering what those things that bartenders do. In addition, you arenโt probably aware of certain things, we are going to talk about some of the most common. This is what Bartender 101 is all about.
- The marathon of prep work: Every day, before the bar is open, bartenders have to do a marathon of prep work. Which includes peeling fruit, having a lot of ice from the ice machine directly to the bar, and juicing a lot of citrus for some of the drinks. These are just the things that you do at the bar. Beyond the bar there are a lot of things that bartenders need to take care of. Like polishing and washing the dishes and arranging the furniture.
- Lots of cleaning: Normally bartenders are still closing the bar even after the last customer has left because the cleaning process is as long as the prep process and probably even longer. They need to wipe down every bottle of booze, bitters, and syrups. They also need to clean the stickiness present in the surfaces, wash the dishes, and restock everything.
- Their bartending education never stops: It doesnโt matter if you are offering mobile bartending services or you are working at a bar, you need to keep learning, there are a lot of activities that bartenders do regarding their education. Some of them include tending at cocktail events, summer camps for bartenders, immerse travel experiences, or attending cocktail week events that help mixologists to continue with their education.
- Keeping an eye on noisy and over-served customers: People donโt realize that bartenders are liable for the actions of their customers. If they do something dumb after they served alcohol to them. Most of the bartenders are worried about what customers would do when they are leaving the bar. So they need to make sure customers drink safely, not only for the customer’s sake. Also because in most of the States, the bar and the bartender ends up sued if something bad happens to a customer when they leave the bar.
- Bartenders give therapy to their customers:ย Bartenders are like therapists but they do it for free. Even when they are not qualified for those types of jobs. They often end up giving advice and helping their customers. Fortunately, most of the bartenders donโt mind at all giving advice to their customers which is great.
Questions and Answers
The bartender is the one who attends the bar of a Bar, Restaurant, Lounge, or in a private event. He is the one who prepares, mixes, and creates new drinks, drinks, cocktails. Also one who even ventures to create his own.
The bartender, beyond being the one who makes us our favorite cocktails. At some point becomes a confidant or someone from whom clients ask for advice or just tell them their problems. But beyond that, the bartender also sells his image and that of his bar. Therefore, it is important not only that he has a positive attitude. In addition, that he must always behave as a professional in front of customers.
Serve both bottled and draft beers, as well as wine and other alcoholic beverages. Welcome customers in a cordial and entertaining way. Take note of all drink orders that customers ask for, clean the bar and tables well and all other work areas. Verify the identification of customers in order to be sure that they are of legal age. Carry out some bar operations, maintain and order alcohol supplies, mix some drinks following instructions in the corresponding recipes.
The prep work is always a constant in the bartenderโs daily preparation. He needs to be sure that everything is in place and working properly. That all ingredients are ready to prepare that cocktails and that the implements and things that need to create those cocktails and drinks are in place.
They have to do lots of cleaning every day during their shift; their education never stops so it is important that they keep studying and the new skills, techniques and drinks, all the time. ย Also they need to keep an eye on over-served and noisy customers, among other things.
Every bartender, especially when he starts, has to do things that are not really in his functions as happens with other jobs. When starting out, the bartender usually accompanies an experienced bartender to see everything he does and how he does it. On the other hand, he will also carry out minor tasks that have nothing to do with his functions but that will teach him the movement and operation of the entire bar and its processes.
If you are a bartender or you are just looking to hire one by looking through the โbartending services near meโ section on the internet/newspaper, you need to remember that their job is beyond mixing drinks and serving cocktails, there is so much more than that.
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