Thursday, October 22, 2015

10 Popular Myths about Bartenders

10 Popular Myths about Bartenders 

To Start this off, I thought I would share with you 10 Popular Myths about Bartenders, with the help of thoughtcatolog.com These are 10 myths that bartenders most typically run across, while I agree with all of them, I am also going to put it into perspective from myself. Enjoy!


  1. We are just biding time until we get a “real job”. While this might be true that some of us, yes are going to school to do something different; this is in fact a "real job." We probably work harder than most of you with "real jobs," starting with our 10 to 12 hour shifts. And since we do work for our tips and it is our source of income, our hard work usually ends up paying off (literally) better than you 40 hour work week salary behind a desk. And for the rest of us this is already a "real job!" Some of us love it, are good at it, and want to make it (if not already have) our career, its called being an entrepreneur!
  2. We sleep until noon. Yes, I have always love sleeping in. No we are not wasting away our day, as our day usually starts when yours ends. Do you say the same thing to night nurses? No. But for many of us, it's a routine clock to wake up and get things done, much before noon.
  3. We’re all alcoholics. Yes, we have access to A LOT of alcohol, but we are not like "normal people" (as you'd call yourselves.) We drink for taste, and to finally relax. Not as many Friday and Saturday go-ers whose end goal is to get completely obliterated, and generally cannot stand or even talk.  We actually know our body's tolerance level and many should figure theirs out as well. Yes, we get drunk from time to time, but many of times I am serving the alcoholics. 
  4. We’re uneducated. This is my favorite. Many of times we are far more educated than one would think with degrees in business. But guess what, when your used to working hard for your money and getting paid for the hard work, it's hard to apply that hard-work for a pay cut because you went to school for an under paying job in comparison to tending bar. 
  5. “You must get hit on all the time”. Speaking for myself, No. But if one thinks that that line is the way to hit on us, it also doesn't work. They only ones that really try, and it obviously hasn't worked their entire life, are the filthy old men. And even if you do hit on us, it's not going to get you a free drink, but hey, its worth a 'shot.'
  6. We went to bartending school. Only if you are completely uneducated on the industry itself. This is not an industry that a school or any class can teach you, it is an acquired trade. You learn hands on, when you are given the opportunity. Yes, you start from the bottom, but so does everyone else! Bartending school does exist, for those willing to throw away money, and those who are very gullible. If you apply for a bartending position with zero experience behind the bar, but you went to bartending school, chances are your application will get tossed, or the manager will laugh in your face. 
  7. We actually like you. "Your fun, friendly bartender is at work. She's there to make money. I know it feels like you’re all just hanging out but you aren’t – She’s sweating and running around while you sit and relax. So if they throw you a free drink, it’s not purely out of love and goodwill which means that you need to throw back a tip. If you don’t, you’ll quickly learn how much it sucks when the bartender *doesn’t* like you." -Quoted directly from thoughtcatalog. com because it is 100% true for myself as well!
  8. We want to get you wasted. "Drunk people are the worst people to deal with, especially when money is changing hands. I understand that, under my watch, people are gonna get there but it’s most definitely not the singular goal. Trying to manage a bar full of drunks is something that I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. Additionally, there is liability – I don’t know what you do when you leave my bar. If you get in a car and kill someone (or yourself) drunk driving, that’s on us, legally and spiritually. A good bartender pays attention to intake and subtly tries to help you pace yourself. We aren’t that hard up to squeeze every dollar out of you, that we’d risk your life over it." - Another 100% true statement, quoted from thoughtcatalog.com
  9. That we’re gonna “make it a good one”. Ok, so I'll make sure to not forget this memorized recipe. Oh, you wanted it 'strong?' Sorry, you didn't order a DOUBLE. This one is absolutely hated by all bartenders, why? Because, it is typically an arrogant way of saying you want something for free and your not going to tip regardless.' NO. I make a living off of tips for one, and two, it's called stealing and I would never get another bartending job in the city again, because some stranger wanted me to "make it a good one." 
  10. We have a “favorite drink to make”. My favorite drink it my own for a reason. I am 80% sure that we do not have the same taste palettes. Nor do I want to sit next to your for the next 30 minutes telling you want I like and is my favorite, for you to continuously tell me no. If you are coming to a bar to drink, you should know what you like; if not a specific drink, at least the tastes and ingredients that you prefer so that they stand out to you on a menu. 

7 comments:

  1. Great points - remember to read out loud to catch typos.

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  2. I have always had good experiences with bartenders. I know that most bartenders are either in school or in-between jobs. There are a few people that make bartending a career because of their passion for it.

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    1. A lot of people in the industry today, have made it their careers. It is their only source of income and it is not because they are in between jobs. My boyfriend is in fact one of those people who has made it his career. He the general manager of his bar and has been for half a decade. He is on salary pay, with health insurance and still bartends for extra money from tips. Two of my bartenders at my current job, out of 6 of us have made it a career and have been doing it for over a decade. I think many people want to think it is a bottom of the barrel job, but its far from it, we may work longer hours but, In 3 days a week I can make the same pay as someone that worked 40 hours in the same week just off of tips. Many people go to school for a career and leave that career to come back to make bartending or managing their career.

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  3. I have always entertained the thought of becoming a bartender on the weekends just for fun, but anytime I am in a bar and notice the customers and the way they behave when in a drunken state I quickly change my mind. I have heard many of the untruths you mentioned and found some of them humorous, especially the one when you said people think you like them.

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    1. Bartending does have a science to it and it takes a while to learn. Maybe people start at the very bottom and do not get the opportunity behind a bar as a bartender for a minimum of 5 years. If it's really something of interest, I would start pursuing it now, but your going to have to start as a server and work your way up from there. The more availability you have the better your chances are to move up in time quicker. :)

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  4. Some many things you easily achieved as a bartender. One day I will love to experience that.

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