You would agree that bartenders offer you a remarkable drinking experience. Yes, they entertain us at the bar, as their skills are impressive. But did you know that they face challenges even if they're pros in the business?
Yes, you read that right. Bartending is a social job, but it's never easy. Behind the skills and exhibitions that bartenders offer their customers are challenges they face we never know about. It's an everyday challenge, and that's what every customer should be aware of.
In this article, you will know every bartender's different challenges and responsibilities as they work and give customers immense fun. This will help raise awareness to customers to remain nice and friendly when they ask for the services of a bartender.
Everyday Challenge that Bartenders Face
Here are common challenges every bar staff faces daily.
Jump to:
- 1. Dealing with Customers who Need Attention
- 2. Glass Collecting
- 3. Satisfy Demanding Customers
- 4. Handling Money While Serving
- 5. Customers Disappearing before they Pay
- 6. Customers that are Always Curious
- 7. When the Bar is About to Close, but People Coming
- 8. Job is Challenging and Rewarding
- 9. Customers Buying Just One Drink Using Cards
- 10. Forgetting a Complex Cocktail Recipe
1. Dealing with Customers who Need Attention
It's a challenge when bartenders try their best to do their jobs while having people waving their hands and money. Everyone wants to be prioritized. They would snap fingers or shout for orders and drinks across the bar. This could be irritating, but it's all part of the job.
2. Glass Collecting
Collecting glasses could be a bit troublesome, especially if the night is busy at the bar. Worse is that some people treat every bar staff like they do not exist.
They won't make the job a lot easier for bartenders, especially while balancing a tower of glasses and trying to move through the crowds.
3. Satisfy Demanding Customers
Another difficult challenge that every bartender faces is satisfying a demanding palate. Some customers are very demanding, and many know what and how to drink. With that, bartenders find driving them to the right decision hard.
4. Handling Money While Serving
Yes, this could be another challenge that every bartender faces. As you know, it's hard to accept customer payments while serving drinks. Even if there's a cashier to handle financial transactions, bartenders will still accept payments, as the usual policy is to pay as you order.
Bartenders should also know how to do the math and know the pricing. Because they are held accountable for whatever shortages of payments.
5. Customers Disappearing before they Pay
Working as a bartender also means you've got a big queue of customers. It's hard and impossible to leave the post because you must collect customer payments. You will only realize the customers are gone without paying, and it's hard to find them in the bar.
6. Customers that are Always Curious
If you plan on having a career in bartending, know that you always have to deal with curious customers. There is nothing wrong when dealing with those who keep asking questions about the drinks. But it's ideal when you have to do it during quiet times. But then, it's also unacceptable when you decide to reach over and deal with things behind the bar.
7. When the Bar is About to Close, but People Coming
While it's nice to always be in a full house, nothing feels so disappointing when some customers would want to get in, even if it's closing time. Since some have had enough drinks before going, they don't understand what 'closing time' means.
It's usually just the minority of customers, but sometimes you get the last customers who like to always hang around and just make their way to the exit.
8. Job is Challenging and Rewarding
Bartenders usually have that love-and-hate relationship with their job. There may be ups and downs and rewards sometimes, so their role is a very interesting career option. Bartenders meet many people, which helps them boost their self-confidence. Little did you know, you're already putting a smile on your customer's faces while serving them a delicious beverage.
9. Customers Buying Just One Drink Using Cards
Perhaps it's the customer's strategy, but it could be such a task for bartenders to keep swiping cards of customers as payment for one drink. Well, it only happens when it's a bit busy, and there's a queue of customers who keep waving and shouting orders at you. But it feels hard to keep running back and retrieving the card machine for a single drink.
10. Forgetting a Complex Cocktail Recipe
This happens all the time, and most bartender experience this. This happens when customers order an uncertain cocktail they've only seen in movies. Because of that, you've already forgotten how to make it. And if you ask the customer what the cocktail consists of, it would make them think you are inexperienced.
Wrapping Up
Despite every bartender's daily challenges, optimism always outweighs everything you face on your job. Proper training plays a major part in helping you deal with the challenges, especially the customers, during your shift.
Of course, there are still other things you must consider that could help you progress in the bartending career and become skillful. One is obtaining certificates and licenses. So to help you, click here for guides on how to succeed as a bartender.
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