How to Get the Bartender's Attention
It's the weekend again and it's time to prep you for an all-too-common-but-easily-avoidable situation: getting the bartender's attention in a busy nightclub. It's almost a cliche, standing in a busy bar, waiting for drinks, and wondering what the hell you have to do to get some service around here. The sad part is that it's actually really easy if you know what you're doing.
First and foremost, in a busy bar, belly up to the bar. I mean it. If your belly isn't touching the bar, if you're standing behind people at the bar, don't be surprised if you're waiting 20 minutes for a drink. Every night some joker waves his hands like he's drowning and tries to order from 5 feet away from the bar. And once a night I actually serve him and immediately remember why it's a bad idea. First of all, the volume of a busy bar precludes anyone from hearing what sweet nothings are being whispered from 5 feet away. And more importantly, once I finally understand the drink order, make the drinks, and set them on the bar, I spend twice as long trying to get this yokel's attention so he can pay for the drinks - apparently the blonde he's failing to impress with his extensive knowledge of bottled water is losing interest and he's too busy spitting pathetic game to pay for his drinks. And even though I know he's waited precious minutes for me to get his drinks, making me wait is the kiss of death. If I have to wait for you, that means everyone behind you has to wait for you. And time, for a bartender, truly, is money. I make $$$ based directly on how many people I serve in a night - and if someone drags that process to a screeching halt, they'll be waiting much longer the rest of the night.
The ideal guest - the one bartenders love and will skip other people to serve time and again - is the one who quietly approaches the bar, money in hand, calmly waits their turn, and knows what drinks they want to order. It's that simple.
Let's hammer home some of these points because they are truly invaluable when it comes to getting good service.
Do's:
Approach the bar with $$ in hand and place your paw on the bar. Busy bartenders may avoid eye contact because people presume it means they're next in line, but we always notice money on the bar. If you're hand is attached to that money, I'm coming your way next.
Tip well early. Such a simple concept - GUARANTEED to work 99% of the time, but so rarely employed. Here's how it works: tip $10 on your first drink. Sound foolish? Try it and let me know what happened. We're legalized drug dealers - we're not above being bought. In fact we prefer it. Someone who tips $5-10 on their first round tells me they "get it." The next time they approach the bar, I'm going to skip 5 people to get their drink first. And I'm more likely to overpour them and probably send some shots their way. I know our culture dictates that you tip your server 15-20% AFTER your meal is over but imagine what would happen if you tipped 30% BEFORE you were served. You'd get hooked up, that's what. Whether that means free product, phenomenal service, or directions to the after party - depends on the bar. But unless the bartender is a total noob, I guarantee special treatment. And special treatment is currency that goes a long way in a nightclub...
Decide what drinks you want before you approach the bar. Ten times a night I approach someone with a smile and a "What'll you have?" and they immediately turn around to poll the group on what they want. They turn around. I move on.
Dont's:
Shout out your order when not asked for it. I'm busy trying to remember the 5 drinks ordered from the morally casual blonde in front of you and shouting out your drinks only screws up my drug-addled brain. How would you like it if people ran past your cubicle while you were typing and shouted non sequiturs at you?
Wave your hands in the air. Trust me, we see you. Waving only makes you look desperate. And desperation is not a good cologne to wear in a bar.
Whistle or yell. I know bartenders who've cut people off, not because they were drunk, but because they kept whistling all night. Save the whistling for the women who won't go home with you.
One-at-a-time me. Any decent bartender can remember 6-10 drinks at a time. Ordering them one at a time turns a 2 minute process into 10. And that costs me $$, not to mention annoys the 5 people next to you ready to order.
All in all, it's not rocket science. It's about speed and money. Be quick, tip well, and you can bet I'll see you at the after party.
21 Comments
Reader Comments (21)
I recently tipped a guy more than he was expecting on my first drink, because he came across as a good bartender and he served me good, fast and with a smile the rest of the evening. I had not read this article, but I'm pretty sure this actually works.
I think the article overall is pretty good. I've read a similar one in dutch, but that guy was really being the arrogant bartender. If I have some spare time I'll translate it and post it here, I think you would enjoy reading it.
the tip early technique really does work. i was at a bar one time in my home town on dollar beer night, it was busy as hell, and once i made my way to the bar i tipped the guy 5 bucks on my first two beers. he looked right at me and said in a tone where everyone around me could hear "you will not wait for a drink all night!!" and he stayed true to his word. anytime he saw me near the bar that night he was quick to take care of me and even threw in a couple free shots. listen to this man's advise. i just recently started bartending and you do remember the customers who tip well and the ones that dont. there is no sense in giving your best service to someone who is just going to snub you when there are lots of other people there who are willing to take care of you just as well as you take care of them
To the comment above: Chris, that's fantastic! I love it. Especially the way the bartender announced it. That guy knows what he's doing - telling you he appreciates it, that your tip is not forgotten or lost on him while also letting everyone else around you know what they can do if they want a little special treatment. Great to hear he lived up to it. And the free shots!! All that for five bucks...
Good luck to you bartending, Chris. I hope you love it. Let me know if I can ever help you out!
i definitely will. you have so much knowledge about this profession and i would love to learn as much as i can to better myself as a bartender. thanks a bunch chris
It really is sad to see how people get angry at the fact of tipping the bartender say 5 or ten bux when they come up the first time. These people truly just do not get it nor do they live in the real world. This is very simple you are not tipping them because you roll with stacks of chedda and just don't care. You are doing it because you realize there time is worth something that something right now is chedda and by getting them know that you get it! The bartender will go out of his way to serve you better and faster! We you have 5 friends and theres 75 people hovering the bar wouldn't you like to know you have a reassurance in getting a drink before the previous drinks buzz wares off?
Go one time scope the place out don't tip allot get a feel for it find out what bartenders you like, look around see how busy things are. Now you know whats going on and if you even are going to like the place. Next time lets say its packed I will tip a 20$ this means when I pay for my drink I have another 20$ set in my hand when they return with my change I take it and hand them a 20$ and say thank you "preferably by name remembered from last week". Then I drop down to $10-$5-$3-$2 depending on how many drinks I am ordering the complexity of the drinks and genuinely how busy they are.
I understood this long before I was a bartender and it paid off. It payed off by leaving me on first name basis hugs random free shots free door entries and generally liked by the operating staff. This is simple respect and gratitude to the people serving you! Not to mention you look like a gang member to your friends when they come to hang out with you at the new club because everyone important there knows you you get in free the bartender hugs you and you get asap drinks all night.
When the bartender buys you a beer or a shot its simple you tip him/her at least the price of the drink! Strike small convo to employees when slow even the door guy and register girl, arrive 15minutes after opening or watch for slow time and enter at these times so you can talk. Find out whats going on in there life perhaps there having a new kid. Talk about the kid like you genuinely care because they care. Next week pick up a 10$ shirt at the store for the new baby and give it to the doorman as a gift. They need to know you appreciate what they do and think about them and they will think about and take care of you!
"We're legalized drug dealers " I loved it
I am a bartender (not as good as Chris but a bartender nonetheless) and yes tipping big early pays off huge. Tipping well at the end will get you even greater service next time but if you want superb and quick service the first time tip big the first time. We live off tips so if you tip we notice. If you tip well and sitting at the bar I check your drink after every drink I make to see if you need another.
As a postscript, some of these suggestions won't work at a small neighborhood bar which is where I work. To get my attention on a busy day (on any day for that matter) is very simple - behave like an adult, not a drunken child bombed off beer and tequila. Impatient customers get put in back of the queue. Rude customers are thrown out.
One thing that I disagree with is the suggestion that a good customer will receive bonuses such as free shots or extra liquer. I've found that once a person receives such bennies, he will expect it every time. Such a policy escalates into absurd requests and inevitably turns into disappointment. Add alcohol to that mix and you'll find out quickly how friendly that customer really is.
JD
so if someone disagrees with ANYTHING you say is a hater??????? i agree with some, but the bit about "ill cut this guy off for whistling" is definetly against the law in the us. check. you cannot serve an intoxicated person, but you cannot refuse service to someone for whistling. if it were me, one of two things would happen: either you would be "drug-dealing" the rest of your night with a bottle of patron sticking out of your ass or your bar would be sued. you must have never tried to get the bartenders attention before your life of luxury as a bartender consultant. wow, it sucks how annoying all these stupid customers are, just standing around waiting for you to get them drinks. (how DARE they???????) I personally have had someone serve me with this kind of attitude and it is a shame when someone has contempt for people who pay them!!!!! LISTEN CLOSELY--------- A REAL BARTENDER IS FAST AND SERVES EACH PERSON THE SAME WAY, WHETHER THEY GET ANY TIP OR A BIG ONE. A PRETENDER SPENDS HIS NIGHT TRYING TO REMEMBER WHO TIPPED WELL.
Hey Chris new fan of you and your site love the advice on getting good service!!. am from a small town and my friends always have me order the drinks. they think just because i have a good personality and am usually acquainted with the bartender, means i have the advantage. I constantly remind them that the same things they complain about ( i.e. me overtipping on the first drinks) are the reasons why i always recieve good service!! now most of the new people i hang out with are bartenders... the afterparty thing is hilarious but true! look forward to supporting your site and gaining more valuable knowledge thanks chris...