The work of a bartender: description, pros and cons, subtleties of the profession

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Recreation is given quite a lot of attention these days. Almost every city has a wide variety of recreational facilities, ranging from billiards and cafes to bars. And in most of these places there is always a counter, behind which there is an employee who fulfills customer orders. For many people, such work becomes a dream due to the image and charm of workers in this field. But not everyone knows that in reality everything is much more complicated than it seems at first glance.

Features and description of the bartender profession

According to most, the main functions of the bartender is the artistic serving of drinks and providing customers with the information they are interested in. In fact, the applicant for this position must be able to accurately select the right dishes for each drink, as well as know the ingredients of all cocktails that are included in the menu. The employee is obliged by his actions to attract the public to the counter, to interest visitors and provoke them to buy their own drinks.

In progresscommunication skills are very important for a bartender, thanks to which the employee will be able to create a comfortable atmosphere for each visitor and support any conversation. It is important to have a good memory, because in bars there are often regular customers for whom the phrase: "You as usual?" will be a call to visit this establishment next time. After all, it is precisely such visitors that bring the establishments the most profit. This work has its own complexity, the employee is constantly on his feet, while he may be surrounded by a noisy environment and, if the establishment is smoking, there is also a constant smell of smoke. Some employers require knowledge of a foreign language if the level of the bar allows you to accept foreign customers.

History of the bartending profession

For the first time this profession became in demand during the "gold rush" in America. Small settlements were founded where gold seekers were located, and outlets with various types of goods, including alcoholic beverages, appeared there. Over time, barriers began to be installed in stores to separate places for recreation and pastime from trading floors. It was in such places that workers were needed who would pour and mix booze, entertaining the assembled public.

But the first printed edition, containing the rules for making cocktails and the code of work as a bartender, appeared in 1862, the author of this book was a worker in this field with many years of experience named Jerry Thomas. Until now, this profession has remained relevant andspread throughout the world. Bartenders are needed not only in bars, but also in restaurants, clubs and other similar entertainment establishments.

Pros of work

The first advantage of working as a bartender in a club is the schedule, mostly drinking establishments work in the evening and there is no need to get up early for work. It attracts many extraordinary personalities. Training for this job does not require money and time, and sometimes a person can be hired for a position without any work experience, the main thing is that he has the basic qualities necessary to fulfill his duties.

Since such a position is directly related to communication with people, there is a great chance to make new acquaintances and even useful contacts. And of course, it is worth noting the wages. Just like being a waiter, a bartender can get good tips in addition to their main income.

Cons of the profession

The first and most important disadvantage of such work follows from its first advantage - it is an irregular working day, especially when it comes to establishments that work until the last client leaves. A professional must have great willpower and not drink at the workplace, despite the fact that he constantly deals with alcohol. Whether the bartender is in a bad mood or the customer is drunk and disrespectful, the employee must always be polite to his patrons.

Besides this, you need to constantly remember not only how this or that drink is prepared, but also how much it costs. Working conditions are not alwaysgood, it's constant noise, din, cigarette smoke and other delights of drinking establishments. In addition, the employee is financially responsible not only for drinks, but also for dishes, and customers of such establishments beat her much more often than in ordinary cafes and restaurants.

Training

At the moment there are no institutions where a person would be qualified. Naturally, there are specialized courses, after which you can get a job as a bartender with no experience, but they usually last no more than two weeks and cannot be called a full-fledged certificate of education.

In most cases, those who want to get into this position simply get a job as assistants or trainees to more experienced professionals. Naturally, at first you will need to wash the counter and dishes, pour only the simplest drinks, but such an experience will allow you to bring all these actions to automatism.

Career advancement

Usually people get this job to earn extra money. Many students choose to work as a bartender without experience, since the flexible schedule allows them to combine it with their studies. But over time, for many people, temporary earnings become permanent.

If an employee hones his professional skills, he may be invited to a more prestigious institution. In addition, a free schedule allows you to receive additional education, constant communication with people affects personal growth. This may affect promotion to restaurant manager. It often happens that, having studied allsubtleties of the profession, the bartender decides to open his own bar.

Employee Qualities

An employee who wants to get a job at the bar must have special personal qualities. The applicant for this position must be stress-resistant, and also work calmly even in extreme conditions, where there is a lot of noise, smoke and drunken customers. This employee must constantly stand and provide customers with ordered drinks, that is, good he alth and physical endurance are needed. Attendance of the institution very often depends on the wit and sociable qualities of the bartender, so he must have a great sense of humor and the ability to support any topic suggested by the visitor.

It may seem to many that this profession is very exciting and interesting, and also does not require much effort. But if you seriously evaluate all the pros and cons of the profession of a bartender, then you can safely say that without special skills, creativity and the ability to find a common language with different people, you cannot find any positive in such work. Employers value benevolent applicants who are able not only to speak but also to listen, energetic people who do their job accurately. When hiring, it is assessed how polite, well-mannered, obligatory and patient a person is. The applicant for the position must be able to quickly find solutions to problems, be clean, have impeccable manners and a presentable appearance.

Salary

Despite the fact that bartenders are service personnel, their earningsattractive enough. Although in many respects it depends both on the prestige of the institution and the type of clients who visit it, and on the personal qualities of the specialist himself. Experience as a bartender can be gained quickly by taking courses and learning recipes as a professional assistant. But income does not depend on the ability to mix cocktails correctly.

The bartender should be a pleasant owner of his bar, able to quickly respond to any wish of the visitor. Its main mission is to serve high-quality drinks, but, in addition, it should help a person to relax, forget about pressing problems and stress. Any professional bartender must combine knowledge of chemistry, psychology, acting skills and be a real comedian. Only an employee who has innate qualities will be able to communicate with clients, and the tip of such a specialist directly depends on his ability to find an approach to different clients.

Responsibilities

At first glance, the duties of this employee are not so difficult. But in reality, the employee must have certain knowledge and be able to apply them in practice. The employee is required to know the recipes of various cocktails and the ability to prepare them quickly and efficiently. Serving a drink is also not such a simple matter, there are many nuances regarding dishes, decoration and other things that not everyone can do. That is why the work of a bartender without experience is offered only in not very expensive and presentable establishments.

Besides this, the employee must have sufficient knowledge to advise the visitor on this or that drink, having analyzed his preferences. Workers who can juggle, show pyrotechnic tricks and other skills that can entertain and interest the public are highly valued. The employee is obliged not only to listen to his clients, but also to maintain sincere conversations with them. If the bartender knows how to create mood for his visitors, this is already the key to success and the likelihood that a person will become a regular customer of the establishment.

Medical contraindications

People with chronic diseases of the respiratory and hearing organs, skin diseases are not advised to get a job for this position. Work is contraindicated for people with movement disorders, nervous disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Since bartenders have a busy schedule, a job that requires enormous expenditure of physical and mental strength, it is better for people with excellent he alth to get a job at it. In other words, being a bartender isn't for everyone.

Conclusion

Many people are attracted to this profession because of its charm, atmosphere and mystery. But in reality, things are quite different, this is a serious work that requires physical endurance and psychological stamina. Shifts may not be standardized, and you will have to sit and wait until the last client leaves, you constantly need to be on your feet and fulfill the desires of clients. In this work, it is important not only to mix and serve the cocktail correctly, but also to win over the client.

Of course, the salary immediately arouses interest, but it is verydepends on the personal qualities of the employee, his ability to attract as many visitors as possible and the prestige of the institution. The employee must not only learn and be able to quickly and efficiently prepare drinks, as well as serve them beautifully, but also constantly improve their skills in psychology, learn new jokes and be a good humorist. Only a person with a presentable appearance, cleanliness, sociable and energetic will be able to get to this position.

He needs to be patient, politely answer even unpleasant people and be able to quickly and sensibly find a way out of their existing situations. Since the employee is responsible for the dishes, he must keep track of which of the visitors broke the glass, otherwise the amount of damaged dishes will be deducted from his salary. And, of course, working conditions are not the best, so bartenders often refuse to visit noisy companies with friends after work.