markzambrano: @Sweety3G i was probably out of town or in the golf course. Make sure you have regular water changes from now on to avoid that.
about 7 minutes ago
dreamcreature: Awesome Tips For Teeth Whitening At Home Or While Out On The Town link
about 2 hours ago
NOTCUDDLES: @evenfancierpant They do em better out here tho, goddam. Either that or town is on fire and the wind just happens to be going the other way
about 2 hours ago
Jobs_Bar: Part Time Bartender - Bar Careers - Gresham, OR link #jobs #bar
about 4 hours ago
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Bartenders walk a thin line of reading the your wishes. |
 | By Maureen Post   OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Maureen Post |
| Published Sept. 18, 2009 at 4:39 p.m. |
|
The role of the bartender is a fuzzy one.
Yes, their ultimate job is to pour, make and bring you drinks in exchange for pay and tips. But regardless of what's listed on the formal job description, there's a social requirement to their position. Employee and customer perspectives may differ on this but silent rules govern the bartender to adjust attitudes and availability dependent on the crowd, occasion and evening.
I've been on both sides of the conversation. I've been the bartender forced into continuous conversation on a day when I'm just not up to it and I've been the customer who wishes the bartender might step back a bit and leave me and my friends on our own. It's a dicey river to paddle to say the least.
But, recently, I was out of town and having dinner alone at the bar. It wasn't until the bartender said "Doing okay sweetheart?" that it struck me how much of the interaction is routine and simply a part of the job.
Somehow "sweetheart" and "honey" became bartender key words. Employed on the regular, bartenders (and not all bartenders, by any means) often refer to female customers by these two affectionate nouns.
Hands down, I always think of the bartender as my friend. Specifically when I'm alone, I always count on the bartender to provide the incidental anecdote, weigh in occasionally with questions and provide the comfort of acquaintance should I bluntly realize that I am indeed alone.
There is undoubtedly, a double standard. Everyone wants the bartender by their side when they are bored and lonely but then hope they'll disappear the minute more pressing conversation with friends becomes available.
So, what's your bartender preference? Do you hope for someone to spark some conversation, simply be knowledgeable about the product or get your drink and go? Use the Talkback feature below to weigh in.
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6 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review. |
Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by pjk on Sept. 26, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. (report)
I think College Dave would agree that when Bill Rouleau from the Palomino refers to guests as 'SizzleTits' or 'Short-Hose' while serving up the jager-bombs he's a bit too familiar.
| Rate this: |
Posted by college_dave on Sept. 19, 2009 at 11:22 p.m. (report)
I've been tending bar for 17 years now. I enjoy all the interaction and respect the people that want to be left alone. I think bar tending is a social art and I continue to learn from such local greats as Jim Biava, Paul Kennedy, and Joe Dean. And lets not forget Evan Barnes - Milw. misses you, man.
| Rate this: |
Posted by sirmixalot on Sept. 18, 2009 at 11:48 p.m. (report)
I bartended in Milwaukee for 15 years before moving into management, and yes, some days it is a real chore to have to make small talk when your head is splitting or your daughter has a bad infection or your girlfriend cheated on you, etc, etc. The hardest thing to do when you are relied upon to be convivial is to keep your personal life at home. Eventually you learn how (about 10 years in), and you are finally a "professional". I don't think that customers realize that a bartender asking them how everything is or if they are ready to order or would they like to hear about the specials today is simply DOING THEIR JOB. The one thing that still surprises me is that even though it is my job to take care of you, you cannot fathom why I am talking to you. After 23 years of service industry, do you think that I really WANT to talk to you? Of course, if I don't do my job, you are the first one to ask where I am because NOW you are ready to order and you have no time and you have to get back to the office, etc. One last thing - when someone says hello as you enter and thank you when you leave, ACKNOWLEDGE THEM!!! Take one stinking second from your self important life to realize that those employees are the last remaining vestige of a once great service industry where customer service and manners and caring about your job was important. Other than that, I really have no complaints.
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Posted by PlayerGotGame on Sept. 18, 2009 at 10:11 p.m. (report)
Bartenders score a lot of talent if they aren't too over the top. It is such an easy way to have a constant conduit to all sorts of strange. Every male should tend bar for at least a year of his young adult life.
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Posted by mooneyt on Sept. 18, 2009 at 5:09 p.m. (report)
My wife and I just moved here and don't know anyone, except the bartenders who serve us drinks. Chat on, drink-purveying friends!
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