think about that for a second.

12/16/2011 10:09:21 AM

Quote :

"do bartenders prefer cash for each drink or running tabs that are paid at the end of the night?"

Running tabs.

12/16/2011 10:11:04 AM

http://100redflags.com/post/11146854095/28-shes-a-bartender

12/16/2011 11:15:12 AM

1. You're a bartender. Shut the fuck up and get me my drink
2. You're a bartender. Shut the fuck up and get me my drink

also

Quote :

"Be "The Microbrew Aficionado""

You're a bartender. Shut the fuck up and get me my drink

12/16/2011 11:36:52 AM

bartenders may prefer running tabs, and i'll gladly start one if i'm sitting at the bar for the duration of my stay. but if i am going to be moving around the bar for the night i'm paying cash.

12/16/2011 11:39:19 AM

Quote :

"Assume we know you period "

After a drink or two, you better start remembering who I am and what I like. Oh, you see hundreds of people in a night? I don't give a shit. I'm tired of having to repeatedly yell my last name to you because it's too loud in the place for you to hear me. And since you and your fellow works won't remember me, now everyone around me knows my last name and that I have an open tab.

12/16/2011 11:41:50 AM

It also sucks running around looking for people that havent closed their tabs by two

and people that insist on not leaving after i take up the drinks at 2:30.

o and when i have to rip a drink out of a guys hand because he didnt pay attention to the five minute warning and feels insulted

these arent tipping issues but general annoyances.

[Edited on December 16, 2011 at 11:43 AM. Reason : d]

12/16/2011 11:42:23 AM

^ ^^^It's honestly not that big of a deal as long as you have the cash ready and don't take too long. I still prefer running tabs. It takes time to go back and forth the register and make change. It's a lot easier to take a lot of orders and put them on the tabs later.

^^^^^Bartenders don't have to serve you or serve you quickly/well. You'd be better served to change your attitude.

Quote :

"It also sucks running around looking for people that havent closed their tabs by two"

Fuck it...kick 'em out and add the automatic 20%.

[Edited on December 16, 2011 at 11:45 AM. Reason : .]

12/16/2011 11:42:28 AM

double post.

[Edited on December 16, 2011 at 11:45 AM. Reason : .]

12/16/2011 11:44:39 AM

I prefer running tabs too

great for when I'm a tourist, so I basically get to have my drinks for free

12/16/2011 11:46:15 AM

Quote :

"think about that for a second."

i would assume that tabs would be a lot better, but the in the OP everything implied paying for each drink in cash.

12/16/2011 11:49:16 AM

Quote :

"Fuck it...kick 'em out and add the automatic 20%. "

lol i wish but the liberal Independent rag would burn us at the stake

12/16/2011 11:58:26 AM

^^ Yeah...that list isn't perfect.

As a bartender, I wanted everyone to get served as quickly as possible without anyone waiting. Tabs made that easier. I could take a ton of drink orders, then go back to the screen and remember which tabs they went on. If anything, I would forget a drink or two and the some customers would get a break. But I'd rather miss a drink or two than have a bunch of people waiting for drinks.

Look at that...a bartender that cares about the customers. Whodathunkit?

^That blows. You have the most fun with tabs that are left (voluntarily...we would always let people hang around and close after the bar quit serving. But Charleston is really strict with no one drinking after hours...so if they were hanging around, they weren't drinking).

[Edited on December 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM. Reason : .]

12/16/2011 11:58:44 AM

ITT a bartender asks drunks to act sober and responsible.

12/16/2011 12:00:22 PM

Have you ever had guys try to skip out on tabs?

12/16/2011 12:00:23 PM

Quote :

"ITT a bartender asks drunks to act sober and responsible."

I do well when I'm hammered at a bar...but I think it's because I've been on the other side for so long. I know what an asshole looks and acts like and try to avoid that.

12/16/2011 12:08:44 PM

So being a bartender sucks just as much as every service industry job. Who knew?

12/16/2011 12:21:07 PM

* Whipping your dick out will not get the female bartender to come over to you.

12/16/2011 12:56:28 PM

I, for one, don't want to go to some shitty bar where people stare quietly at the bartender; afraid to address them in any way, afraid to make any motion to get their attention, etc. Sounds like a dull place. What is this, the school cafeteria on meatloaf day?

Take money, give drinks, try to have fun. It's pretty simple. If your bartender is in a pissy mood it's going to ruin the vibe of the whole bar. Something tells me the person who made that whiny list is no fun to be around and it probably shows when they tally up the tips at the end of the night.

The writer of that list sounds like he'd do better in a role where he can more easily power trip on people. Maybe a prison guard, cop, or teaching job would be a good fit. He has obviously become too jaded to be a good bartender.

[Edited on December 16, 2011 at 1:00 PM. Reason : s]

12/16/2011 12:58:08 PM

Quote :

"So being a bartender sucks just as much as every service industry job. Who knew?"

All jobs in the service industry suck once you're out of college and trying to live a normal life. But the bartender's suck the least because they make the most money and generally have the most power/leverage.

Cooks don't get paid enough and have to work in a hot kitchen. Managers usually don't get paid enough and have to deal with most of the customer's BS. Server's aren't bad, but they're more "slaves" to the customer to the bartender and don't normally make as much. Only advantage servers have is that they get out earlier.

If you can't be the owner, next best thing is to be behind the bar.

12/16/2011 1:11:00 PM

^yeah...I agree...I always enjoyed the "I don't have to serve you and what I say goes" aspect of bartending...



But as far as this thread goes....."automatic 2 minute penalty for banging your empty glass on the bar "

12/17/2011 8:11:25 AM

I've had some dillhole bartenders I've wanted to pull over the bar and slap silly... but those experiences typically get me to not go back to an establishment

the bars I typically go to the most have a direct correlation with the service I get from the bartenders...



and power tripping bartenders are dicks too... I can understand you might have a shitty run or night, but don't take it out on customers- you can't do that in other jobs. If someone is a flat out dick to you, yes, you can take your time with them, but if someone comments after waiting for 5-10 minutes at the bar for a beer? you have to get over that and either pick up your service or understand that people are going to be like that because you are understaffed

12/17/2011 8:18:05 AM

Quote :

"the only rule to follow when approaching the bar is to assume the bartender is an incompetant fucktard that would have a different job if they had any sense"

How much money do you make a year? This is some ignorant shit.

12/17/2011 9:33:37 AM

Quote :

"but if someone comments after waiting for 5-10 minutes at the bar for a beer? you have to get over that and either pick up your service or understand that people are going to be like that because you are understaffed"

To a certain extent. I guess it depends on the reaction as well. I think the customer should understand that as frustrated as they are about getting their drink(s), the bartender is just as frustrated about being in the weeds trying to serve everyone their drinks. And while you're pissed off about the 5-10 minutes you're waiting for your round...they have to go through this shit for the rest of the night.

So maybe raising your voice a little or sticking out your arm a little longer is not a big deal...but the further you take it is only going to make it worse. And it surely isn't going to help.

12/17/2011 10:03:32 AM

lots of cool kids ITT

12/17/2011 10:14:22 AM

After reading this thread, I feel that bartenders are over-entitled douchebags if they all really think like this.

12/17/2011 10:18:43 AM

Fuck these rules. Dont tell me how to waste my money.

12/17/2011 10:19:28 AM

as long as you fucking idiots crowd the bars looking for drinks and acting stupid there will be a need for people that serve drinks and make sure alcohol law is observed by the patrons

thats why i cant stand when people go "dur dur dur you should have a better job dur dur"

go get a better fuckin life and do something that is more important than layin in a pool of your own humors by 1:30

most of yall are lucky to even be served at all given that the bartender is not supposed to serve visibly intoxicated people, my cut off point is pretty low i dont tolerate much drunkeness when I work, if i see you trip over a freakin stool youre drinkin water for the rest of the night lol.

So be greatful if you have to wait on service you dont need a continuous river of alcohol

[Edited on December 17, 2011 at 10:36 AM. Reason : l]

12/17/2011 10:33:04 AM

Us idiot drunks are paying your bills. Hows about you assholes show a positive attitude? If not we will go to another friendlier bar and you'll be out of a job.


People with no people skills trying to have jobs interacting with people.

12/17/2011 10:48:25 AM

Quote :

"If not we will go to another friendlier bar and you'll be out of a job. "

What you mean by this is you'll go to a lower-quality establishment that will tolerate you being a cunt.

That's great, don't let the door hit you on the way out. The rest of us are trying to enjoy decent places where we treat the bartenders like human beings and they reciprocate with great service.

Still don't feel like leaving? Again fine, but don't be surprised when I get served first. Your popped-collar ass can go wrap up the evening at Waffle House.

[Edited on December 17, 2011 at 11:08 AM. Reason : git r done]

12/17/2011 10:59:42 AM

I've been pretty low on bar customers in this thread, but I'll show my unbias and say that there are a lot of shitty bartenders out there.

I live in a city where the food and beverage establishment is huge and pretty on par with tourism as the area's biggest money makers. And I'm still astonished at the number of sub-par bartenders out there. That being said...the majority of people who go out are of equal percentage. So most of what's being said in this topic is "preaching to the choir" (although you can obviously tell who are the dick-head customers in here).

But there's also a ton of great bartenders and it's usually correlated to the establishment that you go to. Go to a nicer place and you'll usually get better service. Common sense. Go to a crowded bar, you'll probably have to wait a little longer for a drink and deal with bartenders who might have a shorter fuse because they've been dealing with ass holes all night. Use your own common sense when ordering drinks and you probably won't encounter any problems.

12/17/2011 11:11:11 AM

Charlotte's bar scene must be infinitely better than Raleigh's considering the attitudes displayed here?

Can't blame you honestly if it's that bad!

12/17/2011 11:13:56 AM

I went out in the Raleigh for the first time since college a couple weeks ago (it's been about 6/7 years). I was pleasantly surprised at the bar service I got. The only place I remember going to was Raleigh Times though.

12/17/2011 11:17:11 AM

I've always thought it would be a good idea for bartenders and customers to learn sign language. /contribution

12/17/2011 11:27:16 AM

This thread is pretty much the example of why the service industry sucks in the US.

When at least a 15% tip is expected by bartenders/waiters or you're an "asshole," then there needs to be some serious changes to the culture of our service industry. There was once a time a tip was earned, not expected.

Tips should be given for exemplary service, not the common run of the mill or subpar performance found in a fucking Applebees.

12/17/2011 11:28:21 AM

To that extent the majority of folks posting ITT sound like they need to be drinking at Applebee's.

12/17/2011 11:30:54 AM

Quote :

"When at least a 15% tip is expected by bartenders/waiters or you're an "asshole"

actually the whole 15% thing came from the 1980's.

With inflation, 20% is the new 15....



[Edited on December 17, 2011 at 11:54 AM. Reason : .]

12/17/2011 11:47:35 AM

That makes no fucking sense. Inflation caused the prices to increase, and as such, the tips increase with it at the same %...

12/17/2011 11:57:30 AM

So, is tipping a dollar per beer considered a good or a bad tip? It can be for shitty beer or good beer. I also only do this when dealing with cash. I tip for the drink as I receive it.

If I run a tab, I tip 20% for good service.

12/17/2011 12:00:59 PM

^That's generally what I do too and I've worked service.
I tip at least a dollar per beer/neat pour/highball, maybe two on a fancy cocktail or troublesome shot (you know, for my friend), or twenty per cent or more on a tab.

I tend to tip heavier downtown because I worked in a bunch of restaurants there.

Quote :

"When at least a 15% tip is expected by bartenders/waiters or you're an "asshole," then there needs to be some serious changes to the culture of our service industry. There was once a time a tip was earned, not expected."

I think we should start paying server/bartenders/kitchen staff more so that the actual cost of the meal is reflected in the menu prices.

Baristas get paid at least minimum wage. The cost of the items on the menu reflect their actual cost, including labor. If you decide to tip your barista, a couple quarters or even other loose change is completely acceptable and appreciated. A whole dollar blows our minds and will get you faster service and occasional free shots.

I think this is more how people hope tipping works. You get something extra for being exceptionally nice or fast. I didn't have to depend on tips for my income as a barista like I did as a waitress.

The downside is that while you have a more stable income that will only dip a certain amount, it takes away the potential to make much more on "big" nights.

[Edited on December 17, 2011 at 12:27 PM. Reason : Coffee?]

[Edited on December 17, 2011 at 12:29 PM. Reason : More $$, more problems]

12/17/2011 12:18:35 PM

Quote :

"I've always thought it would be a good idea for bartenders and customers to learn sign language. /contribution"

I'm still surprised that customers don't know general "keep the tab open??" or "close it out??" type signs. Even if there isn't a general consensus for the signs...its usually common fucking sense. So many times I would look at the customer, mouth "close it out?" and use a throat slash gesture or some other common sense "close out" sign, and then give a strong nod...then come back to the customer with their closed tab and they go..."what? I didn't want to close it out...keep it open." Grrr...

merbig...RAWR RAWR RAWR. I'M A DICKHEAD, I GET SHITTY SERVICE. SO FUCK YOU SERVER/BARTENDER, I'LL GIVE YOU A SHITTY TIP. I CONTINUE TO GET SHITTY SERVICE. RAWR RAWR RAWR.

[Edited on December 17, 2011 at 12:30 PM. Reason : .]

12/17/2011 12:28:53 PM

Quote :

"Be an attractive female As in life, this goes far. "

lol

12/17/2011 1:12:18 PM

jbrick, you work in charleston?

12/17/2011 1:30:23 PM

Quote :

"I think we should start paying server/bartenders/kitchen staff more so that the actual cost of the meal is reflected in the menu prices."

I 100% agree. The way the laws are, tipping has become expected. It is really quite stupid.

Quote :

"merbig...RAWR RAWR RAWR. I'M A DICKHEAD, I GET SHITTY SERVICE. SO FUCK YOU SERVER/BARTENDER, I'LL GIVE YOU A SHITTY TIP. I CONTINUE TO GET SHITTY SERVICE. RAWR RAWR RAWR."

Did you not read what I said, or is your attention span too short to get through a paragraph?

Because that's not at all what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that the argument that is generally made for tipping is that tipping "encourages" good service by the bartender/waiter/server/ect. That is is complete and utter bullshit. Countries where tipping is not expected or common (such as Germany, Austria and China from my own experience) provided EXCELLENT service that puts our own service to shame.

Explain to me why you expect to be tipped for doing your job? Why do you see tipping as something you've come to expect? Why do you treat "bad" tippers worse than people you perceive as being "good?" If a "bad" tipper thinks you do a shitty job and he leaves you a shitty tip, do you just see him as being a douche bag because you feel there is no possible way you could suck at your job? Why do you have this undeserved sense of entitlement that many other people in the service industry have?

Go back and read what I said though. I never said I was against tipping. I am against it being something that you people have come to expect for doing your job. I am all for tipping if you do an exceptional job and your performance is exemplary. That is what a tip is for! It's no different from a bonus a company gives its employees for going above and beyond there expected performance for the year. But that bonus isn't something that is expected. It is something that is earned.

The service industry in the US is simply pitiful, and the very people who work in it are blind as to how bad it really is. It's filled with people, such as yourself jbrick83, who have shitty work ethics.

But I'm sure you'll come back with some childish remark with some stupid justification as to why you deserve a tip from each patron of the bar and how you fulfilling your job responsibilities justifies the tips your receive. I sure do hope you tip people like doctors, cashiers, Wal-Mart door greeters, city bus drivers, teachers/professors, ect.

12/17/2011 1:56:20 PM

Quote :

"Countries where tipping is not expected or common (such as Germany, Austria and China from my own experience) provided EXCELLENT service that puts our own service to shame."

I stopped reading your post after this because it's false.

I don't know where you eat and drink in the States, but I've traveled over most of Europe and the service pales in comparison to the places I frequent here. To go even further...when I was Europe and threw down a couple extra Euros (or whatever currency of the country I was in), I got 1000% better service from there on out.

IMO, it depends on the place you go and the type of staff they have there. Whenever you go to a restaurant or bar that is mostly staffed with college kids or people between bars, the service is going to be mediocre to above average. When you go to a place where people work at where it is their career or who have a lot of experience, the service is more than likely going to be exceptional. And this can pretty much be expected for almost any type of industry.

And if you want them to be paid salaried, then you are going to pay more for your meals and get worse service on average. Restaurants don't make enough money to have that many people on a decent salary. And if they pay a shitty salary (which is probably what you think they should get because you don't think they are skilled workers), then you are going to get dumb employees who give you crappy service.

Your theory makes a little sense...but overall is very impractical.

And to BigEgo...yes, I bartended in Charleston for 7 years. I still pick up a shift every now and then when a friend needs a favor or I want some extra spending money for a toy or vacation.

[Edited on December 17, 2011 at 2:13 PM. Reason : .]

12/17/2011 2:12:18 PM

where at?

12/17/2011 2:14:00 PM

Quote :

" I sure do hope you tip people like doctors, cashiers, Wal-Mart door greeters, city bus drivers, teachers/professors, ect."

These are professions/jobs where the government doesn't assume that you will make the majority of your income from tips and allow a legal exception to the base minimum wage.

Servers depend on customers to pay their wages because the owners have passed that cost on to the customers. The government assumes this and that's why owners are legally able to pay a server a base of $2.15 an hour.

Establishments are obligated to bring you up to the minimum wage if you don't make enough on average in tips but there are a host of ways around this.

12/17/2011 2:18:26 PM

Several places.

First place was at Taco Boy on Folly, then for three years at Raval downtown. Picked up shifts at Fuel over the years, helped a friend open up Shine. Then worked at Home Team out on Sullivans for a couple years and that's where I still pick up a few weekends shifts.

12/17/2011 2:19:50 PM

Quote :

"Dealing with you know-it-all pricks every night takes it toll."

12/17/2011 2:26:56 PM

^^Home Team is probably my favorite place to eat in the Charleston area

12/17/2011 2:28:58 PM