As a bartender, you are often the most important face of the establishment for which you work, the person who comes into the most personal contact with the customer. So if one word sums up what your attitude should be, it's "professional".
No matter how bad you may be feeling, no matter if you had a fight with your partner before you left home, or your feet hurt, or your child is giving trouble at school, you have to put all that behind you, put a genuine smile of welcome on your face, and look forward to making everybody who comes up to your bar feel happy and special.
Wear clean, appropriate, smart clothes; it's particularly important to wear comfortable shoes as you are going to be on your feet for hours at a time. Make sure that you present a clean well groomed appearance, especially your hands, which will be the focus of attention as you mix and serve drinks and snacks. Hair should be neat and tidy, not flopping around, people with long hair may want to tie it back in a pony tail or barrette, this makes it easier to work and is more hygienic. Your employer will probably have a dress code which you should stick to.
It's very important that the bar is kept clean and well organized with supplies of cocktail makings fresh and ready to hand. Whenever there is a quiet moment, you should be cleaning, tidying preparing and polishing. This will carry you through those hectic times when the orders are coming at you one after the other like bullets flying in a shoot out! A gleaming, well presented bar encourages the customers to buy, and that is your job of course.
Of course, you need to offer a sympathetic ear to those people who think the bartender is their personal psychiatrist, but never get too involved in a conversation. Non committal sympathy is really all that's required; it's not a good idea to give your opinions on what a fool they have been!
It's important to give correct measures, and to pay attention to what the customer asks for. If he asks for a splash of soda, then a splash, not a deluge, is what he should get. And of course, it's vitally important to pay attention to giving correct change, if you are handling cash, and to keeping the account straight, if you are making up a tab. You should also work on cultivating your memory, so that when someone comes in and asks for"My usual" you know what that is!
You need to pay attention to the law. You should have a very responsible attitude to underage drinking, and don't be afraid to ask for and examine i.d. if you think someone is underage. Making a mistake or being neglectful in this area might get both you and your employer into serious trouble. And you should understand and apply both the law and your employer's policy on serving people who are clearly seriously drunk.
It's also your job to make sure that customers are not harassed, especially women on their own who aren't looking for company. The bartender should be that lady's protector.
If you see someone hesitating over the cocktail menu, don't be afraid to make a suggestion. Keep up to date with the latest trends in mixology (the art of mixing cocktails), but memorize the recipes of the old tried and true favorites like the Screwdriver, the Rusty Nail, and the Manhattan, the Pina Colada, the Bloody Mary and more, which customers will ask for again and again.
If you suggest something interesting and delicious, especially to younger women, who may not be experienced drinkers, the customer will feel that you are paying special attention to them, and hopefully a good tip will result. On the important subject of tips, they will of course form a large part of your income. Customers who haven't yet tipped you will notice your reaction to what other guests are tipping, so always look pleased and grateful even if someone leaves you a stingy, mean little amount. Never angle for tips, this just embarrasses everyone and makes you look bad. If you do a great job, the tips will flow.
Altogether, the attitude of a bartender should be service and customer oriented, highly professional, kind, responsible and hard working. Bartending may be just a temporary job between other jobs or when working your way through college, or it may be a serious long term career. Either way, your attitude to the job can make it a very enjoyable and rewarding experience.
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