To all my worst customers,
We call this time of year silly season in the hospitality industry
It’s silly how much alcohol people think they can tolerate
It’s silly the amount of people that come through the doors
It’s silly the amount of money people will spend
It’s silly how much patience we must have
It’s silly that we signed ourselves up for it in the first place
It’s silly how many times we will question whether it’s all worth it
Most of all it’s silly how silly guests are.
Do you want to know what is always free if I’m serving you at the bar? Something that should be free in every bar – scratch that – everywhere:
Manners.
Being polite.
Showing empathy,
and kindness.
When the words “hi, how are you?” have left my lips, do they somehow turn into “please bark your order at me” by the time they reach your ears?
And when you see me making 10 drinks at once, are you sure that’s the best time to wave a hand in my face and ask if you’re next?
I’ll be completely honest with you here, waving anything in my direction is not going to make me serve you faster. In fact id rather make you wait longer.
(The same applies for clicking at a waitress in a restaurant btw)
And when you’ve waved a hand and unfortunately got my attention pleeeease Know. What. You. Want. To. Order. There is nothing more annoying to a bartender than taking an order from someone who instead of figuring out what they wanted to drink, stood there impatiently sighing at us.
Also until I have physically handed you your drink, IT IS NOT READY. Please don’t just grab it from where I’m still making it on the bartop. No matter how keen you are to take one sip and 500 photos, it’ll be prettier if you let me put the garnish on.
If you come to the bar in a group but are all paying separately, please tell me all your drinks at once and I’ll simply split the payment. Especially if any of you are drinking the same thing. Making 5 cosmos one by one is not my idea of efficiency when I’m 3 deep at the bar.
Andddd, all of you who used to be bartenders “back in the day” keep it to yourself. We don’t come into your work and tell you how to do your job, we know what we’re doing and you can keep all your tips to yourself.
You’ve heard the saying the customer is always right. It true enough, except for when they’re not.
Patience, kindness, manners, respect.
These things are expected of service industry staff, sure, but they’re also part of being a decent human being.
Just remember that next time you’re out in silly season.
The more fun the staff are having the more fun we can help you have.
Please and thank you <3
With love,
A bartender
Keep on wandering…
Thank you for being here. If you like this one, here are some others that might keep you occupied a few more minutes.
