There are plenty of tips and tricks for bartenders all around the internet, but most of them boil down to one thing: efficiency. If you can be fast and not use a lot of energy, then you’re going to be able to get a lot more done during a busy night. There are a few ways to improve your efficiency through your supplies, your memory, and your actions.
If you anticipate the needs of the bar, you’ll be one step ahead and make the whole night run more smoothly. Take time to notice when the ice is low, the limes need to be restocked, the keg is getting empty, or when a customer is down to the last few sips. Spend two seconds and acknowledge new customers, even if the bar is full, and let them know you’ll be with them as soon as you can. They’ll appreciate being noticed and will be less likely to be put off if you cannot attend to them quickly. Even a seasoned bartender might have to look up how to make a drink every now and then, but be sure to familiarize yourself with the most popular orders and be up to date on trends. The less time you spend researching the ingredients, the more time you can spend serving out the drinks. Keeping those drinks cold is key as well. Consistent refrigeration ensures that everything is kept at just the right temperature.
Those are ways of helping everyone’s time go more smoothly, but how about making things easier for you, the bartender. Having the right supplies and knowing where everything is could make all the difference. If your equipment is highly efficient, then you will be too. A busy bar night means running out of clean glasses, so having a glass washer that can handle glasses of all sizes will make cleaning a lot easier. For margaritas and other blended drinks, a reliable and heavy duty blender will ensure less fear of something breaking on a busy Friday night. Knowing where everything is, and making sure that it fits your system of serving drinks, will make the whole operation go smoothly and efficiently.
