Bartending - More Than Just Serving Drinks

Years ago bartending was just a trade where• Smile, everyone likes to feel welcome, most
liquor was bought and sold, how things havepeople go to bars for the company as well as a
changed. Bartending nowadays is more than justfew drinks, there are lots of lonely people out
serving drinks, it involves psychology too. Let methere, it's amazing what a smile can do for some
share some of the psychology with you.people.
Learn to be both a listener and an entertainer.• Build a relationship with the customer, learn
• People love nothing more than to havetheir likes/dislikes, remember their drinks
someone listen, often the customer is out topreferences and make them feel special. Not only
share his/her problems. As we all know, "awill you make them feel good about themselves,
problem shared is a problem halved". They don'tbut they will be more likely to leave you a good
necessarily need answers, they just need an ear.tip.
• Some people like to be entertained, enjoy• Remember that it is your life too, so the
being the listener and who better than thebetter you make the experience for the
bartender to provide the entertainment eithercustomer; the better it will make you feel too.
through a few good stories and jokes or tricks.Self satisfaction as well as job satisfaction.
Show that you are enjoying your job and the• Even when you are on a break, don't be the
customers who share your time.loner in the corner, have a chat, both you and the
• First and foremost the most importantcustomer will benefit from the extra relationship
psychological tip is to welcome the customer andbuilding.
introduce yourself and find out your customers• When the customer is leaving always say
names. Remember their names and use them."Thank you" and if possible shake their hand, this
Everyone loves to be remembered, it makeswill ensure that the customer leaves with a feeling
them feel good.of having been "Welcome".