Being a professional bartender encompasses much more than just being a good cocktail maker and listening to customers while serving them at the bar. The bartender role is much more important now. They become the “center” of the bar, or whatever event or activity they decide to get involved in. Today you can hire bartenders who handle specific skills in the art of mixology, for example.
There are many ways to answer this but the core of what a bartender should be is someone who is emotionally mature, someone who has a great personality and someone who knows how to mix the best and most popular drinks.
Nowadays, bartenders can work in a bar every night, or they can be Bartenders for parties, hired work at parties or events. However, each one of them must know their responsibilities. These are your most important skills and qualities and the ones you must have to be a better bartender. When we think of a bartender, we immediately associate him with our favorite drink or cocktail.
In addition, we see them as the friendly person behind the bar that we chat with from time to time. However, in reality people don’t understand the dimensions of the job that the bartender does all the time. For example, there are Bartenders for private events who develop specific skills to work in various types of events.
Why bartenders for events and parties?
In any event or party, as well as in bars or restaurants, a bartender is always necessary. They must always be present in everything related to Beverage catering, since they are the most important elements of any party. In these cases, bartenders must also be trained to attend this type of event. In addition, they need to know what qualities clients are looking for in Bartenders for private events.
For this reason, we are going to talk a little about all those qualities that are necessary in a bartender. No matter what type of work they develop. Every bartender has to develop specific qualities and skills. However, they also know what their responsibilities are when running the bar for an entire night. By working in the Beverage catering area as a bartender, you will know that all of them are more than indispensable.
The qualities that every bartender should have
All work requires specific qualities, knowledge about various things, which are very particular to this profession. Bartending is no exception, as there are countless qualities that the bartender must have and that are necessary to develop their work. Especially in the Beverage catering area, which is quite demanding. Some of the most important are:
The proper presentation of cocktails: There is a saying that everything enters through the eyes, and in part, that is true. When you are working directly in jobs where you have to interact with clients all the time, do everything as beautifully as possible so that the client feels happy with the drink or beverage that you are offering.
Yes, knowing how to prepare cocktails and how to serve customers well is necessary, however, how you present them is also important. Sight and smell are the senses that first appear when serving a drink, so if you are a Bartender for a party, you must devise different ways to create drinks and cocktails. The decorated borders are common. You can add umbrellas, olives in sticks, lemon slices or other citrus fruits or add some herbs inside the drink.
Communication is truly a key element
Communication and good character are essential: You cannot be behind the bar with a serious face and without communicating with customers. You can attend an event without being friendly, smiling and talking to them. Since the bartender must have a high degree of charisma and appropriate communication with each client, you serve, no matter who they are.
A stable relationship with the customer is essential. Since in the end, it is they, through tips, who appreciate the bartender’s work if they were served in the best way. A good way to connect with customers on a higher level is by having empathetic, friendly and respectful communication. Even more so, when you work with a team of Bartenders for private events or you are a Bartender for a party. This works like this, since you have to be in events of various sizes where the relationship with the guests gets closer.
It is always good to have short conversations with customers that make them want to return to the bar to continue talking with you. Glimpsecorp explains the importance of knowing how to handle difficult customers.
Knowledge is essential
Never forget what is on the menu: Knowledge is essential when you are a bartender. Almost all professions require that we know and handle terms and other basic elements that we must know. The work of bartending requires having a very good memory.
The client hopes that you know how to prepare drinks. In addition, they need you to know backwards and forwards each of the drinks and cocktails that are on the menu and even those that are not. At the same time, the customers see the bartender as an expert in drinks and cocktails.
So, they will often ask for recommendations, so the bartender must be prepared to respond to them. This is especially important when you are a mixologist and you are an expert in creating mixes and cocktails.
Learn to manage stress
Stress management is essential: Every career or profession has its share of stress. Nevertheless, it is no secret that there are some careers and professions more stressful than others, one of them is undoubtedly bartending. Above all, when you work with a group of Bartenders for private events, you will have to work in events of various sizes and audiences. NBC News goes into details on handling stress as a bartender.
A bartender will always have to handle a high load of stress. There will be times when the bartenders will not cope, especially when the bar or restaurant is too crowded. Those times when the queue at the bar is huge, the bartender must remain calm and serve everyone in the best possible way.
Keep track of time
It is necessary to measure the times well, and prepare in the best way for these complicated moments. Some simple techniques can be applied to keep stress under control. Some of these have all the ingredients and cocktail tools on hand, so you don’t waste time looking for them.
On the other hand, plan and organize everything before starting your shift. You need to always ask for help and support from your fellow bartenders and the rest of your team.
Empathy and effective listening are key: Beyond attending and serving each customer who passes by the bar every night, it is also necessary to listen to them.
Many times, they come up with lots of problems and feel the need to vent or complain to the bartender. When this happens, you need to listen carefully and give the customer the attention they deserve.
Despite being busy serving other clients, it is important to keep your attention on the one who needs to talk. Remember that there are always going to be bargoers who simply want someone to listen.
The skills of the professional bartender
There are certain skills that every bartender must have that are worth mentioning.
The correct mixes of drinks and cocktails. Bartenders are and always will be the true specialists when it comes to alcoholic beverages. So, it is very important that each bartender knows the recipes perfectly well, without forgetting how to prepare them by heart. For the bartender, it should be natural and easy to use a shaker, serve liquor appropriately, and garnish cocktails and drinks, among other things.
Handle cash and have a good memory. The bartender must know how to handle money well and have basic knowledge of mathematics. On many occasions, you will have to receive money from one, two or three clients at the same time.
They need to remember the recipe, but also remember how much cash the client gave to them. In this way, they also need to remember how much change should be given to each customer. This constant juggle of information can be really difficult to handle at times, but it’s important.
The knowledge of how to use all the implements of the bar is a key. As well as the other elements with which you prepare cocktails and drinks. If you want to be a professional bartender, and be a Bartender to hire.
You have to know how to use each implement and never look confused when using it. This is why it is necessary that you practice with each element. Those that you will use in the bar so that you know how to use them in the right way.
The responsibilities or functions of the Bartender
There is another key point that every bartender, no matter what he or she does and where they work, must consider. The bartenders have several responsibilities that they have to take into account while they are working behind the bar. Just as the job can be well paid and give many benefits, having it also carries a series of responsibilities.
You might think that the bartender does not have many responsibilities beyond serving customers and serving drinks. However, the reality is different; the bartender has to fulfill certain responsibilities and rules that are intrinsic to their position.
Some of the responsibilities of bartenders
- In some or most cases, receive the drinks whether they are packaged or canned and put them in order. This is important in order to be able to handle the most hectic events. If you don’t do this as a bartender, you will find it very difficult to succeed in many situations.
- Keeping your work area clean, as well as all the elements or implements necessary to prepare drinks and cocktails. This is also a responsibility to consider. Any areas that look messy or dirty can really affect the perception of the clients and their guests.
- It is important that you be aware of everything you have in the warehouse. This is important in order to know the inventory, what is needed or what needs to be filled. Having full awareness of what is needed during any specific event is always going to matter.
- Keep everything clean, not only the work area, but also its surroundings. You must take care that no accidents happen around it. Also, check if there is not any element that prevents the movement of customers or guests. Pay extra attention to this as a Bartender for a party.
- Knowing how to prepare any drink or cocktail, whether it contains this alcohol or not, is essential. This is a basic responsibility that every bartender must take into account. Remember that there are 77 official drinks, but they turn into hundreds when you consider variables.
Other responsibilities include:
- Serve customers in an agile and efficient way, as they approach the bar. It is important to maintain order and try not to accumulate too many requests from guests. Once this happens, things can et hectic and you can fin yourself dealing with restless people asking for drinks.
- Organize, take and deliver the orders that the waiters bring to you from customers on the tables. It is all about being organized properly and keeping things in order. This makes it easier for you to find success.
- Charge customers who are ordering their cocktails or drinks at the bar. At the same time, memorize orders and deliver money changes appropriately. Having a good memory is very important in the world of bartending. This is going to make your job much easier in many ways.
Consider all factors
These are the basic responsibilities of every bartender. It does not matter if the bartender is a mixologist to hire or a bartender for a wedding event. In either case, they must fulfill them.
The responsibilities or functions of the Bartender can be different depending on the specific situation with each bartending job. This is why it is important for the bartender to sit down with the event organizer and figure out what is needed.
Questions and answers about bartender work
Some bars and restaurants might not require a license/certificate. However, most places will require a bartender to have a certificate due to local law requirements.
The bartending world took a hit with the pandemic. With that said, things are slowly returning to normal and events are looking to hire bartenders once again.
Yes, there are bartending schools and they are great for those who want to learn bartending. With that said, it is not necessary to attend a school to learn this process.
Final thoughts
All these skills, qualities and responsibilities are part of the bartender’s job. So, if you really want to succeed in this world of bartending, you will have to learn control. You need to learn to manage your emotions and use your skills. Once you can do those things, you will be able to handle any situation with ease.
If you are someone who feel that those qualities describe you, it is probable that you will be a great bartender. It is a fun job with many responsibilities, but also many advantages for those who are serious about the profession.
Contact Party Shakers if you want to hire the best bartenders for the job!
