From the animated sitcom The Simpsons to Stanley Kubrick's horror The Shining, the world of fiction is filled with bartenders. Some are most iconic and popular than others but they all have a thing in common, they always bring along clichés.
Having been a bartender myself for almost two months, I've noticed that not all of them are just clichés; indeed, some of those clichés are actually true and I thought it'd be "fun" to write about them.
GETTING IT ALL THE TIME
Maybe it has to do with the fact that a, I am a young woman and b, that I am quite good-looking, but men hit on me all the time. Old, young, married, engaged, single, all of them. If you are one of those men, only because I'm nice, talk to you and make eye contact it does not mean I'm flirting with you. I'm just being a well-mannered person.
WE ARE UNDERPAID PSYCHOLOGISTS
There's nothing more clichéd that someone walking into a bar, ordering a drink and then talking about their feelings. Or sharing their life's story. This is where being a good listener, as I am, comes in handy. Actually, you could just nod and say "yes" occasionally and you'd be fine.
"I'LL HAVE THE USUAL"
There's always that one guy who walks in and says that. Actually, I wish people said that as most of my customers just walk in, say nothing and pretend I make them their usual. And if I have to be completely honest, I'm the one who, just to avoid ending up with something unpaid, often asks them if they are taking the usual.
THE RAG
Whether it's a TV series or a movie, it's very likely the bartender either has a rag slung over their shoulder or is using it to clean something — the counter, glasses, you name it. While I keep mine on my side of the counter, there's always something to clean, or hands to dry — because liquors are sticky, coffee is sticky because of sugar and/or liquors, and washing the hands it's one of the things a bartender does the most.
Do you have any bartenders that actually drink what they serve? There's a great scene in Kicking and Screaming (not the Will Ferrell-soccer movie of the same name) where Eric Stoltz's character is a bartender as he talks about being a life-long student as he has no ambition nor any interest to have a career but be a student on life. He takes a swig of a drink as the guy he's talking to says "I like a bartender who drinks, that way I know I'm not being poisoned".
ReplyDeleteNobody does that were I work. It's kinda rude tbh and it looks like you're not good at your job if you have to taste what you're making.
DeleteI've never bartended, but I have been a waitress and I can relate to some of these. Only in my experience the "usuals" were creepy old coffee drinkers and I once had one compliment me on my new black pants. When I asked how he could tell the difference from the ones I usually wear he proceeded to explain to me how the seams go across my ass differently.
ReplyDeleteAh, men.
Oh my! Men (not all of them but most) are just the worst.
DeleteThis all sounds awesome to me 😂 Maybe you will find a hot guy in your job, meanwhile I am sitting on my ass in the office and the only excitement I feel is when Sail plays on the radio 😂
ReplyDeleteThat's a huge "maybe" as I don't think there's any hot guy in my town. Anyways... that's what I daydream while working😂
DeleteCool post! The flirting one is a given in any situation, I love what you said about making eye contact being confused with flirting.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the Rag on the shoulder is definitely a cliche, I always wondered if it's true
I always wondered that too!
DeleteThis is a time where I would like to defend men. Sadly I don't doubt a single thing you said. It's a shame.
ReplyDeleteI’m not saying all men are the same as there are some exceptions here and there but most are so bad at being men they give a bad name to everyone else.
DeleteYup, mistaking even the slightest bit of kindness and/or courtesy from a woman as "she wants me" is what we men do best. Very fun, informative post. Loved reading this.
ReplyDeleteI’m so glad you enjoyed reading it :)
DeleteYeah Brittani's comment is the sleaziest thing I've heard in a while. Do you ever get people who order something but then get you to try and change the level of ingredients? "Go easy on the..." or "Feel free to add a little..." sort of thing?
ReplyDeleteNo but it has happened before that someone asked for a coffee but then changed their minds and went for something else. I made them pay the coffee too, of course. Is it really that hard to decide what you want to drink? I don't think so...
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