The business of bartending is a severe one. Here at The Summit Bar, we’re concerned with giving you the needed tips and guides on bartending.

Below, we’ll be shifting our focus to bartenders. Here, we’ll explain the concept “Bartender” in simple terms.

We’re also going to examine the importance of a bartender and tips and tricks to become a better bartender. Are you interested in knowing more? Read on.

Who is a Bartender?

You’ve just opened that outdoor bar that features propane fire pits that are considered a great alternative to a wood-burning pit, and you’re looking to get customers. Now’s the time to get a bartender to put everything into perspective.

Who’s a bartender? Usually, a bartender creates and serves soft drinks or alcoholic beverages behind a bar in a licensed establishment.

Bartenders also maintain supplies and inventories needed for the bar. Generally, bartenders can mix cocktails such as Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Negroni and so on.

The Importance of Bartenders in Bars

Bartenders are significant people. After an exhausting week, they’re one of the persons you’re bound to interact with first.

They smile, keep the bar clean at all times, make drink suggestions, and know the exact drink you want before you even make an order. And yes, bartenders are this good!

These professionals are essential because they:

• Know your needs before you do
• Great customer service specialists
• Give a listening ear
• Counsellors

With the list above, you now know why bartenders are essential. From serving the right kind of drinks at the right time, they entertain, offer listening ears, give you needed advice, whilst being neat all at the same time.

Tips and Tricks to Becoming A Better Bartender

The best bartenders are the ones that never stop learning. They always jump at the chance to step up their game.

Bartending is a fun but challenging job. Not only are you serving drinks all night, but you’re to act as a personal therapist to some customers.

Whether you’re a beginner or a professional bartender, here are some tips and tricks to put at the back of your mind. They include:

Name Calling

Most times, guests want to feel like they’re a name and not just some number on a spreadsheet.

How do you get their names? It’s pretty much straightforward. When they’re about to pay with their credit cards, you can take a sneak peek to know their names.

Calling the names of guests makes them feel important and valuable. Put these tips and tricks into practice and see sales increase:

Strategic Sampling

Offering free samples is a great way to make sales and build trust among guests.

You can do this by giving customers a taste of new and superior products you believe they like.

Research also supports this bartending tip. First, handing out free samples to guests activates the “reciprocity principle.” Here, when a bartender is generous to guests, they feel inclined to be helpful in return— by making a premium drink purchase or handing a sizable tip to the bartender.

Free samples are also proven to increase sales of an item by 2000 per cent. And yes, you read that right!

Train for Busy Nights

Practice! Practice!! Practice!!! Next time activities in the bar seem slow, act like it’s busy.

During slow times, pace yourself. Take multiple orders and see how fast you can fill them. As you keep doing this, you get into a rhythm, and the next time the bar’s busy, you’re ready for some fast-paced action.

Always Acknowledge Guests

Immediately a guest steps into your bar, make sure you acknowledge them. Some bartenders deliberately avoid this tip because they’re scared that acknowledging guests would make them request drinks ASAP.

In reality, customers want you to see them, to know they’re on your radar. Peradventure you keep guests waiting, thank them for their patience, and make them feel special in your next encounter.

Make Friends With Other Bartenders

In all walks of life, the importance of networking is massive.

Whether at your job or other bars, knowing other professionals in the industry can help you along the way.

Spot the Troublemaker

As a bartender, always be on the lookout for potential troublemakers.

They’re always loud and a little too animated. Also, troublemakers can get aggressive to get your attention.

When you spot a troublemaker, you’ll need to either make certain they behave or shut them down entirely by sending them out.

Use this bartending tip to establish a welcoming, safe environment at your bar.

Build a Bond on Social Media

Social Media is a potent tool. Use it to your advantage by engaging guests.

To increase online engagement, ask the bar’s social media manager to record you making different drinks using platforms such as; Instagram or Facebook live.

The Soft (Music) Sell

Typically, bartenders are often in control of the playlist.

A study showed that playing soft, slow music can increase sales by up to 40 per cent during slow times.

The reverse is the case during fast-paced times; play it fast and loud to keep orders coming.

Conclusion

The right scenery and ambience in a bar matter a lot. Follow the above tips and tricks to make your bar highly sought after in the community or neighbourhood it’s located.

Oktoberfest Beer

 

In the late 1800s, those attending Oktoberfest, according to the American Homebrewers Association, switched to a Vienna-style lager because Munich breweries ran out of the darker beer.

The darker lager evolved into a reddish-brown hue (Marzen-like) post the First World War. Today, the beer served at the festival is typical of session strength, a malt-like lager with attractive color, ranging from copper to gold.
Who knows – the Oktoberfest beer style could change further in taste and look, 5 decades later.

Oktoberfest Today

 

Today, the Oktoberfest festival is mainly an agricultural celebration of Munich’s last harvest prior to summer. In March, Marzen was brewed and in summer laid down in casks. The lager was aged over the few months before summer in preparation for the festival celebrations.
Munich residents brewed the last beer of the year prior to planting their fields in summer; this happened in March. Summers were too warm for yeast fermentation, hence brewing over summer was impossible.

Instead, the residents of Munich worked in the fields over the summer months. After harvesting in September or October, harvest celebrations began.

Today, Oktoberfest, for many fans, is a bounty celebration of the fertile lands, tying it back into the beer. It’s a time for farmers and beer lovers to slow down and reflect on the summer work in the fields.
Despite the original celebration embracing a horse race and a wedding, the festival today includes pretzels, stein-hoisting and lederhosen.

What’s more, the Oktoberfest festival is celebrated across the world, including the United States of America.