It’s a prevalent misconception among people that the job of a bartender is extremely easy, which is why they opt for a career in bartending. No doubt it’s an exciting job, but if you don’t know the basics, you won’t be able to work in this field for long. Newbie bartenders often make mistakes that not only harm their career, but also cause financial loss to a bar they’re working at.
Here, we’ve compiled a list of rookie mistakes that many new bartenders in Louisiana tend to make. You should try to avoid making such mistakes.
1. Working with One Hand at a Time
When working behind a bar, you can never be free. So, make it a habit to use both hands in order to make work easier for you. If you’re pouring drink in a glass with one hand, use your other hand to grab other items you’ll need or clean spilled drinks from counter.
2. Refusing to Cooperate with Others
While working as a bartender, you need to adopt a cooperative behavior. Bar staff should help each other in their tasks for the growth of business. Many rookie bartenders usually have me-first attitude which negatively influences their career in the long run. Be cooperative, but don’t overburden yourself by volunteering to work for others.
3. Getting Overstressed
Bartending is a tough job. You have to stay in a standing position for more than 8 hours straight and deal with various customers. However, you need to learn to keep stress to yourself. No matter how stressed you are, never lose your composure. Keep your emotions in check and avoid getting into a fight with other bar workers or customers.
4. Using Packaged Juice Only
You can use packaged juice to prepare drinks, but don’t overlook the importance of fresh fruits. Fresh fruit juice adds a distinguishing taste to fruity cocktails. Fresh fruits on bar counter also attract customers like nothing else. So, it’s best to squeeze some fresh lemon, grapefruit or pineapple juice next time you’re serving an order.
5. Dumping Ice from Mixer into the Glass
If you’re also one of those bartenders who thinks that ice in a mixing tin can be dumped into a glass of drink, you’re setting up yourself for a lot of frowns from regulars. When you shake ice in a shaker, it loses its form and melts much quicker than fresh ice cubes. So, use fresh ice in glass to improve the customers’ experience.
6. Forgetting Orders
A bartender should have a good memory so they can remember orders of several customers. Refrain from taking more orders at a time than you can remember. Try to keep in mind which customer ordered what type of drink. If customers have ordered in a group, don’t miss out on any customer, or else they’re likely to lose their temper.
Regardless of whether you want to take up a job at a bar or already working as a bartender, you should register yourself in a Louisiana Responsible Vendor Bar Card server/seller training course. Ace Food Handler offers professional training courses across the US. This course will guide you on your duties and help you avoid making any mistakes that may prove costly down the road.