Set the Tone: Opening a Set

There you are behind the stick making drinks and greeting guests; all the while having no clue what the shift may bring. Big tips hopefully. Hey every shift is like a box of chocolates, amirite? Well the professional bartender doesn’t chance such things. They know how to tend bar as well as people. That’s why customers who frequent their establishments will pay more for drinks, wait in longer lines, and tip handsomely for the opportunity. Money that could be coming your way is walking down the street and waiting in line. What could you be doing right now to ensure better guest enjoyment along with better tip outs per tab? It’s a three step process captured in three little words: set the tone.

Strip away all the bells and whistles of any bar, all the antique Cobbler shaking tins, all the ice-cold draft beers on tap, and accept that any time you step behind any bar it becomes your bar. I know the place has an owner, but maybe tonight they’re uptown meeting with a social media promotions guru, and the bar has a manager, who may spend most of the night upstairs in the office tracking down a case of Jameson that was ordered weeks ago. But right now its half past six, and the bar is five deep. Face it sport, the only one running the show right now is you. But if you set the tone early with your guests, none of that matters.

Step One:

Make eye contact. From the newly arrived tourist to the tab busting regular, look them in the eye. When they arrive. While they’re drinking. As they depart. Your gaze is a powerful acknowledgement to the people who crowd your bar that they’re not being served by some disgruntled schlub, but by a professional. It also serves notice to all comers that the eyes of the house are upon them.

Step Two:

Ask them for their name. As someone is saddling up to your bar, ask their name as you give yours. It personalizes the exchange and leads to a fostering of mutual respect and trust. It’s also the first step in turning them into regular customers. The ones that will get you future jobs in or outside of the industry. The ones who’ll provide advice or set you an appointment you couldn’t arrange on your own. Networking for the win my friend. It also serves notice to anyone who might be up to mischief that you’re attaching a name to their face. And yes your memory will strengthen to hold people’s names in your mind. I’ll explain more about methods to aid your memory building in a future post.

Step Three:

As you’re exchanging names, shake their hand. This gesture sends a powerful message to them and others that they’re being served by a professional bartender. And let’s face it, it is much easier to under tip a bartender who never makes the effort to acknowledge you.

These three steps will keep people coming back to your bar and provide your barroom a more welcoming atmosphere. As an added bonus these steps will provide a way to filter out people who would be toxic for you and your guests. Make these steps habit, and they will pay you back tenfold.