Message 11335 of 22774 in Behind the Bar

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Skychick

I was quite interested to see your response given the type of establishment 
you work in.

Anyway – I believe essentially you’re right but you need to improve upon this 
by taking a “you’re next” principle to avoid “I’m next” “no me” blah blah 
blah…..

For example you could say “hi – I’m coming to you, then you then you” (whilst 
nodding at everyone around the bar to acknowledge them)

Yes you will get the occasional person (bongo) who says I only ordered ….. 
they are largely unused to good bartenders and I would just wink at them.

Additionally, you could set up the correct number of glasses in front of them 
(so they are not all together) and bounce cut to make the drinks – this will 
make it slightly easier for them to see which drinks belong to them.  However, 
if they are regulars they will soon get the hang of it – I just say “I know” 
and wink.

Taking additional orders also means you can group drinks together from 
different people so customer 1 – 2 vd cokes – 3 cosmos – 2 buds a corona and 6 
jager – customer 2 guiness – cosmo + loads more.

You can just remember the drinks that group with your first customer (so you 
would make four cosmos and maybe start the guiness) and then say “what else 
was there again” after you finished with customer 1.

I would say another important tip is knowing the till – and also knowing the 
prices off by heart (then being able to add them up in your head – less 
walking to and from till).  Then use tip trays to give out your change so 
you’re not standing their like a muppet. You can even give tip trays out with 
receipts if easier so you don’t have to wait to collect.

Some of us also employ tactics to speed up slow payers or orderers. Such as 
asking:

“is there anything else”  (mini rant – its starting to get to me that there is 
always one person that says there isn’t anything else and then orders again 
when I tell them how much – and then again after they’ve already done it once)

“when you’re ready just let me know”

saying “that’s $/£XX” after they finished ordering (they would have to be a 
persistent offender)

if really annoyed that they haven’t paid yet – remove their drinks that you 
just made from the bar (this really works)

ok this is the not so nice part of my customer handling – but as long as you 
say it sincerely and don’t turn it into a scene – the customer will generally 
understand.

have fun

d