Message 1055 of 22774 in Behind the Bar

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> Rangstrom, if I may ask, why are you interested? What are your duties 
> these days?


Hey. I'm interested because I just got a job at a different place, and my 
duties have, uh, diversified. The last place I worked could best be described 
as a 'mega bar' -- a huge place with four different bars. The bartenders 
didn't have to do anything but set up, pour drinks, and cash out. Of course we 
kept the bar top and our stations orderly, but I didn't have to do anything 
after my shift involving cleaning or maintanance.

In my new gig, I work at a popular Irish pub type of deal -- it's actually a 
step up, because I'm one of two bartenders working, the place is constantly 
packed, it's upscale, and one of the premier 'tending gigs in my area. My 
previous establishment prohibited buybacks, thereby inhibiting our tip 
collection. Last Saturday, I walked out of my new place with $550 in cash. I'm 
a happy clam.

The thing is, they seem to be a little light on barbacks and cleaning crew. We 
clean up every single thing behind the bar -- coffee makers, soup to nuts. We 
also had to polish all the brass rails, move all the barstools (about 25 heavy 
ones) from the basement back up to the bar, vacuum some areas, and windex just 
about every open space around. The whole process took nearly two hours past 
closing. Not that I mind, because the money is phenomenal, and I've worked in 
places where I've had to bleach the bathrooms and clean up vomit and the like. 
I was just curious as to what the norm is in this business, as I've only been 
in it for a few years.