How to pretend like a real bartender behind the bar even you don't have any bartending experience

18/10/2021 09:55

How to pretend like a real bartender behind the bar even you don't have any bartending experience

 

Pretending like a real bartender can be apply only for small bars, restaurants, pubs, night clubs. catering or first class hotels, don't ever try in the five star hotels or cruise ships 100% you can't make it. but you can try your luck or  may be, if you have recommendation from your friends in hotels or cruise ships, but once they discovered either you go home or demoted to utilities jobs.

 

Pretending like a real bartender is not easy task. Before you apply or enter into a scenario you must armed with basic bartending knowledge such as speed rack set up and bar preparartion, bar tools, cocktail glasses, most popular cocktails, cash register, bar inventory, cleanliness, bartender move and speed.
 
In actual scenario behind the bar, "the bar manager and professional bartender on duty can easily identify you as pretending bartender based in your move, speed, holding bottle, speed rack set-up, pouring draft beer, changing a keg of beer, arrangement of bar display shelves, stock arrangement in the fridge, fridges temperature, garnishing cocktails, basic bar tools needed reach by your hand, holding 3 highball glass when busy time and loose bottle inventory-calculation of remaining liquor inside the bottle etc. There are more bar activities and move to identify fake bartender, but if you know at least 40% of the above mentioned then you can be like a real bartender. Don't worry not all bartenders are professionals, there are too much bartenders they don't know even 40% of the mentioned above.
 
 

The basic bartending knowledge must be prepare and memorize as follows: 

 
1) Speed rack bottle arrangement and bar preparation.
2) At least learn 45 most popular cocktails or top cocktails you should know and at least 20 common cocktails to be demonstrate on your first day if needed, must be prepared perfectly. Common cocktails to be demonstrate on your first day, if needed... most popular cocktails
 
3) Bar tools and equipments. Learn Here >>> bar tools
4) Glasswares and cocktail glasses. Learn Here >>> cocktail glasses
5) Cleanliness. Learn Here >>> cleanliness
6) Bartender duties and responsibilities. Learn Here >>> Bartender job description 
7) Bartender training manual. Learn Here >>> all basic knowledge of how to become a bartender
8) All cocktails and mixed drinks to be visualize. Learn Here >>> all cocktails
9) Make a tour and self study on cocktailss website. Learn Here >>> Cocktailss
10) and the last is study and learn basic bar service procedures. Learn Here >>> Bar service and procedures
 
 
Remember, "when behind the bar with other bartenders always give ways and don't block the area. Any bottle or equipment used must be return exactly where it is and cleaned. Keep your area cleaned and presentable always.
 
If you are already working in the bar as a bar server,  barmaid or barback then you can be a real bartender from the eyes of your superior just follows all informations of this article. Those who are not working in the bar and no experience at all, you must study and memorize perfectly all basic knowledge of how to become a bartender and bar server, but pretending like a real bartender is not 100% guarantee. Try to apply barback or bar server to familiarize bar operations, bar tools, glasses, spirits, bar set up, popular cocktails, bartender move, etc and later if you are ready for the challenge then apply as a bartender.
 
 
 

On your first day behind the bar what to do? everybody are looking at you and waiting for your action.

 
 
 
Step No. 1
 
1) Check/review bar menu against bar stock in the fridges, bar shelves and bar cabinet or bar store. make sure you have a sufficient stocks ready to support bar operations for the day. Note: Refill all fridges and bar shelves if needed.
 
2) Check your mise-en-place, bar tools and miscellaneous ready - Learn Here >>> Bar Equiptment
 
3) Setting Up Your Bar - Learn Here >>> Bar Set-Up  such as bar tools, cubes ice, crushed ice, juices, garnishes and pouring brand on speed rack.
 
Speed Rack (Well) Top Shelve - Arrange all bottles from right to left, there is no rules about bottle arrangement but most professional bartenders are using this system of bottle arrangement.
 

  • 1) Vodka

  • 2) Gin  

  • 3) Rum

  • 4) Tequila

  • 5) Triple Sec

  • 6) Scotch Whiskey

  • 7) Bourbon Whiskey

  • 8) Brandy or Cognac

  • 9) Vermouth Sweet and Dry

  • 10) Grenadine Syrup

  • 11) Rose’s Lime Juice´

  • 12) Lemon Juice

  • 13) Simple Syrup (2 sugar> 1 water)

  •  

4) Check/review bar menu and collect all cocktails or most popular cocktails not on your list prepared and search them one by one and study.
 
5) Check all lights, ambiances, curtains, bar display, drink of the day, set-up bar counter, tables if needed
 
 
 
 
Step No. 2
 
1) Check all glasswares or cocktail glasses measurement like margarita, martini, poco grande, hurricane, highball, old fashioned, collins, wines, champagne, etc. to make sure that all cocktails prepared are exact quantity on the glass, "how to do?" use bar jigger with top water and pour into a glass of martini or margarita then you can see how many jiggers of mixed drink to be process for every cocktail. you must calculate how much quantity of crushed ice to be use in one pina colada or other frozen drinks. more or less 1 scoop 1/2 or less in 13oz / 375ml pina colada glass.
 
2) Be ready on drink orders by the servers, create a systems and rules "NO Order slip, NO Drink" and "First Order, First Drink Out basis is being followed." 
 
3) Collect all bar slip order and log in bartender log book if needed, to show up to your superior that you know what is your doing, try to impress your superior on bar system, may be some bar are not using this, but this is the basis and prove that you are really a bartender.
 
4) Conduct bar physical inventory and make a bar requisition. double check all fridges, organize and refill if needed.
 
5) General cleaning of the bar after every bar operation.
 
6) Write all bar activities, problem encounter, need to repair, etc in the logbook daily. this is another prove that you are real bartender even you are only pretending.
 
7) Before you leave the place, make sure double check all machine, lights, fridges temperature and the whole areas of your bar spotlessly clean.
 
8) In your first day you encountered some discrepancy of your knowledge against with the bar system, like cocktails in bar menu, quantity of drink and measurements, etc. "what to do" write all discrepancy search one by one and memorize, "because you are new bartender, the bar manager will not expect 100% on your performance, he will allow you to perform your job within 3 days to one week time or more., so, you have a sufficient time to prove that you are real bartender.
 
9) Do your job rotation daily until become a real and professional bartender. Good Luck!
 
 
I Hope you will find this information helpful
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