July 22, 2010
Pub Nature
Working in pubs, you get to see people in a slightly different light. As every person comes to the bar for a drink or food or simply to ask a question, a relationship, however brief is struck between the patron and the bartender. And just like all relationships, it can positive, negative, memorable or simply exist for the five seconds it takes to crack a bottle of beer and handover exact change.
In Australia, it is a practice to shout your mates a round and vice versa. If it's a particularly unique combination or shout - like 3 rums, vodka OJ and a Jim Beam w/no ice (in Oz it is also assumed that in the case of most rail spirits, if it is not mentioned the mix is cola by default), then there's a good chance the barman/maid will remember it and the price. In this case, if the first person to order it was friendly, everyone else will likely be treated well. On the flip side of this, if the first person to shout your group was annoying, or impolite, you're likely to suffer from their bad first impression.
Now, this might sound like it's a little more in-depth of an analysis than it deserves, giving that hundreds of people come through a pub on a weekend, and multiple bartenders are going to be working, but it only takes a smile and maybe a few quick pleasantries to ensure you'll be getting better service than the self-absorbed idiot who is waving the $50 bill at every bartender. By the way, what is he thinking? Everyone at the pub most likely has money - people don't tend to window shop for pints and cocktails. It's nice when people have their money ready (nothing is more annoying than someone complaining how long they've waited at the bar and then not knowing what it is they want or not having money ready) but there is a fine line between holding it in your hand and waving it in the air cause we [bartenders] just don't care....for that.
Posted by Dr.Unk at 10:33 AM | Comments (0)