1/3/10

New years highs and lows

I spent my first New Years -in what seems like a lifetime- on the customer side of the bar. And I spent the first night out -in what seems like a lifetime- at a bar other than the one I worked at. The result was obviously slower service and less people to mingle with.

The martini bar offset slow service with a good attitude, which was refreshing. It's nice to be smiled at and hearing thank you after leaving a tip. I always did those things as a bartender (well not so much the smiling but I was like twenty times busier than this bar was.. but definitely the thank you. No matter how busy I was I always thanked someone for a tip.)

Having less people to mingle with was actually a good thing. At the college bar pretty much every person knows you from you serving them, especially after you've worked there for a few years. You don't have time to enjoy the conversations with the people you've ventured to the bar with. In fact, usually they move on with the rest of your group while your stuck back chatting with a customer. I'm not sure why the customers feel the need to stop you and talk to you. It's like .. I spend enough time dealing with you when I'm at work.. please let me enjoy my night off by talking to the people that I choose to talk to. So, it was nice being able to chat with the group I came with.

After midnight we ventured over to college bar (my previous employer) and I realized why I hate bars. I'm so used to being protected by the the rotting green tile that I forgot what it was like on the other side of a crowded bar. People think that they can touch you as you pass them. People think that they can creepily come up and talk to you like they are your new bff. Without the rotting green square of protection I felt naked and vulnerable. And I didn't like it one bit.

11 comments:

Unhinged said...

The barrier of the bar is the number one reason I prefer bartending to waitressing.
I rarely go to my place of employment as a customer because you're right; it's almost like working. The regulars hold you captive. You have to keep the work personality on when you're there because to them, that's who you are.

Sandy said...

I could not even tell you how long it's been since I have been to a bar. I don't miss it either!

Welcome to SITS! It;'s great to have you in the SITStahood!

Just Lisa said...

Ah, now I remember why I got married! I hated the whole bar scene!

I came by to welcome you to SITS! We're happy to have you with us!

Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish said...

Welcome to SITS and happy Sharefest! I think respecting your bartender in public should be like respecting a celebrity in public. You can acknowledge but no touching! :)

BB said...

Thanks for checking out my blog, and so glad you stopped by from SITS.. I'm loving it so far!

Lol, I think having been on the bartending side of the bar.. I just am not up to being on the customer side. I would like to bartend somewhere again.. but right now I'm too busy looking for a full time job. I don't think I'll go back to the bars until I'm working in them, that's for sure.

BB said...

haha, jess I love that analogy!

Thanks for stopping by :) Happy sharefest!!

Carma Sez said...

I hear ya; not a mingler either

Welcome to SITS! I know that you will enjoy being a part of this vibrant community of bloggers :-)

Waiting said...

It's pathetic to say this but I have had the last 3 consecutive New Year Eve's off and have stayed home all 3. I just can't take the cold, crowds, and insanely high club prices in Las Vegas.

When I do venture out to a bar I definitely am not one of those girls who spend 2 hours getting dressed. I wear jeans and a t-shirt. Even then you can't prevent men from coming up to you.

Anonymous said...

Ah, the touchy-feelys piss me off. Like, do I have to tattoo "eff u & the horse u rode in on" on my forehead to get the message across?
Geeez, some people have no manners.

I can completely understand why'd you prefer being behind the bar.

I hope you get your wish for a full-time job, I know it's slim-pickens right now.

I just wanted to stop in and welcome you to SITS & to wish you a (little belated) Happy New Year!

Brandy said...

I guess the grass is not always greener huh?! LOL! Don't forget you save money but serving drinks instead of buying them too!

Welcome to SITS!

BB said...

Waiting- I would probably go out a lot less, especially on holidays, if I lived in a city known for partying. I think once you see people making a fool of themselves all night while soberly working the bar, it makes you think twice about getting drunk yourself.

Christine- Yeah, I need to get one of those tattoos!

Brandy- And I def like the idea of making money instead of sending money.. that thought crosses my mind everytime I frequent a bar.


Thanks for stopping by and leaving comments!