Bartending 101: Say thank you

October 26, 11:51 AMDallas Bartender ExaminerRobert Stahl

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If you’re a bartender, your customers are the most important things in the world to you. A good bartender should thank his guests for their business. So, when and how many times is it appropriate to thank your guests?

As a rule, I try to thank my guests three times when they’re in the bar. “Three times?” I hear you say. “Shouldn’t once be enough?” Sure, once may be enough for the other guy. But as I told you before, good bartending is all about providing a personalized service. Thanking my guests three times is one of the things that set me apart from the rest of the pack.

So why three times? Let me explain. The first “thank you” comes when a guest orders and pays for a drink. This “thank you” is for the bar. After all, my customer could choose any place he wanted that day, but instead he picked this bar out of all the others. Yes, I realize I’m saying “thanks” before I even get a tip. The way I see it, my guest needs to be thanked for coming into the bar and ordering a drink. A good has just been sold, and when that happens in business you thank your customer.

The second “thank you” comes when I receive a tip. Just like in Die Hard 2, “this time, it’s personal!” My guest has just rewarded me for my service, and he needs to be thanked for it. Whether it is $1.00 or $100, you thank your guests when you are tipped, each and every time.

That brings us to the third “thank you”. Thank your guest again when his visit is over and he gets up to leave. You did notice him leaving, didn’t you? After all, you are using your BEBE to pay attention to your surroundings, right? Let him know that you’re happy he came in today. He’s consumed some of your bar’s goods, and hopefully tipped you well for providing them to him. So thank him again already! You wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for him.

Three, they say, is a magical number. You might think it’s overkill, but I don’t mind thanking my guests three times during their visit. Hey, my guests reward me well for the service I provide them. So, for all of my guests reading this, let me take the opportunity to say THANK YOU again!!!

For more info: Robert works most weekday afternoons at Alexandre's, 4026 Cedar Springs Road.  214.559.0721

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