As a bartender, what types of first impressions are you giving your customers? As the old saying goes, “You only get one chance to make a good first impression.” So it is important to put your best foot forward and make a good first impression. Unfortunately, this is often easier said than done, especially for rookie bartenders.

Bartending is a demanding, fast-paced, and sometimes stressful job. It is easy for any bartender, especially a rookie, to get overwhelmed. When this happens, performance is impacted. So do yourself a favor; take a deep breath and follow these Rookie Bartender Tips from the Maryland Bartending Academy.

Rookie Bartender Tips

  1. Customer Service: First and foremost, realize your role as a bartender. Bartending is as much about customer service as it is making good drinks. Your job is to make guests feel appreciated while serving them top-notch drinks.
  2. Serve Quality Drinks: Bartending is a delicate balance between customer service and great drinks.
  3. Treat Everyone Equally: Don’t play favorites. Keep moving and make sure you give everyone the same amount of attention. As a rookie bartender, it is often easy to get stuck on one side of the bar. So keep your feet moving and make sure you handle the needs of each and every customer.
  4. Be Professional: Yes, bartending is a fun job, but it is still a job. Be professional. You are, after all, representing the bar or restaurant you work for.
  5. Be Responsible: Card everyone! And be vigilant when it comes to inebriation. Never over-serve. Be sure you know the signs of inebriation.
  6. Keep a Clean Bar: Remember the old saying, “If there is time to lean, there is time to clean.” Keep moving and keep a clean bar.
  7. Relax: Most importantly, relax. Enjoy yourself.

Do you have the Necessary Skills to be a Successful Bartender?

Do you have what it takes to be a successful bartender? Let’s run through the checklist.

  1. Personality: As we just said above, bartending is all about customer service. No one wants a boring bartender. You need an infectious personality. You need to be everyone’s friend while also remaining professional. It is a difficult balance to achieve.
  2. Knowledge: Do you have a working knowledge of drink recipes? Remember to never stop learning.
  3. Responsibility: Are you responsible? You have a responsibility to serve alcohol responsibly.

Maryland Bartending Academy

Want to hone your skills and become a better bartender? The best way to do this is to attend bartending school. But where? The Maryland Bartending Academy is not only Maryland’s oldest bartending academy, but we also offer the most comprehensive curriculum around. So why go anywhere else?

If you have any questions about Bartending Tips or wish to register for an upcoming class, please contact the Maryland Bartending Academy by calling 410-787-0020 or visit MarylandBartending.com today! You can also follow the Maryland Bartending Academy on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.