On average, bartenders probably do 10-12 hours shifts, sometimes with no break. There are hours of prep work, hours of clean up, and hours of catering to the demands of people who have no concept of a bartender’s actual hours.
Bartending is largely about multi tasking and quick memory recall. Bartenders do everything at once. A home cocktail enthusiast might be able to make a good Manhattan, but it’s an entirely different thing to make three at once while taking a beer order, running a credit card, and being shouted orders at by 10 strangers.
Most decent bartenders can multi task, good ones can do it while keeping their drinks to a high standard, and only the best can pull it off while maintaining a hospitable smile.
Credit Peter Tan I am a Hotelier on LinkedIn
