"Extreme Bartending:" 199 tips to get tips by being a pro
December 15th, 2013 at 3:18:50 PM
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I gave a little help to a guy on LinkedIn, who has a bartending business; he asked about tips in casinos, we discussed a few things, all related to his preparation in developing a bartender's handbook. There's probably a quite a bit more for bartenders than for dealers in tip garnering (because there's more to do and less done in vain for a good bartender, IMO).
We probably have a few combo dealers/bartenders here in any case. Take a look, fellows.
Another food-for-thought topic.....
We probably have a few combo dealers/bartenders here in any case. Take a look, fellows.
Another food-for-thought topic.....
Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes - Henry David Thoreau. Like Dealers' uniforms - Dan.
December 15th, 2013 at 3:37:53 PM
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Quote: PaigowdanThere's probably a quite a bit more for bartenders than for dealers in tip garnering ..
The only way to get really good tips as a
bartender is to be a girl under 30 with a
boob job. She'll get tips just for showing
up for work. Men will flirt with her and they
always tip. We had a girl that filled in part
time in the bar, and she could make a hundred
bucks a night in my dive bar in 1980. Just
because she was young and cute. A guy who
worked the same night would make $15.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
December 15th, 2013 at 4:13:26 PM
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There are different types of bars and therefore different types of bartenders.
I wonder if the young, cute and artificially enhanced female would make that much money in a bar that catered to gay males?
Some bars emphasize bartender showmanship such as flipping of bottles and multiple drink orders being simultaneously and speedily filled.
As bars become more creative and exotic in inventing cocktails, particularly expensive cocktails, one wonders if "drinks" have the same meaning as they did a few years ago. With DUI's so common, having a few drinks means something different now than before.
Some bar owners feel there is no such thing as a free drink as all drinks are ultimately supposed to be paid for and customers money is supposed to go to the owner. Overly generous pours, overly flirty behavior can be viewed as being the equivalent of sticky fingers at the till. Its a fine line to tread.
I wonder if the young, cute and artificially enhanced female would make that much money in a bar that catered to gay males?
Some bars emphasize bartender showmanship such as flipping of bottles and multiple drink orders being simultaneously and speedily filled.
As bars become more creative and exotic in inventing cocktails, particularly expensive cocktails, one wonders if "drinks" have the same meaning as they did a few years ago. With DUI's so common, having a few drinks means something different now than before.
Some bar owners feel there is no such thing as a free drink as all drinks are ultimately supposed to be paid for and customers money is supposed to go to the owner. Overly generous pours, overly flirty behavior can be viewed as being the equivalent of sticky fingers at the till. Its a fine line to tread.
December 15th, 2013 at 4:20:32 PM
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Quote: FleaStiffoverly flirty behavior can be viewed as being the equivalent of sticky fingers at the till..
By who? Women flirt naturally, I don't know what
overly flirty means or why it means she's stealing
from the bar. Generous pours are forbidden in
any bar, no matter who it is. And from my experience,
Gay men love good women bartenders, they flirt
their asses off with them. All in good fun.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
December 15th, 2013 at 4:35:09 PM
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Quote: EvenBobGenerous pours are forbidden in any bar, no matter who it is.
Really? I find that stiffness of drink tends to vary from bartender to bartender (they either free pour, or they measure and then add some more) and most of them are responsive to tips. Tip well and you will get more booze, for sure.
Stealing? Maybe technically? It's borderline. If I'm paying $10 for a drink and they make it with $2 worth of booze instead of $1, the bar is still doing pretty well.
FWIW, I always tip well, regardless if the bartender is male or female, attractive or not. Unless the bartender is rude or incompetent, that is. It's not like I will stop tipping if the drinks aren't stiff enough (although I may go drink somewhere else)
December 15th, 2013 at 4:50:47 PM
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Quote: EvenBobThe only way to get really good tips as a
bartender is to be a girl under 30.
Preach.
My girl bartended her way through her Masters. $600 a day, upwards of $1,500 on big days like Thanksgiving, NYE, etc.
Madness.
The opinions of this moderator are for entertainment purposes only.
December 15th, 2013 at 5:03:25 PM
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Quote: Face
My girl bartended her way through her Masters. $600 a day, upwards of $1,500 on big days like Thanksgiving, NYE, etc.
Every guy in the bar wants her to like him, give
her money and at least she'll tolerate him. The
more they drink, the more they tip. Men are
idiots. In 1980, $100 was what $300 is worth now,
and that was a dive bar. In a good bar today, $600
is completely believable.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
December 15th, 2013 at 6:22:55 PM
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I do a lot of work for bars in Las Vegas. I probably know of at least 50 bartenders that make at least $100,000 a year in Las Vegas at locals bars. They way most people tip their bartenders is crazy when they are gambling.
At my age, a "Life In Prison" sentence is not much of a deterrent.
December 15th, 2013 at 11:28:35 PM
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Bartenders make a ton from me because I don't drink and only order soda/water. I still tip them $1 per drink either way.
One particular bar I was handing out $5 a session, which might have been a bit too much, even with a cleavage tax lol. The bartenders all knew my name and liked the tips but the manager started to not like me after having 90% winning sessions. Why she would be upset I don't know, maybe she owns the bar as well. I averaged $50 profit every time I walked in there, even on their bad paytables.
One particular bar I was handing out $5 a session, which might have been a bit too much, even with a cleavage tax lol. The bartenders all knew my name and liked the tips but the manager started to not like me after having 90% winning sessions. Why she would be upset I don't know, maybe she owns the bar as well. I averaged $50 profit every time I walked in there, even on their bad paytables.
"Man Babes" #AxelFabulous
December 16th, 2013 at 4:10:33 AM
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This may or may not be true. If it is true, I just don't see it. I know a lot of bartenders and NONE have any money or anything worth value to talk about. I know they have busy nights and the tipping is good, but they always have 2 or 3 bartenders splitting. Then they have to tip out other co workers. None drive awesome cars or have nice houses. Perhaps working in this environment causes huge leaks and they gamble, do blow or spend way to much. What do you think is happening?Quote: DRichI do a lot of work for bars in Las Vegas. I probably know of at least 50 bartenders that make at least $100,000 a year in Las Vegas at locals bars. They way most people tip their bartenders is crazy when they are gambling.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
December 16th, 2013 at 4:27:42 AM
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I believe it. Fifty bartenders in a place like Vegas isn't that many, and I can believe that there are 50 of them who make $100K per year. Just like dealers. Relatively few dealers make $100K per year, but they are out there.
Fighting BS one post at a time!
December 16th, 2013 at 5:24:10 AM
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I was talking local bartenders. They might make it on paper but they didn't seem to keep it. kind of like strippers.Quote: Beethoven9thI believe it. Fifty bartenders in a place like Vegas isn't that many, and I can believe that there are 50 of them who make $100K per year. Just like dealers. Relatively few dealers make $100K per year, but they are out there.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
December 16th, 2013 at 7:17:18 AM
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Maybe they are investing it in tax-free muni bonds? :)Quote: AxelWolfThis may or may not be true. If it is true, I just don't see it. I know a lot of bartenders and NONE have any money or anything worth value to talk about. I know they have busy nights and the tipping is good, but they always have 2 or 3 bartenders splitting. Then they have to tip out other co workers. None drive awesome cars or have nice houses. Perhaps working in this environment causes huge leaks and they gamble, do blow or spend way to much. What do you think is happening?
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
December 16th, 2013 at 10:26:29 AM
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Quote: AxelWolfI was talking local bartenders. They might make it on paper but they didn't seem to keep it. kind of like strippers.
I agree that most of them have leaks, but I also think you would be surprised what many are making.
I include many bartenders in my group of close friends. I believe 90% of them consider anything less than $150 a day in tips to be a really bad day. They also get minimum wage that pays them about $55 a day. So less than $205 is a really bad day. At the high end I have known a couple of local bartenders that were making over $200k per year for many years.
Just look for the bars that are dropping $100k to $200k per week. Most of those bartenders will be doing well.
At my age, a "Life In Prison" sentence is not much of a deterrent.
December 16th, 2013 at 12:16:25 PM
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Quote: djatcBartenders make a ton from me because I don't drink and only order soda/water. I still tip them $1 per drink either way.
I'm not sure that this makes them more money. Pouring a soda isn't much less work than pouring a drink.
December 16th, 2013 at 12:26:02 PM
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Quote: AxiomOfChoiceI'm not sure that this makes them more money. Pouring a soda isn't much less work than pouring a drink.
I guess i meant the bar. After reading how much bartenders really make its time to start tipping accordingly. Which is less than I was usually tipping.
Tipping is damned if you do, damned if you don't.
"Man Babes" #AxelFabulous
December 16th, 2013 at 12:36:57 PM
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Quote: djatcI guess i meant the bar. After reading how much bartenders really make its time to start tipping accordingly. Which is less than I was usually tipping.
The majority of bartenders don't make a lot of money. The $100K per year figure is only true for a small, small, small percentage.
Fighting BS one post at a time!
December 16th, 2013 at 4:48:47 PM
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Casino bartenders in Nevada, at least the male variety, have big sports betting leaks. I've observed it in too many places. Sunday mornings are the worst. All the conversations between the bartenders and the customers pertains to the days football games. The bartenders are trying to serve drinks and fill in their parlay cards all at the same time. It's pretty comical stuff.
"Quit trying your luck and start trying your skill." Mickey Crimm
December 16th, 2013 at 5:04:16 PM
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I'm sorry, I would have to see proof of that. That would mean they make about 800 per day.Quote: DRichAt the high end I have known a couple of local bartenders that were making over $200k per year for many years.
Just look for the bars that are dropping $100k to $200k per week. Most of those bartenders will be doing well.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
December 16th, 2013 at 5:22:16 PM
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Quote: AxelWolfI'm sorry, I would have to see proof of that. That would mean they make about 800 per day.
I'm very skeptical. Mon and Tue are slow in every bar,
even in Vegas. To consistently make $800 a day all
year, on a 5 day work week, is stretching it. $100K
maybe.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
