How to Get and Keep a Bartender’s Attention

As a bartender in Scotland, I really don't understand U.S. tipping culture. Yes, I get tips occasionally, but it's never guaranteed and we never expect it. I try to give good service and do my job well because that's what I'm paid by the bar to do, and the whole concept of having to rely on what are essentially optional donations, and then being annoyed at people who decide not to tip, is baffling to me. Wouldn't it just be easier for everyone if you just paid service staff a half-decent wage, and then they wouldn't be constantly in fear of not being tipped, and customers wouldn't constantly have an expectation to pay more than they should? I'm not trying to be offensive or insult anyone's culture here, I'm just legitimately curious as to why the US service industry seems to work this way.

Just back from a trip to Ireland. Oddly, the bartenders were solicitous, talkative, hard-working and polite. And happy to make beer recommendations and provide samples. It appeared they enjoyed their jobs and were, surprisingly for an American, actually happy that I had wandered into the bar. Oh, and the equivalent of a buck is actually a coin over there, so they weren't furious when I left a coin on the bar. I guess Irish bartenders have a lot to learn.

I don’t know if I’ve ever read as many comments from the self-entitled as in response to this particular piece. Many of these comments trouble me deeply in terms of where our society is and where it’s heading. The fact that the Times sees the need to “educate” its readers in social behavior is, in itself, troubling. Speaking of the “the rules of behavior” – they aren’t “rules of behavior”. They’re good breeding, common courtesy and simple manners which should have been taught and re-enforced during childhood. If one is old enough to be in a bar, it’s probably too late for that person to learn, and a Times article won’t help. “Show me a hard working bartender. You can't.” Perhaps those with this gem of an outlook haven’t been the beneficiary of the aforementioned education, good breeding, common courtesy and simple manners. Or perhaps they haven’t had the benefit of real work. Perhaps the minimum drinking age should be raised to a level commensurate with a minimum degree of maturity, common sense, common decency, respect of others and worldliness.

"...and in the event of a free drink, tip for its full price..." Thus, both rewarding the bartender for stealing from the bar owner and telling him/her that you approve of such theft.

“When service is bad, consider talking with a manager or deciding not to return, rather than shirking part of someone’s wage.” Tip well for poor service? This is ridiculous. I have a better idea. Never go to a bar. They are seldom clean, always overpriced, and the service is often poor. There are so many other ways to spend your time and money.

So to be a good customer, no small talk and order quickly, don't order what you want but rather what's easiest to make, study and write your orders before wasting the bartender's time, don't make yourself comfortable, and clean up other people's glasses in your spare time. Oh, and don't forget to tip generously. Sounds like a lot of fun!

My favorite is bartenders who vacuum customer cash off the bar tops. Seen it way too much at a "4* resort" near here. Beware. NEVER leave cash on the bar even if you are sitting in front of it staring at it.

I no longer go to bars. Why? Not only are the drinks way over-priced, including bottled water, the expected tips are absurd (we used to be able to buy a beer with what is now expected as a tip). In fact, I have a nephew who has been moonlighting as a bartender for years, ditto his wife who doubles as a waitress. Result: They have two houses, one at the Jersey shore and another in a high-end New Jersey suburb. My nephew never went to college.

Best advice is to tip early and often. Nothing gets you better service than this one simple thing. Especially if you go there regularly.

If I'm being ignored, I find it amusing to start playing with their garnishes. That sure gets their attention!

Very good advice. I almost never go into bars anymore, but in my twenties and thirties I spent altogether too much time in them. I learned all the rules of behavior early on (actually, common courtesy is almost all you need), and it paid off in terms of good drinks and being treated like I was a bit special. Follow the advice here and your bar visits will go well. But I would also advise limiting the time and money spent in bars. There are better things to do with your life.

I realized that if you treat bartenders badly they treat you well. Earlier I used to be polite and always felt ignored but when I started acting rude, returning the cocktails and spilling the cocktails I get attention easily specially the celebrated ones.

"When service is bad, consider talking with a manager or deciding not to return, rather than shirking part of someone’s wage." Are you kidding?! When you ask a bartender about tipping they will comment in their own best interest. If you provide poor service, the tip you receive is the tip you deserve. If you're particularly unpleasant to me (very, very rarely), that could be nothing. And I tip whatever I feel is reasonable, which is usually above 20%, depending on the service provided. Bartenders work in a service and hospitality industry. While they may perceive a tip as part of their wage, it is not a guarantee. The only guaranteed wage is the one which their employer provides.

ugh. here's a way to think of bartenders and waiters: bartenders are like cops. They do very little and think that they are entitled. Whereas, waiters are like firefighters, they do their work, and put themselves out and get very little acknowledgement. I do exactly what the article suggests and still bartenders take their time to get drinks out. Show me a hard working bartender. You can't.

"When service is bad, consider talking with a manager or deciding not to return, rather than shirking part of someone’s wage." If service is bad then they haven't earned their wage. You aren't "shirking" anything by demonstrating your dissatisfaction in the only way that really matters.

Wow. These bartenders are a touchy bunch that seem to have a lot of issues.

I was a bartender in New York City for 10 years. I saw a lot of crazy things. This article was fine, but it failed to point out something that has always irked me. As you wrote, loose coins on the bar (for as long as I remember) are a big no-no. So $1 a drink has been the standard tip on a drink for decades. DECADES. I knew an old salt cocktail waitress who said a buck per drink was the game in the 1980s. That means bartenders make far less in 2017 then they did, 10, 20, even 30 years ago! So what do we have to do to get bartenders back into the middle class? The solution: get rid of the $1 bill and ramp up printing on $2 bills! Write your congress person today!

Alcohol is an addictive drug. Worse and more destructive than that oxy junk. Bartenders are the pushers. Stay away from these places. You're thirsty? Have a Pepsi. Fewer calories too.

How about if bars hired more help during peak hours so customers wouldn't have to wait, or paid bartenders a fair wage and built tips into drink prices so all customers get same good service? Just wondering. In my line of work, you would never get away with making customers beg for service or be forced to abide by customer 'etiquette' rules in order to have the privilege of buying your product.

If you're supposed to tip full price for a free drink, then how is that a free drink? That's just the bartender stealing alcohol from the establishment and pocketing the money, right?

If you are waiting at a busy bar, don't ask the bar tender what's on tap. You can generally see the handles. Bottles are usually lined up so you can read their labels. Please and thank you also help.

Last i checked the bartender is there to serve me. Not the other way around.