FOLIO
Words by Lorelei Belanger
Behind every beer, mixed drink or shot, there’s a story — sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartfelt, often downright bizarre. From managing the madness of a packed night in at the neighborhood bar to dealing with eclectic tourists and customers pushing the limits of politeness, bartenders see … and deal with it all. I dove into the day-to-day realities, unforgettable moments that will make you laugh (or cringe), and tips for the secret to making your bartender love you. Whether you’re interested in life behind the counter or curious about why your bartender may have little patience for your very particular request, these are all of the answers —straight up from the people who pour the drinks.
*In order to comfortably answer questions honestly, all bartenders and bars will remain anonymous. The first bartender interviewed works at a neighborhood sports bar, typically filled with regulars any given night of the week. We’ll refer to them as Bartender 1. The second works at a Jacksonville beach bar, experiencing a mix of out-of-towners and locals, staying busy on any day, in any season. We’ll refer to them as Bartender 2. The third interviewee owns and works behind the bar in St. Augustine, introducing them to lots of tourists, with a good mix of local regulars visiting also. We’ll refer to them as Bartender 3.
Starting off with a question everyone is wondering…
What is one of your craziest stories or crazy customer experience?
Bartender 1: “One night this lady came in and seemed normal at first. She had one margarita and all of a sudden turned crazy. She told me she was on antidepressants … so I guess that’s what happens when you drink a margarita on antidepressants. She started running around the restaurant, screaming and running up to tables all crazy. I kept kicking her out, she would go outside then come back in and would not leave. I told her I was going to have to call the cops, and she finally left.”
Bartender 2: “My craziest story is working the bar on St. Patrick’s day and the shootings happening. I don’t think anything can top that on my list.” (Referring to the shootings that occurred in Jacksonville Beach in March 2024).
Bartender 3: “Customers that come in with open containers of alcohol from somewhere else, and I’ll just say, ‘Hey you can’t have that.’ They get all pissy and will leave a bad review. It’s inconsiderate, especially since we’re a small business and can lose our license if people come in or out with open containers.”
What is one of the most common weird or crazy things people do at the bar?
Bartender 2: “The most common weird thing you’ll see at the bar is older folks openly discussing doing booger sugar in the bathroom.”
Bartender 3: “People coming in and just being so overwhelmed and really overthinking it all. It’s just a transaction. I promise you’ve done much harder things.”
What is one way to always make your bartender happy or to make your bartender love you?
Bartender 1: “Be patient and understanding, don’t shake your glass at me or yell my name while I’m talking to other customers or doing something.”
Bartender 2: “For me, I like happy and fun. Ask me a fun question and just be cool.”
Bartender 3: “I think, in any service position, making people feel seen, instead of just going through the monotonous small talk. Really asking and saying like, no, you can be honest. We’re all just people, so taking a moment to acknowledge the human being.”
How can you make your bartender hate you? What’s the worst thing to do at the bar?
Bartender 1: “Not tipping … if you’re being excessive. I don’t care about the money, but if you’re constantly asking for things or being very specific or impatient or rude, like I said, then at least just tip.”
Bartender 2: “The quickest way to get me to hate you is by yelling ‘hey’ or snapping or pointing at me as I’m clearly busy.”
Bartender 3: “Trying to control the atmosphere. It’s the bartender’s job to do that and control the chaos. Don’t try to come in and control the whole room.”
What is the worst drink someone can order, or your least favorite to make and why?
Bartender 1: “ Anything frozen … actually a frozen margarita. It’s hard to get the levels of everything right and the tequila just melts everything else. So they’re pretty annoying to make.”
Bartender 2: “My least favorite drink to make is for sure anything that has to do with hot coffee or tea. Nobody wants to brew coffee or tea at 10 p.m.”
What is the best part of your job?
Bartender 1: “The people. Talking to and meeting new people is the best part.”
Bartender 2: “The best part is the people I get to meet and conversations I get to have. I’ve met so many cool people and have had so many amazing conversations while working.”
Bartender 3: “Hearing everyone’s stories and perspectives. I love the human element of the industry and getting to interact with people you wouldn’t normally meet. Like yes, I would love to know a fact about a random town in Indiana I will probably never go to.”
What is the worst part of your job?
Bartender 1: “The people … just kidding. The repetitiveness of everything. It gets kind of purgatory with all of the same people, in the same spots, at the same time, ordering the same thing … every day.”
Bartender 2: “The worst part is definitely dealing with the assholes and stuck up people. Nothing’s worse than having to deal with people who think they are too good to be polite or respectful.”
Bartender 3: “When someone comes in, in a bad mood, they’re your problem. They just don’t want to learn anything new. And you can’t just go and hide. Sometimes you can’t change their attitude either. You’re very vulnerable and susceptible to whatever comes to you.”
What are some daily behind the bar tasks that aren’t so glamorous?
Bartender 1: “Coming in to stock everything (none of us ever restock things). So having to get everything ready behind the bar, while also serving customers is stressful. Everyone expects everything all the time.”
Bartender 2: “There’s so much that’s not glamorous behind a bar, like cleaning, killing fruit flies, cleaning under the coolers, keeping gunk from building up in the soda guns or cleaning yeast out of the beer drains.”
Bartender 3: “Any janitorial service ever. Just making sure everything is clean and presentable from a different perspective. Keeping it nice, not only for myself to work in but for the guests and from where they’re sitting.”
There’s no doubt bartenders go through a lot, and the moral of the story is people are just weird. I got to experience one of the weird requests first hand while sitting at Bartender 1’s bar, when a man came up to the bar and asked very specifically for a “Busch, plastic cup. Rinse out the cup with water first, though, to keep it from foaming.” The bartender gave me a look that said “see what I deal with..” To each their own but, choosing a plastic cup rinsed with water over a cold draft glass or a bottle seems a little odd..
Getting to meet new people, having endless stories to share and making people’s nights seem to make dealing with odd requests, crazy customers and long shifts worth it. Unless you want to end up on the crazy customer list, be sure to stay patient, tip appropriately and respect your bartenders.
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