Job Watch

Bar-hopping

Bartending is an absorbing career alternative with no stipulations except perhaps a splash of fervour stirred with creativity. But, considering how lucrative the career is, lack of job security is a major cause of worry. Priya Krishnaswamy stirs it up to see what it takes to be a successful bartender and reasons behind lack of loyalty

Bars are always busy. People enjoy the bar atmosphere when they are celebrating good times, or to lift their spirits during the bad times; it is all about enjoying the drink. The enjoyment generally begins with being taken care of by the right bartender.

Being a successful bartender today takes a lot of hard work and perseverance. Bartenders are considered to be the public image of the bar, which requires them to entertain and their customers and are usually responsible for ordering and maintaining an inventory of liquor, mixes, and other bar supplies. Owing to the social pressure that they serve, bartenders are sometimes seen as the blue blood of the working class. In those establishments where minors are allowed within the bar area, bartenders are responsible for confirming that customers are of the legal drinking age before serving them alcohol.

Initially, due to lack of input from the hospitality trade, no recognition was accorded to bartenders until recent times. In today's competitive world, with the mushrooming of bars and pubs, what exactly does it take to become a successful professional bartender?

• For being a professional bartender, you need to have an in-depth knowledge of beverages (history of beverage, origin, production, and new and old trends), different drinking styles of beverages, the art of bartending - how to make a heady cocktail, the right blends, perfection in making, presenting and tasting cocktails.
• Complete knowledge of bar management, which entails knowing the technicalities of a bar, controlling the bar and promotion of a beverage.

Thus, keeping in mind the basic etiquette's that it takes to make one a bartender, why is there a lack of loyalty, so prominent among the working class? Says, Gian Carlo, an Italian who is a bar & beverage consultant at the ICE in Taj Residency, Bangalore that, "In India, today people get bored working in the same bar for more than six months. This is because there needs to be creativity in the work. Usually bartenders try out different things at different bars. Unless and until they are satisfied in doing what they like, it is quite difficult to stay in the same place."

Danny D'sylva, bartender at the HINT, Bangalore Central, states, "I have been working here for the last one month. Sometimes, it is true that people move out of the profession for better monetary prospects. When the scope for excelled bartending becomes low in certain bars, there is a need to move out for satisfying your requirements, which is why most people change jobs very often. It is true that there is no job security here - for both the management and the bartender."

"When there is lack of adequate knowledge, people move from jobs to learn the tricks of the trade. Instead, it would be more apt if they took training from a School of Bar & Beverage Management or specialise in F&B in the Hotel Management course," added Gian. Pramod Nayak, faculty, Food & Beverage Department, Institute of Hotel Management (Govt. of India, Ministry of Tourism) points out that most of the young bartenders aim to be employed by the cruise liners. "These cruise liners are usually high paymasters and the immediate need for the youth of today is fast money, which is possible working for a cruise liner. That is why most of the contemporary youngsters move on to work with any bar, bearing in mind primarily only the monetary compensation."

Radhika Ravikumar, faculty, Food & Beverage service, PES Institute of Hotel Management, Bangalore, says, "The duty of the bartenders doesn't merely end with serving the drink. Every bartender, apart from the basic needs, also has to know what will bring the customer back to him. Every bartender serves with only this in mind that every customer should return and ask for him. Often, they flair to attract the attention. Even though flairing is much sought out, it is not the be all and end all of a bartender."

Flair Bartending is the custom of entertaining guests, with the throwing/juggling of bar tools and liquor bottles in crafty, awe-inspiring ways. Used occasionally in cocktail bars, the action requires skill due to the dangers of glass breakage and possible burn (high alcohol spirit in contact with a lit candle or cigarette can ignite). It has become a sought after talent among venue owners and marketers to help advertise a liquor product or the opening of a bar establishment.

One could choose bartending as a long-term career or just take it up as a part time job. He could use flairing or simply the gift of the gab. All you need is aptitude for the job. And probably a peg of  loyalty.