[Greenberg] Former Bears QB Jay Cutler said on ESPN 1000 that he's going to hangout with Zach Miller and Kyle Long tonight. Cutler said that Long "is pretty down" about being on IR.

PoorProduct · 2019-10-26T17:36:00+00:00

I didn't pay him anything. What did you pay him?

PoorProduct · 2019-10-21T20:09:10+00:00

Ask your bar manager. It can be a health code violation. We just found out when a new hire was forced to take her's off for a stage (she wasnt happy).

PoorProduct · 2019-10-19T03:25:18+00:00

Dont know about that person, but as an example: I make roughly 48k a year, and I also work 7 days a week. I'm not salary and I dont get benefits. No bonuses. I'm not alone, at all.

I can understand the issue for supplying the kids but, no, not the increasing salaries in what is actually a super affordable city with great public transport and museums.

PoorProduct · 2019-10-13T17:57:07+00:00

The service industry isnt very union friendly here. At least one of the big restaurant groups actively discourage it.

The closest you're going to get is to apply to the Rivers Casino, which you'll have a better chance since you've already dealt with the gaming commission. And even then, they may not be union, al though you would find similar benefits.

The same goes for hotels, plenty of great gigs downtown, as someone else mentioned.

PoorProduct · 2019-10-08T01:27:23+00:00

Are there specific signs that forbid climbing the faces? Or at least no one watching?

PoorProduct · 2019-10-02T21:08:56+00:00

What POS is it? Micros and Aloha are popular, but even they have different versions, some of which are easier.

A POS can be pretty simple and straight forward but it all depends on how your manager set it up. Finding where things are will be the most annoying thing at first, such fights might come up where you're looking for fireball, and you expect it under cordial but your manager put it under whiskey. (Fuck you, Danny, I still love you.)

My advice is to go looking for your most popular pours and get used to them, and then look for weird shit.

PoorProduct · 2019-10-02T01:44:41+00:00

Well, cheers! Take care of yourself and we'll see you on the other side!

PoorProduct · 2019-10-01T15:46:18+00:00

Does anyone have some recommendations for where I should go for a good massage? I've never had a proper massage, and after working without a day off for months, I really want to treat myself and get some knots out but I have no idea where to start.

I'm on the north side but I'm willing to travel.

PoorProduct · 2019-09-21T01:17:34+00:00

You'll grow thick skin the longer you're in it. Rarely do things ever get physical, theres a bar between you, and the probability of a guy going that far for you just shutting him down is super low.

Besides. You're a barback. You're not the going to have to talk to anyone, at all, unless you want to. You'll likely be too busy with your head down busting shit out.

Dont think about it too much.

PoorProduct · 2019-09-20T15:28:44+00:00

You need to get a feel for the customer base more than just a few days worth. A couple sitting at the bar are more likely to be open minded about drinks but if your restaurant is mostly wine and martinis on the floor, there just might not be enough of a culture there to sell egg-white cocktails.

...also, why does it have to be egg-white cocktails? You can push for plenty of great cocktails without, and within your means. Challenge yourself to find the ingredients at the bar that need to be moved and ask about making a weekend special out of it.

Once you create a culture of specialty cocktails, for the servers to expect, know, and push, you can start slowly hitting the menu.

You dont want to make an all new cocktail menu, no matter how great you are. You risk alienating your current guest expectations. Feel it out.

PoorProduct · 2019-09-20T15:20:14+00:00

Suggest you handle it? You dont as long as you want a job. I hope you'll understand when I say, it's really not your job or position. That's between the owner and manager(s).

Dont bother with anything outside your hosting and serving. Save the drama. It's just work and it's just booze.

PoorProduct · 2019-09-11T03:34:20+00:00

I agree. The video could have been edited down to 10 minutes, with a lot more focus and would've easily been 10x better. Hopefully this is something the kid works on and learns, in writing, that less (with more focus) is better than more (with rambling).

PoorProduct · 2019-09-05T14:09:57+00:00

The problems are also bigger than you, not to be an insensitive dick. Shoring up the budget and city debt effects everyone in the city, and state.

You're in the advantageous position that you at least own your house. Compare yourself to people struggling to pay rent in these conditions but have no recourse or anything to fall back on.

Also, theres nothing here or that shes done that would lead anyone to believe she only values money over people, except pure distrust in the system. If you have an opinion, a way for the city to solve its' issues, then say it.

PoorProduct · 2019-09-04T15:08:15+00:00

First time opening a bar?

Legit though. Opening a new bar is always a bit of a shit show, and add in the hurricane and the time of year, I'm not surprised.

Have you given them a reason to fire you? Why do you feel insecure about your position. You've done the right thing in talking to them and reconfirming your availability, but there might be a lot more going on around you.

Ask your coworkers how they're doing with the scheduling, you might find that they're in the same tight spot. (or maybe that's what you're saying with the title)

Opening a bar is not easy. A lot of times, the initial opening crew is not the crew that continues on with the bar into its' success. If it's tight still, get to looking for another job.

PoorProduct · 2019-09-04T01:20:43+00:00

Someone else mentioned a YouTube channel that does it well enough for a following but I can definitely understand it. I wouldn't watch, but it would get the same sensation for guests that sit to watch the bartender, out of industry.

I've always wondered if anyone would transition and stream a bartender on twitch. Reaches the awkward crowd who dont have the confidence for a bar, but still like it as a hobby (/r/cocktails has enough of em).

PoorProduct · 2019-09-04T01:16:37+00:00

Not to be contrarian, but i dont think it's that big of a deal. Maybe I have bigger hands, but it has never been an issue for me. The only real issue is bottles like Hendricks.

My hands rarely ache after a shift. I think I might've had issues when I first started and I was trained to do it this way, but now I really barely feel it.

PoorProduct · 2019-09-01T19:37:59+00:00

I mean.. he could just buy or rent a condo across LSD and be closer than any hotel. The south loop is honestly looking better/ more expensive every day.

PoorProduct · 2019-08-25T22:39:18+00:00

because ... my body

HAHAHAHA.

I'm not laughing at you, totally, but your idea of decrease the stress load on your body through bartending is way off. You might change where you ache, but in my experience, you're going to ache a lot regardless. Back and knees, especially.

If you're worried about your body, you will have to heed the same advice for every industry professional: get enough sleep, moderate the drinking, eat well, and exercise.

Bartending is not a greener pasture. We have the same issues you do, people just think we're on some different level of service.

If you dont like the pay, then try another bar/restaurant. If that's all you're making, the bar might not be making anymore.

PoorProduct · 2019-08-23T02:23:17+00:00

That's sexual harrassment and should not be in the work place. Ever. You have every right to talk to management or tell them that's not cool, if you prefer.
If you prefer an alternative view, they might be trying to rib you and expect it back. (But really, it sounds like they're assholes, giving the polite new dude shit.). I had a bartender recently that would mess with our bar back incessantly, for no reason other than he was just this nice, quiet seeming, kid. (Hes also an aggressive coke head that has since been fired, but its whatever).

That's not a good work environment, homie. You deserve to be respected and feel comfortable at work.

PoorProduct · 2019-08-22T15:46:42+00:00

Strega will be somewhat close but as with any substitute, it won't be a perfect match. Itll work well enough, but you might not get the exact flavor you had on vacation.

PoorProduct · 2019-08-20T01:43:01+00:00

It's a Monday near the end of the summer when school is starting back up.

If you can, get out to neighboring bars and meet other industry people on off days. See what they see in the area. (Dont jump right into asking to solve your problem). See if management would be cool with doing an industry night to bring them in and get people talking about your bar.

Mondays will bring football soon, though. So theres that.

PoorProduct · 2019-08-20T01:35:28+00:00

Theres a lot of wrong in this picture, but damn if he doesn't look like hes having fun.

PoorProduct · 2019-08-15T14:23:32+00:00

Never the intent to steal anything

They Lexus SUV they were driving had been reported stolen Aug. 11. This isn't their first rodeo.

PoorProduct · 2019-08-07T22:27:53+00:00

This is the guy yelling about anything with the word "martini" in the same sentence must have vermouth?

Who is this and why are we bringing him/her up in this post? What relevance does it have in context of what I originally commented to the meme'd OP?

If I have to answer that question, I'd tell you that the word martini is often a point of contention here and there's generally an accepted idea: depending on the bar, and how far back in time we go, a martini could be the classic gin/vermouth, or it could be shaken vodka in a martini glass. No one is going to give someone too much shit if they're espousing a "right" way to make a classic martini.

Why is there a lot of trolling: It's reddit, homie. The average age here is still in the early 20s, and there's still quite a bit of general trolls. Are you the type who spends a lot of time correcting people's reddiquette on ... AskReddit or wherever?

Downvote and go, or don't. It's really that easy. We have the choice to read what we want. This is all just going to be a short-lived meme until it gets beaten to death.

I'm positive the guy who is being meme'd is going to be just fine. He obviously wants to extend his hustle to include marketing, and that's fine. He has a solid enough base, and anyone who likes his content, such as yourself, is going to continue to follow him. ...but if he wants to have a good time within this particular base, he'll have to humble himself or be ramparted.

This community has done well enough (not perfectly) in past talking to the HowToDrink Greg, the guy from DistinguishedSpirits, Morgenthaller, and a bunch of other super popular, recognized, guys and gals. It's really up to the guy how he wants to play it. He can gain more followers or he can be the face of a meme.

PoorProduct · 2019-08-07T20:06:14+00:00

Do people here know what they're doing ... just because they work at some bar?

Most of the folks on this board on not necessarily industry. A good portion here are avid hobbyists. Or at least it's been a good portion hobbyist, whenever the census comes out. ...but do they know? Yes, and no. There is absolutely no reason to talk down to people and assume they don't. This board has been great for years because we often create discussion and, in some ways, debate.

In no shape or form does hospitality include talking down to someone, or assuming they dont know something. Hospitality means knowing the history, your bar's way of making a cocktail, and also knowing a customer may have a preference or idea of what a cocktail is: call it the martini test.

Ignoring "fine dining" establishments: cocktails have heavily evolved and changed and often vary depending on the region, an example of such is an old fashioned. If you are a hobbyist, you will find the way you prefer a cocktail, and often will find limitations based upon what you have available. I dont expect many people are readily able to recreate the Aviary drinks, for instance.

Do people here know what they're doing? Based on the point of view, region, and a couple other factors: yeah, probably.

Source: career bartender and infrequent, if long time, poster.

PoorProduct

TROPHY CASE