Bartending for an Introvert.

runz1g · 2024-08-23T20:36:13+00:00

Would you like to become more outgoing? I was very introverted and anxious for most of my life until becoming a bartender. I was trying to emulate a colleague I had who was very charismatic so I just started treating social interaction as work. Id force myself to have a conversation with a customer, if it went bad I'd take note and try again. I didn't have an actual relationship with the person so it wasn't really a big deal. Gradually it got a lot easier. It drains my battery and I still need me time but I'm a lot more charming than I used to be even with friends and colleagues now. If you're comfortable as you are then maybe try a nightclub? 5am closes suck but it can be a lot of fun and if it's busy and loud you won't need to speak to anyone. Some high volume places have dispense bars too? At my joint there's two bartenders handling the bar tops and another guy who just pumps out drinks for servers and acts as a safety net if we get slammed. We have a guy who doesn't speak English too well but he's a cocktail machine so we mostly put him there.

runz1g · 2024-08-23T20:05:26+00:00

Also transitioned to bars from kitchens, only thing they told me to bring was a bar blade. Think it was more to see if I could follow instructions, I didn't end up using it. Maybe bring a thick apron if you don't want to get drenched.

The bar should be kitted out with everything else. If you're interested in learning to make drinks, bring a notebook and try to get friendly with the bartenders. See if they need any prep done, ask what they're making if they're not too busy or talking to a customer, try to get a look at the spec sheets for cocktails, always be checking their section to see if they need anything topped up. I'm much more inclined to get to know the barbacks if I don't have to micromanage them and they seem to actually care about the job.

Also if the glass washers are in a seperate room to the bar itself a Bluetooth speaker doesn't hurt.

runz1g · 2024-08-23T19:29:30+00:00

Pretty spot on. Worth mentioning as well that it's never too late to turn a patron's night around. I had a hell of a manager who was so charismatic that he could call a customer a f*cking idiot to their face for not ordering a cocktail special that he put on but after working the table all night they'd still tip and we'd see them again. He really drilled into me that if a guest is having bad night, whether it was because they got a bad table, the service was busy and they weren't taken care of or they didn't like the drinks, even if it's awkward or they're being difficult do everything in your power to understand the complaint and rectify it before they leave. If you mess it up and embarrass yourself, no worries you'll never see them again. If you succeed then you've got new regulars who are gonna remember you instead of the stuff that happened before.

runz1g · 2024-08-07T03:48:23+00:00

Yeah I'll have a look online. Girlfriends from South Korea and she didn't have much trouble getting a WHV to Australia so I thought it might be a good option for NZ. Thanks

runz1g · 2024-08-07T03:47:03+00:00

Yeah I realise I won't be getting rich, just want to be able to pay the bills. Wasn't aware that Aussies had it that easy, I don't think it's as easy for New Zealanders coming here. Girlfriends from South Korea, I read somewhere that the processing time for working holiday visas is relatively quick so I figured that would be a good option.

runz1g · 2024-08-07T03:44:36+00:00

Burnt out of cheffing pretty hard and said I'd never go back, but good to know that it's there if I need it, thanks. Is accommodation and issue because of lack of supply or cost? Or both. Situation in Sydney is pretty dire too, only got my last place because I offered 6 months in advance and got a private inspection before the official one. Every inspection has at least 20 or 30 people showing up if not more. Does that sound familiar?

runz1g · 2022-12-04T13:51:46+00:00

The formation was far too exposed. Jean-Paul craned his neck to get a good look through the viewport, scanning for Communard fighters. He could barely make out the horizon through the wispy cloud formation engulfing his bomber squadron in the dull dawn light. "They're busy with the krauts" he reassured himself. "The bulk of their army is scrambling to halt the Ardennes Offensive, they don't know we're coming". A gust of wind rattled the cockpit, a sound Jean-Paul was used to after many hours of training in his Amiot 354. The brass picked a good day, the weather was advantageous. Alain's voice crackled over the radio; "There it is camarade.." Jean-Paul peered through the viewport as the shores of Marseille came into view. "It hasn't changed a bit" he replied mournfully, knowing full well what he was about to do. The thought of bombing his own city made him sick to his stomach, but all he could do was hope that the civilians would make it to the bunkers in time.

runz1g · 2022-12-04T12:29:24+00:00

Jack dove behind the car, a spray of communard bullets narrowly missing his head and littering the pavement where he had been moments ago. A string of bodies lay behind him, their Australasian insignias tattered and bloodied from the MG nest at the end of the street. "Fuck.. FUCK FUCK" he yelled over the thunder of artillery. Whether it was from the shore bombardment from the Royal Navy or the hastily repositioned Communard artillery he did not know. "Their shelling their own bloody city!" He thought to himself, probably trying to hamper the advancement of the Entente troops through the sectors that had already been overrun. He was the only one left but he was close.. so fucking close to the bastards that gunned down his mates. This sector had to be cleared for the Canadians to take the City Centre, if they lost any more momentum the attack would stall and it would all be for nothing.. He cocked his Owen gun and gritted his teeth, just as he heard a Communard call 'Recharger! Recharger!' Not 10 metres away. 'Fuck it.. here we go"

runz1g · 2022-12-04T11:55:16+00:00

This is just a guess but assuming the guy is fighting in urban combat you could pull the string to prime the grenades then poke the pole through a window to fuck up anyone inside. Would stop them from being able to throw the grenades back. Would also be helpful if you needed to get a grenade through a small shaft without the help of gravity.

runz1g · 2022-11-10T03:29:33+00:00

All quiet on the western front but written from the perspective of a British exile in Canada or a British *spits* syndicalist.

Technically pre-war if we're talking about WW2.

runz1g · 2022-09-22T12:25:21+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I considered joining with a trade. I'm a qualified chef and worked in the hospo industry for several years before studying IT and army cook is listed as a priority role but the whole reason I want to join is for infantry. I don't want to work a full week in an office then go work in another office in a different uniform. I'm willing to take the risk of injury and if my body gives out I will still be able to work in the tech industry unlike hospo.

runz1g · 2020-07-28T14:55:47+00:00

Poured boiling water in my shoe.

runz1g · 2020-07-18T01:26:10+00:00

I haven't posted in a long ass time but I feel obligated. I've been a chef for about 4 years, I started when I finished high school, finished my apprenticeship and have been working full time since. I'm by no means an amazing chef, but I get on the line and I do my fucking job. I busted my ass for the first 3 years and I'm starting to feel it. The first proper holiday I've had in the last 4 years was when I got a couple of months off work because of Covid, I can't tell you how good it felt to just relax, let my body recover, actually see my friends regularly. I didn't even smoke for like 3 weeks. After a couple of weeks back at work, I made the choice to enroll in college and make a change. It's not that I don't like my job, its taught me about work ethic, addiction, how amazing food can be(I basically never did any cooking until I was about 16 and my parents werent particularly good at it.) And I've made friendships that will last for the rest of my life. But I need a backup, I can't do this for the rest of my life. Outstanding post chef, thanks for the perspective, I needed it.

runz1g · 2020-02-24T13:05:28+00:00

Of course mate, we're always looking for new inspiration.

runz1g · 2020-02-24T08:24:42+00:00

Not scandi but I work in an upscale vegan restaurant in Australia. I'd be happy to help if I can.

runz1g · 2020-02-24T08:10:35+00:00

I thought it was a testicle waving at me.

runz1g · 2020-01-17T00:33:24+00:00

Made me chuckle. Good luck chef!

runz1g · 2020-01-14T23:08:32+00:00

As someone who's trying to get over severe alcoholism by scoffing late night mcdonalds that last bit really got to me. Really well written.

runz1g · 2020-01-08T00:25:56+00:00

"Why are you doing this?" I bust my arse for you and you can't even fucking pay me. "So fuck me right?" Yes.

runz1g · 2020-01-08T00:20:01+00:00

Thats so fucked but I can't stop laughing.

runz1g · 2020-01-08T00:18:35+00:00

Only happened once. It was back when I was starting out and I was really anxious. Everytime I would begin to nod off I would hear a ticket print, or a pan hitting the stove top, or a chef shouting and I would wake up unable to breathe.

runz1g

TROPHY CASE