Thanks for the Blank Stare

I realized last night where my frustration towards the end of the night comes into play. There are many things through out the night that a bartender puts up with and can easily brush off. This particular move however seems to be nails on a chalkboard to me. Let's develop a scenario so you can fully picture what I am talking about here.

It's 12:30 and the bar is pretty busy with partrons requesting drinks. We, meaning your wonderful bartenders, go as fast as possible to make sure that you receive your drinks in a reasonable amount of time. We are working and running to please our customers and make sure they reward us with a generous tip (hint hint.) Unfortunately someone always messes this process up. I hate to say it because they are of my sex but female patrons tend to give you the blank stare. I have no problem serving anyone of any race, sex, religious affiliation, hobbiest, etc. What I can not stand are the zombie like people that when asked what they would like stare at you dead face like this is the toughest decision they will ever face. Literally I had a girl stare at me for a solid minute (which doesn't sound like a lot but from a bartending perspective equals enough drinks to make a difference) before she started speaking. At first I thought maybe she couldn't understand what I was saying so I repeated myself and she then slowly looks away to her friends and start asking what they would like. She continues to order for her friends and I busily make the drinks and then she continues to stare at me because she doesn't know what she wants. Listen lady I have a full bar of people who know exactly what they want and I would like to accomodate them. I suggest a beer and she agrees. It was like pulling teeth. I bring her credit card back and again she zombie stares me down. When I saw her return I let the other bartender take her order and I am pretty sure Circles decided the same thing I did, let's just hope she blacks out and leaves!

Sadly this isn't even the worse part of the night. As the night progresses and more people fill up I notice more and more credit cards come into play, and not in the let's open a tab style but in the I want to pay for this one beer with my credit card. This does not bug me until the person repeatedly comes up and makes me close the credit card each time. Not only is it a waste of my time but this person should know they have to tip accordingly with each transaction and should just leave it open. You are clearly staying til 2 so let's just call a spade a spade and start you a tab. The even worse part of the credit cards is when I can clearly see cash sitting in the wallet. Ok if you have $20 I won't take your cab money, but if you have visibly more I would rather you throw that down.

Running credit cards each time you buy 2 drinks is a waste of our time and resources. Not sure what I mean by resources but I will edit that later. I prefer to use cash because then I do not get crazy with buying shots and drinks on my tab. It irks me that instead of paying the $8 for 2 Bud Lights you give me a credit card. I know this doesn't seem like it should be a big deal but I would rather not spend an hour at the end the night entering in your $1 tip repeatedly. So basis of this section of the blog is USE CASH. It isn't a difficult concept, and think of it this way, less credit card debt later!!

I do have to commend those of you who do not dead pan stare me down and order for your friends one at a time when you see I am busy. I do also appreciate those of you that use credit cards only for ongoing tabs and the others who pay cash for that one beer. Everyone else needs to learn the rules of patronizing a bar. You can read the rules in a prevoius blog if you have questions.

Hopefully something stands out tonight and I will be able to give you a funnier blog!!