8 Reasons Why Being A Bartender Is A Difficult Job

When you picture a bartender, you might imagine someone effortlessly mixing cocktails, chatting with customers, and having a great time behind the bar. While bartending can be fun and rewarding, it has its fair share of challenges. It’s not just about pouring drinks—it’s about handling pressure, managing people, and staying on your feet for hours. Here are eight reasons why being a bartender is a difficult job.

After jumping into the list, you may decide being a bartender is not for you, and you’d instead leave the tough job to the professionals. Should you need a personal bartender for a private or public event, consider contacting us at Hook Line and Drinker. We are Tampa Bay’s most trusted wedding and event bartenders, with decades of experience running custom bars at an event.

1. Dealing with drunk people

An inevitable result of serving people drinks is that occasionally, some may drink too much and become intoxicated. The drunker a person gets, they may become more loud and boisterous. Bartenders are expected to handle and tolerate them respectfully, no matter how rude they become. Now imagine dealing with multiple drunks in a single night. Patience might as well be part of the bartender job description.

2. Remembering recipes

Bartenders are expected to know the ingredients and mixing instructions for several dozens of cocktails off the top of their heads. A cocktail can have four to five (sometimes more) ingredients and pair that with mixing compositions and instructions. In the middle of rush hour, bartenders have to be able to combine the drinks perfectly every time—no small feat, but something they need to do day in and day out without fail.

3. Managing busy crowds

Quickly and efficiently serving drinks to customers is crucial to a bartender’s job. Not only do they have to serve the drinks promptly, but they also need to keep track of the order queue. In a busy venue, bartenders must ensure they do not keep a patron waiting by skipping over them while serving drinks, as this can be the fastest way to create a dissatisfied customer. This can mean bartenders do not have time to take a break in a crowded bar during rush hour.

4. Working long hours and weekends

Bartenders usually work long hours. They are expected to arrive early to prep the bar and stay until closing to tally the night’s earnings and maintain the end-of-day inventory. This can mean bartenders usually don’t have time for a fulfilling personal life, as while most others are active, they would be sleeping, and while others are having fun, they are working. Additionally, most bartenders have to work weekends, as those are the busiest times, meaning even less free time to spend with loved ones.

5. Maintaining accurate inventory

The job also requires attention to detail and organizational skills. Bartenders are usually responsible for maintaining the bar’s stock of alcohol and other items. They must ensure that all items are safely stored and accounted for and can order replacements when stocks run low.

6. Keeping a clean and hygienic bar space

While most bars and restaurants might have dedicated cleaning staff, bartenders tend to have to clean up between pours in the middle of a busy service. Dealing with spills and discarded bottles and cups while also attending to thirsty patrons is an art in and of itself, with bartenders having to wipe down surfaces and stash bottles and cups at terminal velocity.

7. Dealing with financial transactions

Taking all of the above difficulties and adding handling cash and payments into the mix means that bartenders must be masters of multitasking. It can be easy in rush hour to overlook collecting payments or returning the wrong change. Ensuring to prepare drinks, collect payment, return change, keep the bar clean, and handle demanding customers in a rush can create a high-pressure environment where mistakes can be made without care.

8. Little upward career mobility

So, what rewards can bartenders expect for all their hard work? While pay can be pretty good when paired with tips, bartenders have little to no career mobility apart from the financial compensation. Apart from moving up toward a limited managerial position, there are no other career progression opportunities in the industry. As such, bartenders should be conscious of this limitation when choosing this career.

Summary

The above are some common difficulties bartenders have to deal with as part of their job. On top of this, they must smile and put their best foot forward when dealing with customers. So, the next time you enjoy a drink at your local bar or restaurant, consider thanking your bartender more earnestly; generous tips are always appreciated.

If you’d instead leave the bar to the professionals at your next event and you’re in the Tampa, FL area, get in touch with Hook Line and Drinker. Our professional bartenders have decades of experience managing a professional bar at indoor and outdoor events, and we provide almost everything needed to set up a unique bar. Your well-stocked, expertly managed bar will be the talk of the party, and you can rest in peace knowing that professionals are handling the drinks. 

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Chris and Stacy

Already sharing a bartending background combining 20 years, owners Chris & Stacy decided to open their own bartending service in 2018. They provide what is often overlooked by other bartending companies. Accommodating clients needs and delivering top notch service are key components that Chris and Stacy did correctly from the company’s inception.