How to Always Get Great Service at a Bar

You’re enjoying a night out on the town at your favorite bar or at the trendy, new spot. Unfortunately, a few hundred other people are enjoying a night out on the town at your favorite bar or at the trendy, new spot, too. You, therefore, need some tips from Sterling McCall Toyota for getting great service at a bar.

Think Human - Bartenders are human beings. What motivates you will likely motivate them.

Tip Well - Getting great service anywhere is simple. People work because they need money. Tip well, and you’ll never have to wait.

Be Polite - If there are several people in line, it becomes easy for the bartender to ignore you. It becomes more likely that the bartender will ignore you if you’re acting like a jerk.

Be prepared - Tell the bartender exactly what you want and have the money ready to hand him or her when it’s ordered. Hemming and hawing cuts into the bartender’s bottom line. The faster you are the more people the bartender can serve and the more money her or she can make.

Be reasonable - It’s not always possible to get you what you want right after you step to the bar. If, however, you’re polite and tip well, the bartender will go out of his or her way to make sure you’re served as quickly as possible.

Show respect - Avoid calling the bartender by monikers used by those who don’t want to take the time to learn names. If the bartender is female, don’t use sexist labels. If the bartender is wearing a name tag, use his or her first name. If not, use sir or ma’am.

Choose a good spot - Knowing where to position yourself can make a huge difference. Never stand near the server’s station. If you do find yourself in this unwelcome spot, give a quick apology and make the bartender aware you didn’t know you weren’t supposed to be there. You may get a quick drink that way. If there are two bartenders, stand about halfway between the two of them.

Stake out your spot - Once you’ve found a good location to stand, be sure to stake out your spot. This involves snaking your hand up to the edge of the bar until you can touch it. Once you get close enough, use a little more space to let other customers know you’re next. Once you’re there, make eye contact with the bartender as soon as possible. Never under any circumstances tell the bartender it’s your turn.