Market-Fresh Mixology

If a friendly bartender is making amazing fresh cocktails and giving good customer service at the bar but her face and body language is defined as having a less than average day, does it affect the guest at the bar? Apparently yes, especially if the bar is the first experience for a guest at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

On a spring day six years ago I was having "one of those days" as a bartender at the Bellagio Baccarat Bar in Las Vegas. My side work was finished, and it was a slow morning. I was doing my best to "look" busy as the hours slowly passed by. A few of my regulars came by to visit. They enjoyed some of our finest specialty cocktails and had small talk all the while I was day dreaming about what a perfect day it was to be on the bike trails at Red Rock Canyon. I was suffering from spring fever.

Out of nowhere I was shaken out of my daze from a familiar loud voice yelling at me to "Smile and straighten up!" I looked up and to my surprise it was my Aunt Carolyn. She had been watching me from across the casino while playing her favorite slot machine. Aunt Carolyn has been a professional dance instructor for 50 years. And what she said next stayed with me ever since.

"I have been watching you for awhile. Not once has a smile crossed your face. You look like you are somewhere else. Being behind that bar is NO different than being a dancer on a stage. Where is your stage presence?" I didn’t know what to say. She was right. The Baccarat Bar is located in the center of the Bellagio. This is one of the first stops for many of our guests. And for most, I would be part of their first experience in Las Vegas.

Now as a bartender the term "stage presence" and its importance had never crossed my mind. We practiced familiar terms like "5 star customer services" and "classic bartending technique".

But what is a great technique without the ability to command the attention of your audience through expression and confidence?

A fellow bartender and friend, Joey V, would always say "Every day is a holiday at the bar!" Even though Joe would say this if you were in need of a quick attitude adjustment, this tagline sums up the expectations of our guests at the bar. The bar is the one place we can visit for a mini vacation from our day.

The best way to command your audience through expression is to greet them with a smile. To assure you have your guests’ attention simply place a cocktail napkin in front of them. This shows acknowledgment and you are ready to for their experience to begin.

Confidence can be achieved by being relaxed and happy while making a cocktail. Your technique should flow naturally. For instance, your experience would be different if you are served a beautiful Mojito from a confident happy bartender and then having the same beautiful Mojito from an arrogant, stressed out bartender.

So remember to "Smile and straighten up!" The bar is your stage and you are the main attraction. Treat your career as a bartender this way and every day will certainly be a holiday for you and your guest.

Cheers!
Bridget

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