Bar Recession Prep - What Can You Do?
Fear not dear bartenders - it has been proven time and time again that working behind the bar is a “recession proof” job. As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, many bars survive periods of recession as people gather in the bar for simple pleasures, community, stability and even a bit of escapism.
If you work behind a bar, here are three things to keep in mind during your upcoming shifts during times like these:
Interaction:
Don’t take your guests for granted (rude people are not included or welcome here!) Do your best to maintain a consistent level of service and a positive, cheerful atmosphere. Remember people come to the bar to celebrate as well as to make a not-so-great day better. In unstable times, guests look forward to the comfort, community, and stability of the bar.
2. Environment:
You can’t control everything! Focus on what you can do to improve the environment. This means not only making great drinks but also keeping the bar clean and organized. All the little things certainly add up. Think of sparkling glassware, fresh garnishes (no stickers on the fruit in your fruit bowl!), a clean front and back bar, no sticky menus, etc. Life can already be messy - we don’t want our bar to be!
3. Cocktails:
Budget and pare down your menu. You don’t need to offer everything under the sun (with shortages these days, you really can’t). Choose a few classics and add a couple of cocktails with seasonal, fun ingredients. Our lives are overwhelming and most guests will appreciate a simple menu that’s easy to choose from. Also, don’t forget to batch! Batching is a great way to speed up service - less time picking up bottles means more time to chat with your guests and less wait time for your customers!
We hope these three tips help increase your TIPS!