what it
takes to be a
bartender
for life
what it takes to be a
bartender for life
has been tending bar for
25 years
Allen started behind the bar after burning out in restaurant management, and initially figured he’d spend six months or so pouring drinks while figuring out his next move.
"but then I discovered I was making a decent living."
in recent years, a new wave of career bartenders has emerged, and they are riding a cultural shift: with the cocktail renaissance has come.
better pay
more respect
more avenues to advancement in other parts of the spirits industry.
meet eric
bar director
"i see people now who are 21 and want to learn everything about product and technique and want to be part of the industry.
I didn't see that when I started bartending in the early 1990's. of course, back in the '90s, bars weren't that interesting, the drinks were crappy, and you got into it because you wanted to work around alcohol."
consider this
-tony abou-ganim
occupational hazards
- strain on body
- lack of sleep
- neck and back issues
life outside of work
The fortunate ones also manage to maintain a stable personal life. “if you’re lucky, you’ll meet someone who understands the business-the demands, the hours, the fatigue-but who doesnt understand it too much,” says abou-ganim, who’s never been married and says that most of his relationships have been with women who also work in the indersty and have lasted two or three years. “I guess it’s like most professions,” he says. “You work with someone, become friends, go on a date, and the rest is history.”
successful career bartenders find ways to conquer the repetition. at the best bars, bartenders are constantly challenged to invent new drinks, improve service and to educate themselves.
tony abou-ganim
tending bar since 1980
54 years old
abou-ganim thinks he's ready
he stays fit, drinks in moderation and gets plenty of sleep. Financially, he started a 401(k) when he was 25, and he's been planning for the long term, as he advises all early-career bartenders to do. having a few hundred dollars in your savings account may be fine when you're starting out and cash pours in nightly, but not when youre thinking about winding down.
"time is not on your side when you're 50," he says.
