When you’re planning your New Year’s Eve night out with the girls, getting ready and having a few glasses (or bottles) of wine before making your way out, do you ever stop to think about those who give up their nights out to facilitate yours? Do you? Well, for those of you who haven’t even thought about it before, here is a bit of an insight into what it’s like for those working behind the bar on NYE. And let me warn you, it isn’t pretty.
Being alone when it turns midnight. While all you guys are counting down the last 10 seconds of the year, what am I doing? That’s right, going to the back to fetch more Jägermeister. Because ordering a round of 15 jagerbombs appears to be a rite of passage for any New Year’s Eve club-goer. And when it does finally turn to the New Year, confetti releasing from the ceiling, friends are hugging and kissing… what do I do then? Who do I have to kiss? Bar managed Barry? I don’t think so.
That midnight PDA. Perhaps it’s my own bitterness at having to spend midnight counting change, but a lot of weird stuff goes on in a club as soon as it turns midnight. In no other situation have I seen strangers grab each other and lock lips as easily as I have when that clock strikes twelve, it’s like a weird 21st century twist on Cinderella. Please, keep it clean in front of the bar, people.
So. Many. Shots. As soon as the midnight groping has finished, there seems to be a rush to the bar for a special round of Smirnoff Gold- or ‘the vodka with the gold dust in it’. Which brings me onto the worst part about working the bar on NYE: the bar is constantly busy. With the exception of, perhaps, New Year’s Day, December 31st is the one night a year bound to be full and people are bound to be drinking loads. Let the ‘excuse me, I was next’ and ‘that barman is only serving girls with their boobs out’ comments commence.
Having to be without your phone for the whole night is harder than you’d expect. Receiving those ‘I love you’ and ‘2016 will be our year’ messages from your friends, other halves or, in my case, mother, are what New Year’s is all about. Having to wait till 4am to open your phone to messages is definitely not fair, but do we complain? No, ’10 more jagerbombs, coming up’ is what we actually say.
But it’s not all bad. Bartending at its busiest is often also when it’s at its most fun. Tipping season is about to come to an end but luckily, NYE is generous in this respect. Whether it be a drunken ‘keep the change’ or even a ‘buy one for yourself’, this is a night for a good haul in tips. Just something to think about for those of you going out (and I hold a special place in my heart for people who tip in notes. Just saying.)
Sources:
http://dangerouslee.biz/2012/04/20/the-bartender-cheat-sheet-to-getting-served/
http://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/images/stories/food/newyearseve.jpg
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