Comments on: No respect for the bartender? http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/ Bars, bartenders and imbibing in Beantown. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:10:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: ljclark http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-9910 ljclark Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:32:42 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-9910 Indeed, I bartended my way through college. Thanks for commenting, Mark. Indeed, I bartended my way through college. Thanks for commenting, Mark.

]]> By: Mark http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-9896 Mark Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:04:54 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-9896 It’s no longer considered a part time job, or a temporary job. Bartending used to be thought of as something to do to earn money while you were either going to school or looking for something better.Nice Posting ,so informative. Thanks It’s no longer considered a part time job, or a temporary job. Bartending used to be thought of as something to do to earn money while you were either going to school or looking for something better.Nice Posting ,so informative. Thanks

]]> By: Walt http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8334 Walt Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:50:16 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8334 Will look forward to it, Albert. We're open evenings Wednesday through Saturday. Will look forward to it, Albert. We’re open evenings Wednesday through Saturday.

]]> By: albert http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8323 albert Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:55:23 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8323 -born and bred in Lexington, KY (just SE of Midway) and having spent the last 30+ years in ALL of the finest bars/taverns/pubs/restaurants greater Boston has/had to offer, my take on the situation is that Walt's 'predicament' is indigenous to KY itself...they tend to be a tad more class conscious down there, what with all the horse/bourbon rich bluebloods and all (i.e. the Kentucky Conspiracy)...I am visiting my Old Kentucky home in just a few weeks to visit my dear mother and look forward to sharing a Saratoga with Walt at my earliest convenience...cheers! -born and bred in Lexington, KY (just SE of Midway) and having spent the last 30+ years in ALL of the finest bars/taverns/pubs/restaurants greater Boston has/had to offer, my take on the situation is that Walt’s ‘predicament’ is indigenous to KY itself…they tend to be a tad more class conscious down there, what with all the horse/bourbon rich bluebloods and all (i.e. the Kentucky Conspiracy)…I am visiting my Old Kentucky home in just a few weeks to visit my dear mother and look forward to sharing a Saratoga with Walt at my earliest convenience…cheers!

]]> By: Todd http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8256 Todd Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:02:15 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8256 Adam By the way, regarding the quote about the “greater question”, shouldn’t that read, “do you define your job or does your job define you?” If you’re defined by your job than it follows logically that your job defines you..... "I guy walks into a bar and says to the bartender...." Its a joke... your always the bartender.... get it..... Adam
By the way, regarding the quote about the “greater question”, shouldn’t that read, “do you define your job or does your job define you?” If you’re defined by your job than it follows logically that your job defines you…..

“I guy walks into a bar and says to the bartender….” Its a joke… your always the bartender…. get it…..

]]> By: Walt http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8187 Walt Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:25:11 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8187 Anonymous bartender, you should reread the original post. I got into bartending because I had just closed my business and a friend was kind enough to offer me the job. I don't recall having ever met you, anonymous bartender. How is it that you arrived at these motives which offend you and yet are not even mine? You must know my mind better than I do. Amazing! Anonymous bartender, you should reread the original post. I got into bartending because I had just closed my business and a friend was kind enough to offer me the job. I don’t recall having ever met you, anonymous bartender. How is it that you arrived at these motives which offend you and yet are not even mine? You must know my mind better than I do. Amazing!

]]> By: ljclark http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8173 ljclark Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:24:19 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8173 From an anonymous bartender: My first thought is that the gentleman from Kentucky should get out of the business. Is it "enough". Enough of what? Is he looking for accolades? The way I took his question was that he "got into" bar tending recently and expected to be the next Dale DeGroff or Food Network's next "crazy BAR CHEF". This offends me. I didn't get into bar tending to be a superstar I got into it because I liked bar tending. That was it. (AND the money is way better too ;-) I knew that Misty went to Harvard Divinity. I remember that she didn't mention it much but we were too busy talking and making cocktails. Random conversation: Ann: "Yes, and I have been working as a consultant for the past 2 years. What do you do?" Me: "I'm a bartender at such and such." Ann: Oh, I love that restaurant. So, what else do you do?" HA! From an anonymous bartender: My first thought is that the gentleman from Kentucky should get out of the business. Is it “enough”. Enough of what? Is he looking for accolades? The way I took his question was that he “got into” bar tending recently and expected to be the next Dale DeGroff or Food Network’s next “crazy BAR CHEF”. This offends me. I didn’t get into bar tending to be a superstar I got into it because I liked bar tending. That was it. (AND the money is way better too ;-) I knew that Misty went to Harvard Divinity. I remember that she didn’t mention it much but we were too busy talking and making cocktails.

Random conversation:
Ann: “Yes, and I have been working as a consultant for the past 2 years. What do you do?”
Me: “I’m a bartender at such and such.”
Ann: Oh, I love that restaurant. So, what else do you do?” HA!

]]> By: zakem http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8097 zakem Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:09:02 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8097 Walt, I think being an artistic is an approach to life and not an occupation. The true measure of our success with our calling -- whatever that calling may be -- is how it inspires others to be creative in their own callings. When you mentioned "fresh ingredients", I thought of the fresh mint leaves you put in your Mohitos and became enthusiastic about picking up a style of cooking I had not done for a while. When I do pick it up again, it will be pleasing to other people and I suspect there is a possibility the artistic light bulb will come on in someone else's head in some way. It is a wonderful cascade of positive artistic influence. The people who shift their views on us depending on our occupation are doing us a favor by revealing their true nature -- they are not artists and are not worthy of much of our time. Let's save our personal resources for those who count. Walt, I think being an artistic is an approach to life and not an occupation. The true measure of our success with our calling — whatever that calling may be — is how it inspires others to be creative in their own callings. When you mentioned “fresh ingredients”, I thought of the fresh mint leaves you put in your Mohitos and became enthusiastic about picking up a style of cooking I had not done for a while. When I do pick it up again, it will be pleasing to other people and I suspect there is a possibility the artistic light bulb will come on in someone else’s head in some way. It is a wonderful cascade of positive artistic influence. The people who shift their views on us depending on our occupation are doing us a favor by revealing their true nature — they are not artists and are not worthy of much of our time. Let’s save our personal resources for those who count.

]]> By: Adam http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8085 Adam Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:27:01 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8085 Great and thought provoking post. It strikes me that there are at least two classes of bartenders. Those that are in it for the long haul, and who care about their job enough to learn the actual craft of bartending, and those that are doing it just as a diversion en route to other (perceived) destinations. The latter, unfortunately, outnumber the former by several orders of magnitude... Perhaps it's time to create a new title for those bartenders who are actually doing something for the profession rather than just mindlessly working a shift? This could be similar in status to the idea of a chef vs. a line cook... Although many of the aforementioned latter class of bartenders would probably better be compared to a dish washer. A great line cook can properly follow a recipe, whereas some of these people can't even put together a very simple drink (or properly pour a beer, for that matter). It's sad that the profession as a whole seems to be defined in many peoples' eyes by the lowest common denominator. By the way, regarding the quote about the "greater question", shouldn't that read, "do you define your job or does your job define you?" If you're defined by your job than it follows logically that your job defines you :-) Great and thought provoking post. It strikes me that there are at least two classes of bartenders. Those that are in it for the long haul, and who care about their job enough to learn the actual craft of bartending, and those that are doing it just as a diversion en route to other (perceived) destinations. The latter, unfortunately, outnumber the former by several orders of magnitude… Perhaps it’s time to create a new title for those bartenders who are actually doing something for the profession rather than just mindlessly working a shift? This could be similar in status to the idea of a chef vs. a line cook… Although many of the aforementioned latter class of bartenders would probably better be compared to a dish washer. A great line cook can properly follow a recipe, whereas some of these people can’t even put together a very simple drink (or properly pour a beer, for that matter). It’s sad that the profession as a whole seems to be defined in many peoples’ eyes by the lowest common denominator.

By the way, regarding the quote about the “greater question”, shouldn’t that read, “do you define your job or does your job define you?” If you’re defined by your job than it follows logically that your job defines you :-)

]]> By: ljclark http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8069 ljclark Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:25:49 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/13/no-respect-for-the-bartender/#comment-8069 Todd Maul, who has been introducing customers at Rialto in the Charles Hotel to classic-style cocktails, had this to add: "Having tended bar in hotel atmospheres for most of my 'bartending life,' the question 'what do you do besides this' comes up with some frequency. My response is typically....'Low grade speed took away my Big Rig license.' "I think Walt has stumbled on the greater question...are you defined by your job or does your job define you? "I am several things (in no particular order): a father to be, a furniture maker, bartender, husband, bad guitar player, wanna be prof. soccer player... I am all these things, but once behind the bar I am mostly bartender... like a psychologist, it is better to wear that cap, and show only those cards." Todd Maul, who has been introducing customers at Rialto in the Charles Hotel to classic-style cocktails, had this to add:

“Having tended bar in hotel atmospheres for most of my ‘bartending life,’ the question ‘what do you do besides this’ comes up with some frequency. My response is typically….’Low grade speed took away my Big Rig license.’

“I think Walt has stumbled on the greater question…are you defined by your job or does your job define you?

“I am several things (in no particular order): a father to be, a furniture maker, bartender, husband, bad guitar player, wanna be prof. soccer player… I am all these things, but once behind the bar I am mostly bartender… like a psychologist, it is better to wear that cap, and show only those cards.”

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