I try to live in a civil manner

Popular Etiquette for going out to a bar

Mohawk Matt — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:18:49 +0000

Ok, I’m going to lay down some ground rules and peeves I have about bar customers. These aren’t set in stone, nor are they expected to be followed at all times. Some of them would seem to be common sense, and others may be unheard of, but at least I’m putting them out there. There seems to be a lack of courtesy to the bar when some people come out, and while the use of alcohol may be attributed, some people are dead sober when they commit these offenses.1. Tip the bartender. Whether for service or demeanor, if you’ve been served a drink in a timely and fashionable manner, tip the server. When you order your bloody mary or vodka gimlet or just a bottle of beer, the bartender is doing you a service. If you don’t think so, don’t come out. Bartenders make their money on tips, not wage. We also put up with your requests for a little more wash, a slice of lemon, a straw, some peanuts, the jukebox a little louder, a napkin, a different TV channel, quarters for the pool table, and then another drink. We then repeat this process 50 times or more a night. Tips are appreciated. 1a. If you feel that the bartender has not lived up to your expectations, then a tip is not required. But ask yourself, what are your expectations? Is it a Friday night and really busy, or is it a Tuesday afternoon and you’re the only one there? Make sure to evaluate the situation. 2. Don’t tell the bartender how to do his or her job. If you would like a drink made a certain way, that’s fine. But don’t tell me to make a Jack and Coke much stronger when you’re only willing to pay what a normal one costs. Don’t tell me you want a free beer, ’cause now you’re not getting one. Sometimes the specials on the wall are not in effect, due to other specials or entertainment. Don’t tell me the specials that are going on right now, unless I actually forgot them.3. Keep the damn gum out of the ashtray. If it went there, it would be a gumtray.4. Respect other people in the bar. Common sense, but it doesn’t always happen.5. Come to the bar with enough money. If you run out, don’t make it the bartenders problem that you spent it all. And don’t go around begging the other customers for drinks. That just makes you look like a bum.5a. Save your quarters, nickels, and dimes for the laundry mat. Sometimes the bar might need quarters, but generally, I’m not going to cash $23 in quarters so you can get a tap beer and then gamble.6. The jukebox is for everyone, not just you. You should not be putting $10 in at a time and clogging it up with AC/DC, Metallica, and George Jones for an hour and a half. 7. The bartender is not a babysitter. If you can’t handle your alchohol, I will kick you out. Simple as that, I’m not going to keep you in your seat so you don’t start fights. You will leave the bar, that’s that. And don’t think about nap time. It’s not daycare.8. The bartender cannot make cabs get to the bar any sooner. If one was called, it will get there when it does. We’re not magic. 9. If you gamble and it is busy, and you want to cash out or whatever, you are not my priority. Serving drinks is. I will get to you when I do, so be patient. The easiest way is to order a drink and cash out at the same time. Double bonus.10. Finally, at bar close, leave. I want to go home, and to do that, you and your friends need to leave. There is no reason to stay after and talk inside when you can do so outside. It just makes the bartenders life more of a hassle, especially at 2:30 in the morning.With that said, have fun in the bar or tavern you are in. I know most of this will fall on deaf ears on citizen wausau, because not alot of the audience I am targeting frequent the site, but at least I said something.

One year after the Pub closed its doors

Mohawk Matt — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:29:57 +0000

Well, today marks the one-year anniversary of Scott Street Pub closing down. Since that year, I’ve hopped to two different employers, tried starting a band, had a kid, and generally just missed the Pub. I have not found another music venue that even equals it, let alone tops it. Even the one I work at. There are a couple good venues in town, but none with the history or general “This is going to be a good night” feel. And the new big venue? Not even close to what downtown music was like when the Pub was around. The Pub was an important part of me living in Wausau, It’s the first place I went to when I moved here. It’s also the place that I had the most fun in, even before working there. And working there was a whole different kind of fun. I went out downtown recently, and figured out that without the Pub, there isn’t a fall-back bar if everything else sucks. But then again, when the Pub was there, I didn’t go anywhere else.

Way to piss me off, Fillmor…..

Mohawk Matt — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:50:43 +0000

You would think that being a new establishment, a bar/venue would try to be as welcoming and friendly especially when you’ve only been around three weeks. Well, apparently that’s not the manager of the Fillmor’s thinking. I went into the place for the first time Friday night with intentions to talk to someone in charge about possible employment as a booking guy for entertainment, (which given the last three weeks of stuff, they desperately need). When I spoke with the manager, Christy, she rudely informed me that she had hired someone and he’s apparently one of the best there is. No “well, put down your name and we’ll call you if anything comes up” or “Sorry, the position has been filled.” Nope, just a rude answer and that was it. So, being the true gentleman I am, I told her she didn’t have to be a bitch about it. Her reply was, “Hey, I wasn’t being a bitch, and If I were you, I wouldn’t call me that.” Okay. So, If you really weren’t being a bitch, I guess I was a little wrong. However, in the customer/service industry, which I’ve worked for the past nine years, sometimes you need to actually say “sorry, maybe I was a little curt” and move on. Don’t tell a customer off when you, the bartender/manager, seem to have issues because of that customer. Especially when it isn’t warranted.The final thing to piss me off last night is at 1 am, I still had to pay $3 for a cover. The band played 3 songs, then quit. Are you fucking kidding me? I’ve got no problem paying covers, but to pay a cover for three cover songs from a cover band, that’s just stupid.So, Fillmor, you’ve lost me as a customer, better not lose too many more, or that big empty space you have now will look even bigger.