****tail Bar / Beer Bar

[seed]

Has any one ever seen a small club have two tenders on at the same time? One serving the mixed drinks and the other serving the beer? As a customer I often enjoy the tender. Could two be better than one. It would be the only place in town doing it! Service, Service, Service!

[Bell Ringer]

First off service is huge! However despite all the preaching I could do on the need for outstanding service I will take a different approach to fit yor question.

You are saying two bartenders is better than one, or at least you are asking if that is general opinion. My guess is that you will find a mixed bag of opinions in this group of operators. Here is my two cents.

a guest wants a consistent product, friendly service, timely service and a honest price.

your staff wants consistent earning expectations, a positive work enviroment, and job security.

You have to read and react to your own situation and when you do you have to keep several things in mind.

If the volume dictates that its time to bring on a bottle popper then you need to react to that. If service from the one bartender is lacking then you need to do more than just add a bartender as that may not be the problem. It may be that you need a better bartender than what you have behind your bar and adding another will do nothing to heal the situation. If things are fine now and you add one bartender to the mix to create better service you better be quick to measure the effects; 1) did it increase volume or guest stisfaction? 2) If volume did not increase, or even if it did, have you taken what was a lucrative shift for a qualified experienced bartender and now made it worthless?

You can not ever allow yourself to be held hostage by your staff and you must be willing to be an agent of change in order to reamin innovative. If I was to test the waters on something like this I would be sure to take care of my people so that they do not suffer during any trial periods. I take care of my people for a number of obvious reasons but none are more crucial than making sure the guest always has a failiar face behind the bar. You cant do that if they cant make a living behind your bar.

I say these things because all to often it is presumed that adding staff corrects service issues or makes for better service. My opinion is training, talent, communication and strong leadership will correct any service issues and you as well as your staff will be better for it. If its just for effect of being novel since no body else is doing it, maybe concider why nobody is doing it. If you want to go that route be ready to make it worth-while for your top dogs.

[seed]

Thanks Bell Ringer,

The reason I ask. My wife and I are applying for our liquor licence this week. We are planing on leasing a tavern around the corner from where we live. We plan on working Fri and Sat nights together (6-1close at 12). As I try to picture it. I can see two neon signs ****tail Bar and Beer Bar. Obviously if it is slow there will be no need. We are friendly people and get along real well. It seems to me it may be a cool attraction. Tow bartenders working the crowd together.

[Bell Ringer]

Well that is a different scenario. Working as a team will be or at least should be fun. You know your personalities better than any of us so just be sure that you two can manage your personal life as well. You would not want to fall into that area which you get on each others nerves because you cant seem to get away from each other. HAHA SErioulsy though if you too can handle it you may find you love workng together in such a "team sport". Good luck!

[seed]

Thanks Bell!

We get along real well! What ever it is that we are doing we are always in deep. We have apartments so we do turn overs together, Installed a spiral staircase together. A bunch of stuff. Years ago I placed an add for landscaping in the paper. When I got a huge job my wife asked me. How are you going to do it. I said I was going to hire some one. My wife (girlfriend at the time) Said, hell I will do it! That is what started our working together approach to life. So far so good!

[Bell Ringer]

VEry cool. You two will be fine no maater what then.