From The Bartender's Perspective

I would like to put out a short list of bar rules that needs to be reiterated and also add some of my own thoughts:

1. Wait for the bartender to look at you before you start talking.
2. Always tip 15% for mediocre service, tip 20% for good service, and tip obscenely (anywhere from 25%- 1000%) for excellent service.
3. The Kiss of death= Never tell your bartender that you will take care of him, because you don't know what that really means.
4. It is obnoxious to order a mojito when the bar is very busy.
5. Get your money or your credit card ready before you order a drink.
6. Do not get offended if a bartender asks for your ID, you should be flattered.
7. Do not get offended if a bartender asks you for a credit card to keep your tab open, because it is the bar's policy.
8. Be nice to the bartender, and he'll be nice to you.  If the bartender is rude, go ahead and return the favor and walk away.  Do not order drinks from him ever!!! 
9. If you order a drink, expect to pay for it.
10. If you order for somebody behind you, expect to pay for it.
11. If you are planning on buying a whole round of drinks, get your friend's to tell you what they want before you get the bartender's attention.
12. Never ask for a free drink, that is how you lose the chance of getting a free drink.
13. Do not order a cranberry vodka.  What you really want is  a vodka and cranberry or cape cod/cape codder.
14. Do not a order a gin and tonic with Tanqueray.  What you really want is a Tanqueray tonic.
15. Ordering a whiskey "straight" means you want it chilled or served in a cocktail glass.  What you really mean is you want it "neat."
16. When you ask for a twist of lime, you are really just asking for the peel.  Ask for a lime wedge.
17. If you want your cocktail to be strong, ask for less mixer or tell the bartender to not make it too sweet.
18. It's OK if you like white zinfandel.  Just do not think you are better than everybody else, because at the bar-- you are not.
19. Do not ask for just a beer, ask for a certain style/brand and it will help your bartender a lot.
20. A real daiquiri is not frozen.
21. Say please and thank you at all times, most especially when you are just ordering water.
22. Bartenders appreciate it a lot when you tip after ordering just a glass of water.
23. If you are looking for a few seats at the bar, tell the bartender.  They will tell you if somebody just paid their tab.
24. Not all bartenders are the same.  Some are really good and some are really bad.  The good one's also can make mistakes and the bad ones also can get better.
25. Not everybody can be a bartender.

My First Blog

I  always contemplated on the idea of having my own blog.  My vocabulary is minimal since I never liked reading books.  I speak Tagalog very well, but I was always embarrassed to speak in English in my younger years.  I passed high school and college without being good in writing, but I got better in speaking it along the years.  I used to think in Tagalog and then had to translate it to English.  But now I am all set.  I have been living in the Washington DC area for the past 14 years now.  I speak the English language very fluently now.  I practiced really hard on my diction and my accent.

The main reason?

I wanted to succeed in my profession.  I was always worried that if I had a strong filipino accent, I would have a hard time getting hired as a bartender.  Bartending is all about personality.   I was not born with the "model looks" of some bartenders out there, but I have character.  Bartending involves a lot of talking.  It was hard for the first few years when I pronounced some words differently to what people here are used to hearing.  Just a little bit of language barrier, per se.

Now that I have finally posted my first blog, keep posted on the great stories I deal with in the world of bartending.  I will be sharing you funny stories, sad stories, great recipes, and drinks you should never ever try.