How to be more confident behind the bar by using bartender tricks
Bartenders must project confidence. This puts guests at ease and allows them to enjoy themselves. You’ll soon be glowing with confidence and impressing your guests.
Years ago, as I worked my way through the seven-drink chit in a hurry, I realized that 7 guests were quietly watching me. They were transfixed. As I looked around, it dawned upon me that, at that precise moment, with just a few powerful bartending techniques, I could transform the experience of these guests.
When I say moves, I mean tricks. What I mean is simple things that you can do to captivate your guests with your tools or drinks. They’ll be amazed and their experience will go from mediocre. In this article, I’ll show you some of these tips.
If you accept the mission, your goal is to use these bartending techniques subtly. Quietly. Like a ninja.
Before we move on, let’s clarify one thing:
We never make loud noises or act too “peacocky” to entertain our customers.
Your bar skills will enhance their experience by adding a stylish touch and avoiding any disruptions. The decision is theirs.
Bartending Is a Dance
Bartending is similar to salsa, but not in the way that you think about it. There are some steps and methods that are common to all salsa styles. It’s only when you develop your own style and movements can you really start to build on these basics. These tricks will help you develop your own style, and they’ll build on the bartending skills you already possess.
Before you begin to fling your spoons into the air on your next shift I suggest that you practice these bartending techniques at home for a few months. Do the drills described in each video below.
Remember that this is just the beginning as you read this article. We’ll be showing you more moves in the future.
1: Tin Flips
This is the place to begin if you are new to bartending. This trick will be used a lot, like nightly.
Tin flipping is a technique that aims to move the tin as quickly as you can.
In the video I move fairly fast. To get used to the motion, you’ll want to start slowly. Pay attention to how I roll my tin on the back of the hand. It might take some practice. Practice in an area where you will not break anything if the tin falls. Make sure that the tin is empty.
You can use this trick to clean other items, such as spoons or bottles, once you have mastered the tin.
2: Tin Pivots
The next move to master is the tin pivot. This can be combined with a tin turn. As you spin the tin in a horizontal direction, it is important to keep your fingers and thumbs out of the way. You can then spin the tin by spinning it on the ball of the hand.
These pivots can be used to attach bottles, Boston shakers and other glassware.
Once you have mastered the pivot, combine it with the flip. Before you set it down, flip the tin and pivot before setting it. Make mistakes, it’s fun!
One final variation is to pivot your shaker once you have sealed it. This will give you a more dramatic effect.
3: Shake and Stir
Double shaking and double stirring (also known as double shaking)
You can mix and shake drinks at the same. It’s like a better version of the head pat + belly rub at the same.
The shake & Stir is a great way to show confidence.
You can take your performance to the next level by mixing two drinks at once. It’s like an advanced version of belly-rub, head-pat.
If you want to be a pro at this trick, make sure you get your spoon to the bottom. Otherwise, you might spill your drink.
4: Pour ‘Cuts’
Most bartenders are boring when it comes to cutting off their pours. The bartender pours into a jigger, then tentatively and gently removes the bottle. Are they being tentative and gentle? It doesn’t exude confidence. With a few super simple techniques, you can add some boldness and spice to an otherwise boring pour.
Why is the first cut called a “swoop”? You must swoop the bottle, bartender.
The Swoop Cut
What you should do to make a great swoop is:
Let the bottom of your bottle (which is now at the top, since you have turned it over) fall until the weight of the bottle turns everything upside down. Swoop the bottle like I did on the video to keep all the liquid inside the bottle while you complete the pour.
In the video, you’ll see that I hold the neck of the glass bottle with my middle and index fingers. I then use my thumbs to flip the bottle. This makes everything appear much more fluid and the move is easier to perform.
The Bounce Cut
Imagine holding a salt shaker. Are you with me now? Imagine shaking the salt shaker on a large plate of fries. What’s that movement you are doing? This is the bounce. You’ll now be trying to do a bounce using a bottle, not a shaker. You’ll have to lift the bottle from the bounce and flip it right-side-up to stop the pour.
You’ll notice that I hold the bottle in the same position as I did during the swoop. It’s not necessary; I think it’s just easier for different types bounces. But you can experiment and make it unique. Keep the label of the bottle facing your guests when you do these cuts for maximum professional effect.
These elegant flourishes will bring a flow to your style. With a little practice you can cut the tin once you have poured your beverage.
5: Spoon Flare
If you’re going reach for the spoon 60 times or more a night, you may as well have fun with it for yourself and your guests.
The tin-flip and tin-pivot are two of my favorite spoon tricks.
It’s actually easier to do the spoon flip than the tin because you have a long thin spoon that you can grab on to after completing the trick. The spin is more difficult.
Start by spinning the spoon on your index finger. It won’t work the first try, but keep trying, and you’ll succeed.
Bring It All Together…
Okay, we’ve already covered the tin-flip, tin-pivot, shake and stir and two types of cuts. It’s a lot of information to absorb, so do not feel pressured to learn it all at once. Take it slowly and keep at it. Just as you would when learning to shuffle a deck or whistle. Practice, practice, practice.
You’ll be more entertaining (how do you like those apples?) if you take the time to learn these bartending tips. Your movements will convey confidence, show that you’re having a good time with your guests, and help set the mood for your evening.
