Organizing a Night Out and understanding bar etiquette

Time to have a GREAT NIGHT OUT!!!

Okay, you want to go out.  You want to go with a group of friends.  Did you know there is bar etiquette?

Before the NIGHT OUT!!

First thing you need to know if YOU choose the bar, YOU are considered the host for the evening.

Okay, you know which bar you want to host your gathering at (Jimmy's Tavern of course).

• Make sure the bar knows ahead of time you are coming to assure the table(s) are set up to fit the number of people coming.
• Establish a designated driver before going to the bar!  In a earlier blog there was a link about how much you can drink....it would be wise to revisit that website.
• Now this one may be what keeps you from "organizing" the outing:  How is the tab going to be paid?  If it is a single tab....the host leaves their card with the bartender.  If it is individual tab the host still needs to leave their card with the bartender "just in case" someone forgets to pay the tab.  (Personally don't invite anyone who would do this).  IF you are planning individual tabs where everyone either pays their own or the bill is split equally PLEASE plan ahead of time....there is nothing worse for a bartender who has taken care of you all night to have to run multiple credit cards for one tab.
• Discuss with the party whether "rounds" will be purchased or each person will order when ready.  It is bad manners to buy rounds that would obligate another to reciprocate. 

While AT THE BAR

• Okay ladies....there was a time when it was expected that the man purchase your drink.  Want Women's liberation.....buy him a drink.  Please don't expect that the men at your table will pick up the tab...this will lead to hurt feelings if they don't.
• Men:  It is nice if you offer to pay for the first drink but do not insist....you don't want it to lead to any misconceptions of any expectations.  AND remember this:  if you offer to buy her a drink, it means ANY drink she wants...don't be upset if she drinks "top shelf."
•  Bartenders and Waitstaff are busy!  Don't request their attention until you know what you are ordering. 
• The words "THANK YOU" and "EXCUSE ME" will also work in the bar environment!!  Being in a bar does not excuse bad manners.
• Know your limits.  There is nothing worse than "the drunk of the group."  Yes going to a bar involves drinking....but if you get angry when you drink too much...don't drink too much.  If you get sad when you drink too much don't drink too much.  EVERYONE in the bar, not just the people in your group, want to enjoy being there.  Fights and tears are not part of having a good time.
• If you see your waitstaff or bartender leaving....settle the tab with them before they leave.  Most will not ask for fear of offending their customers but they deserve the tip they earned!!!

Now we come to tipping:  revisit the blog on tipping and don't be cheap!  Great tip (pun intended) tip well the first drink and you will receive better service....but don't forget to continue tipping throughout the night if you pay by the drink.

The bartender and waitstaff ARE NOT YOUR MOTHER.  Don't make a mess and leave a mess at your table.  It has never hurt anyone to clean up after themselves.

LAST CALL really does mean LAST CALL.  It is rude to ask for "just one more."  It is also rude to ask to stay past closing time.  It is against the law to serve you after hours so don't put the bar and the bar staff in that position.

Leaving the bar does not mean your job as the host is over.  Make sure no one has left anything at the bar AND make sure ALL women leave safely! 

Jimmy's Tavern on Facebook wish everyone a safe and great night out!!!

Directions and Hours of Jimmy's Tavern

Jimmy's Tavern gives to PAWS Pueblo!!

Thank you all for trying to win a free shot!  So many quarters....$389.00 worth to be exact went to PAWS for Life, Pueblo building fund.  Thank you Jimmy's Tavern for such a wonderful, generous donation!!

Beverly Kachel, PAWS President and Paul Morales

Remember, If you are looking for a place to relax, have a good time enjoy your environment with friends or meet new friends go to Jimmy's Tavern
324 S. McCulloch Blvd.
Pueblo West, CO  81007











This Friday night is a great night to go.  Patrick Kratzer will be playing from 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM.  This is his first appearance at Jimmy's Tavern so everyone needs to go and support him and a wonderful bar who gives back to his community!!

Tipping at a bar

Tipping, what is acceptable?

Good Service, Bad Service, Okay Service what do you tip based on what they are doing for you. 

We have put a man on the moon, we have cured diseases that have killed thousands and yet it is still not clear on what the “proper” tip should be. 

Do you tip the same percentage no matter who is the service person?  Meaning food service waitress in high end restaurants, your local restaurants, bartenders, bar wait staff, etc.

No matter where you are ask yourself this, what type of a client am I?  Do you order like Meg Ryan as “Sally” in the movie when Harry met Sally:  everything on the side because they will never get it right?  

Let’s take a look at bar staff first:

Bartender

            $1/drink (or 15% of total bill). Pre-tip for better service is a lesson learned the first time you enter into an establishment.  I like to find out if the bartender on duty is a regular or filling in because that changes how I approach anything.  If they are a regular and you plan on returning to the bar tip well the first time and tip again when you leave.  When I go with friends I try to buy the first drink.  If the bill is $6.00 (or what they like to do is $6.25) I will give them a $10.00 and tell them to keep the change.  Trust me they will remember you.  If they treat me well I will give them another 20% when I leave.  I know this sound high and some of you are saying that is way too much but I do this because I know I am going back and the next time I may not have the ability to do as much. 

Restaurants

              Are we dining at a fine restaurant or a middle of the road?  Is it a chain or locally                                                  owned?  I will   tip more at a locally owned restaurant than a chain because I support in the local small business owner.  If I am at a local restaurant, middle of the road and the service is good I will tip a minimum of 15%.  If the service is excellent I will tip a minimum of 20%.  In both scenarios I will round up the tip also, for example the bill comes to $42.78.  20% is $8.56 so I will leave $9.00 as a tip.  The local fine dining will start out at 20% is the service is good and 25% if the service is excellent.  Chain restaurants I will start out at 10% if it’s middle of the road and 15% if it is fine dining.

If you are Sally, from When Harry met Sally you need to add a minimum of 5% no matter where you go.

Now let’s talk about bad service:  You have to ask if it is the bartender or the owner that didn’t order correctly or if it’s the wait staff or the cook.  If your server (bartender or wait staff) is pleasant and the problem is not their fault I do not take it out on them.  The only time I will refuse to tip is attitude and if it is so bad that I would not leave a tip I normally request another if it is possible.

If you can’t afford to take care of those who serve you have one less drink, skip dessert or stay home.

Many years ago, a 10-year-old boy walked up to the counter of a soda shop and climbed onto a stool. He caught the eye of the waitress and asked, “How much is an ice cream sundae?”

“Fifty cents,” the waitress replied. The boy reached into his pockets, pulled out a handful of change, and began counting. The waitress frowned impatiently. After all, she had other customers to wait on.

The boy squinted up at the waitress. “How much is a dish of plain ice cream?” he asked. The waitress sighed and rolled her eyes. “Thirty-five cents,” she said with a note of irritation.

Again, the boy counted his coins. At last, he said, “I’ll have the plain ice cream, please.” He put a quarter and two nickels on the counter. The waitress took the coins, brought the ice cream, and walked away.

About ten minutes later, she returned and found the ice cream dish empty. The boy was gone. She picked up the empty dish—then swallowed hard.

There on the counter, next to the wet spot where the dish had been, were two nickels and five pennies. The boy had had enough for a sundae, but he had ordered plain ice cream so he could leave her a tip.

(http://www.becomingminimalist.com/2010/03/30/the-boy-and-the-sundae/)

When you go to Jimmy's Tavern plan on extra money for tipping because the customer service, the service and the staff are worth it!!

Friday June 15th LIVE MUSIC, GREAT SERVICE and a wonderful atmosphere for those who want to have a great time!

Like Jimmy's Tavern on Facebook