it matters so much where you’re at and what kind of environment you bartend in. There are cities that were winners post pandemic and some that were losers, just like there are restaurant/bar concepts that have flourished and others that have suffered. At the end of the day some people are still finding a way to make good money.
During peak pandemic restruants got to see how far they could spread very little staff. And people put up with it becuase "it's a pandemic, at least I have a job" or "everyone is working harder right now". But many restaurants never reverted back to pre pandemic staffing. So people are still working harder then they used to becuase there are less people in the building at any given time. So yes, the work is generally harder.
I feel pretty confident in my above analysis. This next part is way more just my feelings. I feel the pandemic era greatly emboldened the worst type of people. Assholes were threatening to kill 18 year old hostesses for asking them to wear a mask and nothing happened. The manager comes out and tells the hostess to let them handle it, and then simply seat the asshole. They learned as long as they are spending money no one will turn then away. It has gotten better in recent years but I don't think it will ever go back to pre pandemic times.
Oh definitely the hyenas took over the pridelands during the pandemic. They were always there but they were balanced out by the good customers before. So they were so much more obvious once the good customers actually gave a damn about someone besides themselves.
This is the answer; people in craft cocktail bars and chain restaurants are more needy and entitled , people in dive bars are happy to see you and feel like family to an extent.
Yup. Worked at one of the most well known local dives prior to the pandemic. After, I got hired at a craft bar down the street with 500+ whiskeys. Somehow became their lead bartender even though I knew jack shit about craft. Being a small lady, all the boomers coming in would always ask my male bartner, who was there for 3 months, (I had been there two years before the owners randomly closed it) to confirm my suggestions and tasting notes and bullshit. Working grueling 11 hour shifts. Now back at a small dive/venue bar and I could not be happier.
Third party delivery apps have become way more normalized, which has impacted floor workers in a few ways. One being that bad weather will impact your sales way more than it used to because people are more inclined to just use an app. Also it means kitchens are more likely to get backed up on ToGo tickets which makes it harder to take care of dine-in customers.
So overall, as a grunt worker it seems like I’m doing more work and more apologizing in exchange for less money.
We, thankfully, just convinced ownership to get off the apps during brunch as it was fucking everything up. Pretty tight space already and a very small kitchen that gets slammed for brunch every weekend, those apps were crushing our ticket times and then we always would have 2-3 drivers crowding the host area. Absolute nightmare.
I can’t speak for everyone but I’ve noticed a difference in the way people act but not so much tipping. I lived in the Caribbean for almost 15 years and people tip better when they’re on vacation and I’ve always felt like people tip like shit in the states. I’m back stateside now because I decided to go back to school and I’m about to apply to grad school, but I’d rather take on debt to go into a career where I LOVE what I’m doing than make a bunch of money but have cramps in my hands and feet every night. I still bartend on the weekends but honestly I’m so ready to be done. There was a party of 45 that came in the other day, preordered and had a tab of almost $800. They tipped $30. I’m over shit like that. I would’ve quit on the spot if that was my table.
Drew Talbert has one of his videos where they said something like "People aren't talking about the other side of covis, people are ducking animals now"
"yeah the loss of humanity"
Since the pandemic I’ve moved from Boston to Connecticut, then Miami, then Detroit, and finally back to my hometown in Louisiana. In my opinion, it hasn’t been the same since the pandemic. I don’t make as much money and people seem to treat me worse. I also think it could be tip fatigue though. It seems everywhere is asking for tips; I went to a local pet shop to buy dog food and there was a tip screen when I paid! In retail????
I also have had a harder time finding a job. Before, I could get a job within 24 hours of leaving one. Since the pandemic, in Miami, Detroit, and my hometown, I’ve gone a month of applying (in person, online, etc) without a job.
Of course I’m sure a lot of people have had the opposite experience, I personally have struggled a lot as a bartender since the pandemic.
i’ve also had issues finding a job quick! i’d be the same literally was able to find a job within 3 days after leaving one & its never taken me this long to find a job. it’s crazy out here, i can relate
Ive noticed post pandemic there are a lot more tip pools and a lot less support staff. I haven’t been able to make the money I made before, but it’s been especially tough in my city. A friend of mine with no bartending experience moved to NYC, got a job at a cocktail bar and lives comfortably in Queens off the money she makes. I’ve been bartending almost fifteen years and I kind of want to move back up there.
Honestly for me, the money is great now. I work in a little town but the restaurant is directly next to a hotel so that definitely helps. It’s a pretty major tourist town during the summer, but even just last Sunday I made $360 in 6 hours. It depends on the place and the clientele it attracts but I think the money is still there.
Been doing this shit 20+ years, the people treat you worse and you work with a bunch of lazy fucks BUT there is still lots of money to be made. For now.
Seems to me that there is a lot of miss than hit compared to before. It is harder to find places that are consistently that busy. People just do not tip like they used to. Customers seem a lot more on edge and sometimes just stay that way all night. I see a lot less hookups happening. I see a lot less Tinder dates coming through. I see more larger groups of girls that are not open to hooking up. I am not as sure that any of that has to do with the Pandemic or the effects it had on the economy which I think was going to happen anyway. People seem to rather hang in a Discord video chat with some beats and tokeing or drinking at home.
I’ve seen virtually no change vs pre-pandemic. This could be highly regionalized but I still get tipped the same as I did 5 years ago and still deal with the same work problems. Still about the same hit rate on new employees making it or not. Same general vibes from my customers. Again, this could differ wildly between regions/businesses.
While I’m sure your sister had some valid reasons for feeling the way she does, I wouldn’t let her opinion has much effect on whether or not you decide to work in the industry. I’ve been serving/bartending since 2012 and I have the best job I’ve ever had (financially and overall) even compared to pre pandemic. It’s all about the location and concept, just how it’s always been. It will vary highly on that. For example, people coming to my restaurant and spending $120 on a tomahawk steak are not worried about inflation.
It was so bad that I walked away until I moved to another country. US bartender for 24 years and just said fuck it and left. The sense of entitlement and just overall "fuck you" attitude of so many people killed all the love I had for it. I was in Florida so you can guess how everyone was acting during the pandemic. We moved to Canada and to be honest, I love it again. The service industry in the US is fucked as a whole. If I ever move back to the US, I won't be going back to bartending.
I think there's balance. Ive been at the Same house behind the bar for 12yrs. Did not see major changes. But I work at an independent full service restaurant and we are the best in town. Money has been good . I'd have a hard time leaving the business.
Everyone of us was a loser when people made old fashioneds and negronis at home. These tech cucks come in saying they can make it better than the 100+ year recipe that's literally called perfect.
I've never wanted to fight guests until after the COVID show.
After quarantine was lifted, we had the most generous, grateful customers I had ever seen. It devolved over the following year with people fighting staff about masks, and political bullshit. I had to leave the industry for my mental health. I have no idea how it is now.
Yep. I’m here and am lucky enough to still be making good money but lots of hospitality my friends are seeing big drops in their income. Struggling entertainment industry = a huge portion of the city having less money to spend. There’s also a real growing backlash against tipping culture in general and the rampant service fee shit is absolutely not helping.
For me it’s been substantially worse but I moved during the pandemic and couldn’t tell you how much of the difference is related to pandemic things vs regional/cultural things vs general economic things. It’s probably all of it though.
Honestly she's kinda right. If you have a way to get into a different industry it might not be a bad idea to pursue. It's hard to get out of bartending later if you only have bar experience. If you can build towards a sustainable career in something else, I'd do it if I were you.
In my experience the pandemic has made the industry better. You get taken seriously when you call out sick, and at least the reasonable customers are way more understanding of being short staffed. There are still some people who will always be assholes but I feel I’ve gained more empathy from most customers and more respect from my employer. There is a long way to go in the restaurant industry but it seems better than 2019 to me.
Honestly when the pandemic "ended" in the eyes of the American government I switched to a small very residential restaurant in a top 20 us city. Fine casual, small bar, best guests best money of my life. It's really a crapshoot. I then tried to leave this job did one training and walked my happy ass back. Anyone who is frustrated enough to walk away for good feels that way and they deserve that liberty. I personally don't agree with your sisters experience, and from my own experience and that of my friends; you won't leave until your ready. If you try you'll just come back.
Short answer, its definitely worse, but as people have said it’s more complicated than just that, some bars are doing well, etc.
I’d say millennials in particular made a lot of cocktails at home so there’s a lot more appreciation for classics and good spirits. I’ve got some of the best regulars I’ve ever had these days. Bartender culture feels less pretentious than it was a few years back but overall knowledge is high and people are happy to share it.
But, honestly I do think the money is a lot or at least little worse than it used to be. The amateur drinkers and entitled people seem worse, etc. Cost of living in general is just huge and lots of people just can’t spend as much or as often.
I also think mental health across the board is worse for people these days- covid is stressful and so is the state of the world. I know a lot of people who went sober that were great regulars at some of my favorite local spots a few years ago. Or others who just don’t want to go out in public because of the pandemic.
20% is the standard now not 15%. It was rough for a while but it's pretty good now tbh. I'm not sure how a 33yo is having her body break down but whatever. It's really not that different from pre covid at this point other that the best talent leaving.
Yeah, people can get sick at all ages. I don’t know what this guy is talking about.
I noticed one of my coworkers seemed to be slacking a bit, not too much, but enough to notice. Turns out she got diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 30 years old.
We don’t always know what people are going through.
I’ve primarily worked in music venues the last 10 years and the only thing that’s really changed is that our bar is cashless now which means I make wayyyyyy less cash tips and have to claim more money so that sucks but our pos system doesn’t even print receipts so they can choose our preset gratuity percentages 20,25,30% custom or no tip. Most people just hit the 20% so in that regard on average I’m actually making more money but relative to inflation and claiming more tips my financial situation with that job hasn’t changed much. I just started a second job at a restaurant so I can’t speak on what that was like pre covid.
it matters so much where you’re at and what kind of environment you bartend in. There are cities that were winners post pandemic and some that were losers, just like there are restaurant/bar concepts that have flourished and others that have suffered. At the end of the day some people are still finding a way to make good money.
It's not cities it's bars. There are people making bank in Memphis and people struggling in Vegas.
During peak pandemic restruants got to see how far they could spread very little staff. And people put up with it becuase "it's a pandemic, at least I have a job" or "everyone is working harder right now". But many restaurants never reverted back to pre pandemic staffing. So people are still working harder then they used to becuase there are less people in the building at any given time. So yes, the work is generally harder. I feel pretty confident in my above analysis. This next part is way more just my feelings. I feel the pandemic era greatly emboldened the worst type of people. Assholes were threatening to kill 18 year old hostesses for asking them to wear a mask and nothing happened. The manager comes out and tells the hostess to let them handle it, and then simply seat the asshole. They learned as long as they are spending money no one will turn then away. It has gotten better in recent years but I don't think it will ever go back to pre pandemic times.
Oh definitely the hyenas took over the pridelands during the pandemic. They were always there but they were balanced out by the good customers before. So they were so much more obvious once the good customers actually gave a damn about someone besides themselves.
This is pretty accurate in my experience. After coming out of the pandemic even nice normal people somehow turned into fucking monsters
When I worked at a whiskey centric, craft cocktail bar, people were way more dickish. Working at a local dive and folk are the same if not nicer.
This is the answer; people in craft cocktail bars and chain restaurants are more needy and entitled , people in dive bars are happy to see you and feel like family to an extent.
Yup. Worked at one of the most well known local dives prior to the pandemic. After, I got hired at a craft bar down the street with 500+ whiskeys. Somehow became their lead bartender even though I knew jack shit about craft. Being a small lady, all the boomers coming in would always ask my male bartner, who was there for 3 months, (I had been there two years before the owners randomly closed it) to confirm my suggestions and tasting notes and bullshit. Working grueling 11 hour shifts. Now back at a small dive/venue bar and I could not be happier.
Third party delivery apps have become way more normalized, which has impacted floor workers in a few ways. One being that bad weather will impact your sales way more than it used to because people are more inclined to just use an app. Also it means kitchens are more likely to get backed up on ToGo tickets which makes it harder to take care of dine-in customers. So overall, as a grunt worker it seems like I’m doing more work and more apologizing in exchange for less money.
We, thankfully, just convinced ownership to get off the apps during brunch as it was fucking everything up. Pretty tight space already and a very small kitchen that gets slammed for brunch every weekend, those apps were crushing our ticket times and then we always would have 2-3 drivers crowding the host area. Absolute nightmare.
Add to that the apps take a 15%-30% cut off the top so it’s not even profitable
I can’t speak for everyone but I’ve noticed a difference in the way people act but not so much tipping. I lived in the Caribbean for almost 15 years and people tip better when they’re on vacation and I’ve always felt like people tip like shit in the states. I’m back stateside now because I decided to go back to school and I’m about to apply to grad school, but I’d rather take on debt to go into a career where I LOVE what I’m doing than make a bunch of money but have cramps in my hands and feet every night. I still bartend on the weekends but honestly I’m so ready to be done. There was a party of 45 that came in the other day, preordered and had a tab of almost $800. They tipped $30. I’m over shit like that. I would’ve quit on the spot if that was my table.
fuck dude, $30 on an $800 tab would’ve made me want to quit on the spot too. Good luck to you in grad school & working toward a career you love 💕
Thank you!!!
Drew Talbert has one of his videos where they said something like "People aren't talking about the other side of covis, people are ducking animals now" "yeah the loss of humanity"
Since the pandemic I’ve moved from Boston to Connecticut, then Miami, then Detroit, and finally back to my hometown in Louisiana. In my opinion, it hasn’t been the same since the pandemic. I don’t make as much money and people seem to treat me worse. I also think it could be tip fatigue though. It seems everywhere is asking for tips; I went to a local pet shop to buy dog food and there was a tip screen when I paid! In retail???? I also have had a harder time finding a job. Before, I could get a job within 24 hours of leaving one. Since the pandemic, in Miami, Detroit, and my hometown, I’ve gone a month of applying (in person, online, etc) without a job. Of course I’m sure a lot of people have had the opposite experience, I personally have struggled a lot as a bartender since the pandemic.
i’ve also had issues finding a job quick! i’d be the same literally was able to find a job within 3 days after leaving one & its never taken me this long to find a job. it’s crazy out here, i can relate
Ive noticed post pandemic there are a lot more tip pools and a lot less support staff. I haven’t been able to make the money I made before, but it’s been especially tough in my city. A friend of mine with no bartending experience moved to NYC, got a job at a cocktail bar and lives comfortably in Queens off the money she makes. I’ve been bartending almost fifteen years and I kind of want to move back up there.
Honestly for me, the money is great now. I work in a little town but the restaurant is directly next to a hotel so that definitely helps. It’s a pretty major tourist town during the summer, but even just last Sunday I made $360 in 6 hours. It depends on the place and the clientele it attracts but I think the money is still there.
Been doing this shit 20+ years, the people treat you worse and you work with a bunch of lazy fucks BUT there is still lots of money to be made. For now.
Seems to me that there is a lot of miss than hit compared to before. It is harder to find places that are consistently that busy. People just do not tip like they used to. Customers seem a lot more on edge and sometimes just stay that way all night. I see a lot less hookups happening. I see a lot less Tinder dates coming through. I see more larger groups of girls that are not open to hooking up. I am not as sure that any of that has to do with the Pandemic or the effects it had on the economy which I think was going to happen anyway. People seem to rather hang in a Discord video chat with some beats and tokeing or drinking at home.
I’ve seen virtually no change vs pre-pandemic. This could be highly regionalized but I still get tipped the same as I did 5 years ago and still deal with the same work problems. Still about the same hit rate on new employees making it or not. Same general vibes from my customers. Again, this could differ wildly between regions/businesses.
While I’m sure your sister had some valid reasons for feeling the way she does, I wouldn’t let her opinion has much effect on whether or not you decide to work in the industry. I’ve been serving/bartending since 2012 and I have the best job I’ve ever had (financially and overall) even compared to pre pandemic. It’s all about the location and concept, just how it’s always been. It will vary highly on that. For example, people coming to my restaurant and spending $120 on a tomahawk steak are not worried about inflation.
It was so bad that I walked away until I moved to another country. US bartender for 24 years and just said fuck it and left. The sense of entitlement and just overall "fuck you" attitude of so many people killed all the love I had for it. I was in Florida so you can guess how everyone was acting during the pandemic. We moved to Canada and to be honest, I love it again. The service industry in the US is fucked as a whole. If I ever move back to the US, I won't be going back to bartending.
I think there's balance. Ive been at the Same house behind the bar for 12yrs. Did not see major changes. But I work at an independent full service restaurant and we are the best in town. Money has been good . I'd have a hard time leaving the business.
The only difference now is every place and their mother is asking for a tip now. Surprised McDonald's hasn't added it to their check out yet.
Everyone of us was a loser when people made old fashioneds and negronis at home. These tech cucks come in saying they can make it better than the 100+ year recipe that's literally called perfect. I've never wanted to fight guests until after the COVID show.
After quarantine was lifted, we had the most generous, grateful customers I had ever seen. It devolved over the following year with people fighting staff about masks, and political bullshit. I had to leave the industry for my mental health. I have no idea how it is now.
I got a state job dude. I was wrecked. I found a anew spot where I bartend 1-2/week as needed and it's been good but yeah I was pretty fucked up
Los Angeles hospitality industry is a mess right now
Yep. I’m here and am lucky enough to still be making good money but lots of hospitality my friends are seeing big drops in their income. Struggling entertainment industry = a huge portion of the city having less money to spend. There’s also a real growing backlash against tipping culture in general and the rampant service fee shit is absolutely not helping.
My place closed. Having a heck of a time finding a new job
For me it’s been substantially worse but I moved during the pandemic and couldn’t tell you how much of the difference is related to pandemic things vs regional/cultural things vs general economic things. It’s probably all of it though.
Honestly she's kinda right. If you have a way to get into a different industry it might not be a bad idea to pursue. It's hard to get out of bartending later if you only have bar experience. If you can build towards a sustainable career in something else, I'd do it if I were you.
In my experience the pandemic has made the industry better. You get taken seriously when you call out sick, and at least the reasonable customers are way more understanding of being short staffed. There are still some people who will always be assholes but I feel I’ve gained more empathy from most customers and more respect from my employer. There is a long way to go in the restaurant industry but it seems better than 2019 to me.
Honestly when the pandemic "ended" in the eyes of the American government I switched to a small very residential restaurant in a top 20 us city. Fine casual, small bar, best guests best money of my life. It's really a crapshoot. I then tried to leave this job did one training and walked my happy ass back. Anyone who is frustrated enough to walk away for good feels that way and they deserve that liberty. I personally don't agree with your sisters experience, and from my own experience and that of my friends; you won't leave until your ready. If you try you'll just come back.
Short answer, its definitely worse, but as people have said it’s more complicated than just that, some bars are doing well, etc. I’d say millennials in particular made a lot of cocktails at home so there’s a lot more appreciation for classics and good spirits. I’ve got some of the best regulars I’ve ever had these days. Bartender culture feels less pretentious than it was a few years back but overall knowledge is high and people are happy to share it. But, honestly I do think the money is a lot or at least little worse than it used to be. The amateur drinkers and entitled people seem worse, etc. Cost of living in general is just huge and lots of people just can’t spend as much or as often. I also think mental health across the board is worse for people these days- covid is stressful and so is the state of the world. I know a lot of people who went sober that were great regulars at some of my favorite local spots a few years ago. Or others who just don’t want to go out in public because of the pandemic.
20% is the standard now not 15%. It was rough for a while but it's pretty good now tbh. I'm not sure how a 33yo is having her body break down but whatever. It's really not that different from pre covid at this point other that the best talent leaving.
umm have you not heard of people having diseases? it can happen at any age & that shit can take a toll on you physically.
Yeah, people can get sick at all ages. I don’t know what this guy is talking about. I noticed one of my coworkers seemed to be slacking a bit, not too much, but enough to notice. Turns out she got diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 30 years old. We don’t always know what people are going through.
Yeah and overworking long nights throughout your twenties, you start to feel it in your early thirties. Repetitive motion is hard on the body.
facts
I’ve primarily worked in music venues the last 10 years and the only thing that’s really changed is that our bar is cashless now which means I make wayyyyyy less cash tips and have to claim more money so that sucks but our pos system doesn’t even print receipts so they can choose our preset gratuity percentages 20,25,30% custom or no tip. Most people just hit the 20% so in that regard on average I’m actually making more money but relative to inflation and claiming more tips my financial situation with that job hasn’t changed much. I just started a second job at a restaurant so I can’t speak on what that was like pre covid.