Your current place of work / Last place of work.

The Hideaway New Braunfels

Tell us about yourself.

I have been in the hospitality industry for 20+ years. I've been employed as a bartender, server, chef, Asst. General Manager, General Manager, Food and Beverage Director, and Promotional Director for many nightclubs, bars, and restaurants throughout New York and Texas. My objective is to one day open my own Gastropub and eventually turn my idea into a worldwide franchise. Over the past two decades, I have been paying close attention to my superiors and colleagues in hopes of understanding the best way to start and run a business as well as the best way not to. I've worked for many different types of owners who run their businesses in different ways.

Image: Bryan Harmin

Why did you want to become a Bartender?

Originally, I became a bartender because the bartenders at the bars and clubs I was promoting looked like they were having so much fun, and once I started bartending, I took an interest in the different flavors of drinks I could create and the many ingredients I was working with.

What are some of the most important skills for a Bartender?

Bartending requires patience, memorization, innovation, imagination, attention to detail, and in most cases, "the gift of gab"!

What do you look for when you plan to buy new products for your business?

I look for trends and I like to support local brands and businesses wherever I may be.

If you had to pick one spirit brand that you love, which one would that be?

Woodford Reserve

What's the best part of your job?

Seeing the look on a person's face after they take their first sip of one of my cocktails.

Please share some tips to increase beverage sales in a Bar.

Have an eclectic cocktail menu and a diverse selection of spirits. Make suggestions. Find out what patrons like and then create a variation of it.

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What do you love hearing as a bartender?

"This is the best old-fashioned I've ever had!"

How can a customer get your attention in a crowded bar?

Hand waving is for swatting flies! Either wait your turn or try to make eye contact.

What is your go-to "surprise me" order?

Jameson Orange Mule

Please name 3 bars that you admire and why?

Clover Club in Brooklyn, NY - There are about 80 craft cocktails with about 50 different ingredients that these bartenders create all from memory with the utmost precision. McSorley's Old Ale House in NYC - Opened in 1854, only serving Light and Dark Ale and still going strong today. The Wolfhound in Astoria, NY- It's where I met my wife, and the lads that own that bar are great friends.

Any good customer story that you recall that comes to mind?

It was a Wednesday night at a bar I was working at in South Texas. Usually, the night entails a bunch of regulars and a handful of people that are just visiting our tourist town. However, this Wednesday was different. Apparently, an event that was supposed to be going on for recent college graduates at the fairgrounds was canceled, so about 150 college kids strolled in all within a span of an hour. I was the only employee working at the time and everyone was thirsty. I was bustin my hump cranking out drinks, ringing about $2,000 worth of $4 beers and $5 cocktails in under 3 hours with no barback, no manager, and no help. As expected, these kids were tipping 3-5% which was bringing my morale down. This woman, I believe she was in real estate, seeing the 50-75 cent tips I was getting, pulled out a $100 bill, handed it to me, and said, "I see you busting you a$$, and you deserve this. Put it in your tip cup." I tried to give it back telling her, "She didn't have to tip on behalf of these kids", but she refused. I teared up a little bit and smiled at her, mouthing the words thank you. That act of kindness went a long way and made my night that much better.