Jonique Gaynor, Staff Reporter
THE STAR today continues one of its latest features A DAY AS A ... Our reporters will spend time doing jobs such as garbage collecting, bartending and farming. If you didn't before, now you will know what it's like to be in these jobs. Reporter Jonique Gaynor spent her day as a bartender in Waterhouse, St Andrew.
I didn't really know much about bars and their operations, so it was with some amount of fear that I entered Tammy's Set It Off Sports Bar on Penwood Road in Waterhouse, St Andrew. My fear was two-fold: Would I be able to handle the job for an entire day and would I be safe in the community?
I arrived at my new job at 11:35 a.m. Tammy, the owner, greeted me out front and immediately took me inside to show me the 'ropes'. While I struggled to get my notebook free from my bag so I could jot down a few pointers, my first customer entered. "Come outta di bag an come sell me a Matterhorn," she ordered. I did as I was told.
Tammy then explained how to set up the games (poker and cherry), how to measure liquor and how to turn the cigarettes in the packet so that my hands wouldn't touch the butt. It seemed like so much. How would I remember all this? I figured it wouldn't be that hard since Tammy would be there with me all day. Boy, was I wrong. After showing me the basics and providing me with a price list, she left.
Yu born a Jamaica?
She returned occasionally throughout the day, but mostly the bar was now mine to operate. A youth, who told me he was 17, ended up being my main companion throughout the day. He spent his time watching DVDs and eyeing me intently when he thought I wasn't looking. He later asked me , "Yu born a Jamaica?" I said yes. " Ok , a tru yu look like 'Merican." Another who worked in a nearby establishment declared, "A nuff man a go come today, like how di browning deh yah." His words proved prophetic. For most of the day, men would pass by the door and peek inside. Some smiled and waved, others walked by and then backtracked when they realised that there was a new face.
Excited and nervous
Cleaning the counter with a smile. - Norman Grindley photos
Shortly after midday, two men entered. I was both excited and nervous. These were my first customers I had to deal with on my own. They ordered a Red Bull and a Malta. We were out of Red Bull (Tammy had left to go for some), so I convinced the man to try Taboo, a similar energy drink, and he agreed. I felt proud - I had convinced a customer to try something new. I wanted to come across like a professional but the opener let me down. After the third try, it worked. I smiled and hoped the customer wouldn't think I was a fool.
Less than an hour later, a customer who introduced himself as Jake walked in with an empty Appleton bottle. My mind raced : Was he coming to buy liquor? Would I have to measure something? How did Tammy say this was done? Where was Tammy anyway? I was more than relieved when he said he was returning a bottle he had used earlier. He asked, "Yu a di new bartender?" I told him just for the day.
Steal glances
"Jus fi today?" he repeated. "Well, mi sorry seh u naw go deh yah more often, but like how yu deh yah, mi an mi fren dem a go come back."
Apart from smiling and waving back to the many men who passed and attempted to steal glances, I didn't do much during the day. As evening approached, however, things picked up.
Cigarettes seemed to be among the most popular items. A few customers also ordered cold beers. As the stock in the fridge went down, I had to restock it with goods from the shelf or boxes.
As more people entered the bar, I realised I had to take notes of who had ordered what so that I wouldn't forget. The orders were growing and I was beginning to feel overwhelmed. One man ordered a cigar that I had never heard of before and though he described it, I was simply unable to locate it. I had to call Tammy.
Three men who seemed like they were just coming off the job entered at 8 p.m. By this time, fatigue was setting in. They, however, managed to get my energy up with interesting discussions. They talked about the feature and said I was doing well for a first-timer. One suggested that we do "a day as a mad man". Another took my hands as These Arms of Mine played in the background, and said , "Yu hear di song whe a play?" Before they left, they said, "Tammy can hire you. Yu a bartender material."
The crowd grew even larger as the night wore on. My mathematical skills were put to the test when I was forced to add the customers' bills without a calculator. The old-fashioned method taught in primary school served me well. I struggled to keep up with the orders which kept pouring in. I was becoming flustered and somewhat annoyed. I was ready for the day to be over and I now understood why Tammy had made use of the opportunity for a day of rest. This was hectic.
At 11 p.m., my bartending duties came to an end. I left the bar with a new appreciation for the profession and the realisation that it was not nearly as simple as it seemed.
Relaxing before the mad rush begins later in the night.
Bartender Fact File
Salary: This varies from bar to bar. But the average rate would be between $3,500 and $4,000 a week.
Working Hours: This also varies, but 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and beyond 10 p.m. on weekends is an average idea.
Qualifications: According to Tammy, a good bartender must be able to mix with a wide cross section of people. She must also be able to please her customers.
Challenges: Though admitting that her business is fairly new, Tammy said the main challenge faced is having to deal with customers who behave out of hand when they drink. She, however, said that was not a big challenge in her establishment.
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