MY BRIEF BARTENDING JOB IN A NIGHTCLUB

The bankruptcy trustees took over my restaurant and I needed a job, now. Or should I say jobs while I decided my next move.


Utilizing my experience

I fell back on bartending as it was easy to find employment. Because the available shifts run the gamut from lunch through to late night, seven days a week, it wasn’t difficult to find something that worked into my schedule.

I briefly worked at three bars at the same time. I was still licking my wounds after my restaurant failure and needed the hours and requisite tips. It’s not unusual for foodservice staff to work more than one job. The extensive hours open this door.

I bartended at a lounge in a business district during weekday lunches and picked up the odd shift at another lounge during the dinner hour. Most of my nights were still free.


This should be interesting

I remember talking to a former employee and he mentioned that there were some available bartender shifts at a downtown nightclub that played taped music. It was a late-night club, last call @ 2:00 AM, and I could work Friday & Saturday nights. It fit into my schedule. I was mildly surprised when I was hired.

The club was in the basement of a downtown office building. The immediate shock was that this was a crowd and environment that was foreign to me, even when I was younger. Nightclubs with the hypnotic rhythm dance music was not my cup of tea. I felt like an outsider. Good food & drink with professional service was my background, and I was out of my comfort zone.

I felt like a fish out of water.

It was good experience though and an eye-opener to stand back and watch the action. People do some strange things when they’re drinking and dancing with loud music and disco lights. And I was amazed at the eclectic crowd which included customers that were barely of age (fake ids?) and some men that could have been fathers to many of the patrons. Welcome to the late night club scene.


The earworm

“Shout, shout, let it all out”

“Shout” by Tears for Fears

The one song that the DJ played over and over was “Shout” by Tears for Fears and it has really stuck with me to this day.


This job didn’t last long

My stint was a brief few weekends. I quit as I was already pursuing a management position elsewhere. Indeed, serving staff can be quite transient.