FEATURES

HIGH GEAR/JUNE 1977

FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE

By Bob Kovach

When it's approaching 2:30 and you haven't scored, when you're down and need someone to talk to, when you are happy and want someone to share your good times or when you just plain need a drink-who can you always depend on? Your friendly bartender.

What goes on behind that ever pleasant smile and idle chit chat of our various hosts of the evening? Are we more than just a scotch-and-water to these enviable creatures, known mostly to us only by their first names?

I interviewed a random sampling of our more permanent bartenders and came up with the following insight to the world on the other side of the polished oak.

Jon of the "Shaker Club" (better known as J.J.) has been bartending for 2-1/2 years. Originally from Cleveland, he has lived in New York City and Los Angeles. He does freelance advertising work during the day. When asked what he likes most about bartending his answer was simply: "I don't like to get up in the morning. It's worth it to work at night. What I don't like about bartending is that it ruins your social life."

Duane of the "620 Club" has been bartending for 7-1/2 years. Originally from Warren Ohio, Duane started bartending at "Ann's Bar" on the night of his 21st birthday. At one time he had a nine-to-five job but prefers bartenders hours because "In the summer time I get to go out and do anything I want. I lay in the sun, ride my bike, go to parks, and on my nights off, I go to a movie or dinner and then to other bars."

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Both Duane and Jon frequent the after hours spots. wondered why this was, figuring that by 2:30 they would be tired of bars. Duane replied that the after hours places are a whole different atmosphere, like a party all the time. "I have a good time with people that I see from my side of the bar and I can spend more time with them." "When 2:30 comes," answered Jon, "I am keyed up because I have been working all night and I'm not ready to go home and go to sleep. During the week I do go home and read or play records, but on weekends the after-hours places are really nice because I can go out and party." Jon goes to plays or movies on his night off and sometimes a bar afterwards.

Nicky of "The God Mothers II" had this to say when I put similar questions to her. "One of the most common reasons one would like anything about any job is, of course, the money... yet I enjoy people. Bartending allows one to meet "All Kinds"! Bartending offers an education program unlike any other job. Through the many types of personalities I've met I have learned things about life that I might never have in any other

mars.

NICKY

line of work. (I sometimes learn things might never have wanted to learn also!) The job offers many nights of fun and laughter, and best of all, in my case, working nights affords time to relax in the warmth of the sun during the day."

"Since I'm one of those persons who would rather play than work I suppose the work itself is the shortcoming. A job is a job, even if it is enjoyable and any job becomes too repetitious after years of service" (It might be noted that Nicky is leaving the bartending business and moving to Las Vegas this fall). On her days off she relaxes by her pool. "Allowing the sun to make love to my body." Contending that "a day without sunshine is like a day with Anita Bryant, neither of which is desirable."

Steve of "Twiggy's Place," better known as "Shamu" doesn't really have any days off as he has a regular job during the day. "My daytime job is the way I support myself," he says, "and working at the bar is my form of relaxation. I've been bartending for 2-1/2 years, mainly at "Twiggy's and I love it because you meet a lot of fun people, along with some interesting trash. I've met a lot of celebrities too. Surprise visits by Paul Lynde, Diane Carroll and Vicky Sue Robinson. Working at "twiggy's" is unique because it is about the only bar where you have such a cross section of people.

When I asked them if they thought being a bartender precludes having a lover I got the following reaction from Duane:

"Yes, I think there are more problems keeping a lover or wanting a lover, or whatever on this side of the bar. One reason is the hours. Usually they are different from the other persons. Another reason is that I have just one day off. After you've been working in a bar for a long time ! think you get tired of some things and people and you look for something special. You are always looking for a little

better (pause). You might have affairs or something that just satisfies a temporary need but I don't think you get a longlasting relationship as easily as you do if you weren't a bartender." Jon added that "The time schedule totally clashes

DUANE

Photos by Bob Kovach

with anybody in the real world. It would be real hard for someone else to get adjusted to your getting in at 3 o'clock in the morning and sleeping til noon."

"Bartending vs. having a lover can be difficult for some," contends Nicky, "but if you have an understanding one, such as mine, it makes this type of work much easier to take. There are times you may have to cater to and show kindness, or at times go out of your way to please a customer, to let them know that a friend is available to them. If your lover is there looking on and the understanding isn't there, it could be taken wrong. As most of us know kindness is sometimes taken for weakness and it is good business to try to please your customers.

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BAR

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Having an understanding lover realize it looked so glamorous to helps the business." you, if it does, then I'll have to say, yes it is ... Thanks for the compliment!!" Steve: "It's glamorous but it has too many drawbacks. You can't leave before 2:30 and no one really wants to wait around that long. They are hot and horny and want to go home right then. It's a lot easier to score being behind the bar, mainly because of the out-going personality a bartender is forced to possess. You are a friend and people tell you things they normally wouldn't tell anyone else. You get a rapport going which often goes beyond the sexual to something much more lasting."

"Your job demands that you be friendly to other people" Steve answered, "and if you want to get a tip, you have to put out a little more effort. If your lover is sitting there it could look suspicious, especially if they are not the understanding type. It breeds jealousy. We work hard for a buck. Most bartenders aren't paid all that well. Our salary goes for immediate expenses and our tips are what we have fun with. So we have to go for the tip, which is more difficult with a lover."

To me, the bartender's job is glamorous, meeting a lot of people, being the center of attention. I asked if this is really the case, is scoring easier and got varying opinions. Duane: "It's glamorous because I like to be known. I like to have a good time with a lot of different people. I like people from all walks of life, so I get a chance to meet them. As far as being able to score, I think you can score about the same from either side of the bar." Jon: "I meet a lot of people and at the

end of the evening everyone is gone. Bartending is a terrible way to meet people on an intimate basis, because by 2:30 they are either too drunk or too tired." Nicky: "Well, I didn't

Of those interviewed only Nicky cared to comment on unwelcome customers. "One of my biggest pet peeves," she says, "is customers getting angry at one another in the bar. They should take it elsewhere. If they would just have a good time, and enjoy what is offered to them, everything would be satisfactory.

Except for Nicky, no one had any immediate plans to change what they are doing. In fact, Jon commented: "I've never in my life planned far in advance. As of now I plan to keep doing this. I have no idea when something might come up that I'd be morc interested in." He also added that in the matter of getting to know people that "at first it's faces and drinks but after a while, you get to know the people who are regular customers on a first name basis. That is one of the things I like the most about being a bartender. I really know a lot of really nice people." Jon also lifts weights, not as a hobby, but for "general up-keep." "It is a part of keeping vaguely fit," he says.

In the past Steve has appeared professionally on the various stages around town. I asked him if he finds that part of his life completely divorced from bartending and do people make a distinction between "Shamu" and Steve. "I want people to know me as 'Shamu', he answered. "I'm two different people 'Shamu' at the bar and Steve in my other job. As far as my stage success is concerned, that really is a part of my life that

STEVE