1933 The Bartender's Friend by a Mixer

THE BARTENDER'S FRIEND

pathetic and interested. You are selling service as well as drinks. 22. When a customer tells you a "funny" story he just heard, try to remember that you have "never heard it before," and laugh when it's finished. It pleases him. It costs you nothing. Anyway, it's 999 chances out of 1,000 that you have never before heard the story in the way he tells it. 23. Do not be too prominent before customers. Avoid ex pressing opinions not asked for, particularly on politics and religion. And even when you are asked, do not be too positive in your opinion. You can be wrong. Bartenders don't know everything, even though they hear it. 24. Do not enter into conversations between customers unless you are addressed. 25. Do not decide arguments between customers if you can possibly avoid it. If you have to (and you seldom do), be tactful and perhaps you can decide that both sides are right in some degree. 26. Keep your attention well divided between the various cus tomers or groups at the bar. Do not allow one customer or group to monopolize your attention and cause others to feel that you are not interested in them. 27. Do not use foul or profane language. Customers who use it generally like the exclusive privilege. Customers who don't use it, do not like to hear it, and they may expect you to stop others from using it in loud and boisterous tones. You are hardly in a position to do so, if you are guilty of the same offense yourself. 1^542