How to Get Good Bar Service on St. Patrick’s Day

NEW YORK (MainStreet) – St. Patrick’s Day is one of the biggest days of the year for bars, and undoubtedly the most crowded you’ll see an Irish pub get. And while that’s great for the bottom line of these watering holes, it also means that patrons will have a tough time fighting through the crowds to actually get a drink. We spoke to a couple of current and former bartenders in the run up to New Year’s Eve about how to get good service when a bar is very busy. With bars promising to be just as crowded on St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, their advice is once again timely.

In short, it’s all about the Benjamins.

“Briefly, the key is always money,” says Alex King, who owns the BW Tavern in Alpharetta, Ga. “Bartenders on a busy night know that they are going to make money, and when it is an open field of bar guests, they are going to flock to the ones that they can make the most money from.”

In other words, if you want good service, be a good tipper. And if you want good service for the duration of the evening, establish yourself as a good tipper early on.

“On the first round, give a huge tip,” says Cheri Flake, a former bartender. “It won't matter if you ever tip again – which I certainly suggest you do – that bartender will keep coming back for more in search of another chance to ring that bell.”

That means that even if you plan on opening a tab on your credit card, you should probably pay cash for the first round so you can give your big tip upfront. King says that after establishing yourself as a big tipper in this way, you can switch over to your credit card for subsequent rounds and give whatever tip you please at the end of the night.

While money talks the loudest, a good attitude can’t hurt either. The bartenders understand that everyone has been waiting a long time, so King notes that it doesn’t help to wave money like an impatient child or look upset about your long wait time. And he reminds patrons that time is precious for bartenders on a night like this.

“When you do get the bartender, do not ask a bunch of questions,” he says. “Have your order ready and speak clearly.”

Which states love to celebrate the holidays with beer, wine and booze? Take a look at the Drunkest States in America.

Matt Brownell is a staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach him by email at matthew.brownell@thestreet.com, or follow him on Twitter @Brownellorama.