When a Tip Isn't a Tip

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Worked a fourth venue last evening at one of those “wedding barns,” for lack of a better term.  These are open interior spaces, large enough to accommodate a wedding ceremony, reception, dinner, bar service, and dancing (when it’s too cold to go outside) and a large outdoor area (when it isn’t).   Given that there were snow flurries, obviously the event was inside.

I wonder whether these venues have been around for a while or are a new innovation.  So far I haven’t encountered one that goes back further than 2018.  If so, imagine that sooner or later the market will be saturated.

The guests obviously had a nice time together.  They were friendly, courteous, and followed the rules concerning the serving of alcohol—and were surprisingly generous in their tips as well; close to $600 between us two bartenders. 

The only exception, which was minor, was an obviously inebriated fellow who wanted to be served after bar service was over, and essentially tried to bribe us into serving him anyway.  (Which we would have refused to have done even if bar service hadn’t ended, for obvious reasons.)

I told him we couldn’t and explained the liquor liability laws.  He was surprised to learn of the rules, and claimed to find the information enlightening, then changed his rationale slightly and tried to bribe us again.

We were courteous to him but firm.  I don’t think, inebriated or not, that he or anyone else who tries this sort of thing understands that it’s insulting, that he considered us so unprofessional that with an extra $10 or $20 or we’d let him cart off with a few unauthorized beers. 

Plainly this sort of thing just comes with the territory.  And at least he preserved a pleasant if persistent demeanor.

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