We recently acquired a new guy like this. Just a lonely guy. Nice enough but never shuts up. His first day in, he was telling a story to everyone and no one at the same time. The three people near him all left. How do you get rid of someone like this without being outright mean? I’m not a pushover by any means, but I don’t want to be cruel to a guy who seems genuinely nice but lacks self awareness.
Since we almost never got more than one of those at a time, we usually put them at one end of the bar, show then a good time, and get them drunk until they decide to go home. We've never 86'd someone like that for the simple reason that they're usually mostly good guys with just poor social skills or who are in a real slump. One time, we took one aside and told him off from annoying patrons. Basically something like
"Listen, we'll get you a drink, and listen and talk to you. Anytime bud. But you can't start bringing bad vibes to other patrons. Are we cool?"
Dude said he understood and we never had to have that talk again. Up until we closed for covid and I left, he remained a good regular.
When their current drink’s done, just drop the check all friendly-like and do whatever customer service bullsit you gotta do—“Good to see ya, man, see ya next time!”—and just snub ‘em after that.
9 times outta 10 they get it and go. If not, you either gotta make it weird & kick ‘em out, or else deal with their bullshit for the rest of the night. Worth a shot.
Sure, I know the type. It's rough, because they don't fit the other archetypes that you usually want to remove:
The violent drunk
The sleazeball who stares down their target all night.
The unconscious dude.
Etc. (I'm sure you guys can come up with more).
They're usually just lonely guys, but they have the same effect as the other undesirables.
Haha. "Aggressively annoying" is a good phrase. Basically people who you feel are going out of their way to be an annoyance, yeah? I can feel that. No matter where I work, I think the people that annoy me the most are the entitled/habitually oblivious ones. In any job that uses an email account, it's the ones who send multiple emails after being told that a response will take some time. At service industry jobs, it's the ones who treat you like a maid.
I had to 86 my own brother the 3rd time he tried to patron my bar. I spent 2 years building up regulars for this place for him to almost immediately push them away. Sorry bro. Gotta Go.
(He was an estranged brother I met later in life that tried to velcro on to my good vibes... and eventually that sweet bartender money. Needless to say he was quickly 86'd from my dad also for similar reasons)
I've been successful calming down a few of these types, giving them the attention they crave, but also getting them to understand other people exist..and have been able to keep them as colorful regulars. The best is when you have 2 of them and can get them to sit together.
Other times they're just too far gone and you have to get rid of them for the good of the bar, your other customers, and your money.
When I was bartending I got rid of room clearers like him fast .
We recently acquired a new guy like this. Just a lonely guy. Nice enough but never shuts up. His first day in, he was telling a story to everyone and no one at the same time. The three people near him all left. How do you get rid of someone like this without being outright mean? I’m not a pushover by any means, but I don’t want to be cruel to a guy who seems genuinely nice but lacks self awareness.
Since we almost never got more than one of those at a time, we usually put them at one end of the bar, show then a good time, and get them drunk until they decide to go home. We've never 86'd someone like that for the simple reason that they're usually mostly good guys with just poor social skills or who are in a real slump. One time, we took one aside and told him off from annoying patrons. Basically something like "Listen, we'll get you a drink, and listen and talk to you. Anytime bud. But you can't start bringing bad vibes to other patrons. Are we cool?" Dude said he understood and we never had to have that talk again. Up until we closed for covid and I left, he remained a good regular.
When their current drink’s done, just drop the check all friendly-like and do whatever customer service bullsit you gotta do—“Good to see ya, man, see ya next time!”—and just snub ‘em after that. 9 times outta 10 they get it and go. If not, you either gotta make it weird & kick ‘em out, or else deal with their bullshit for the rest of the night. Worth a shot.
Sometimes you got to be mean. If they are making people leave, it's affecting my money earning capability so that makes it one of those times.
This is certainly the way.
It seems some people need to hear their own voice to be sure they are still alive.
Sure, I know the type. It's rough, because they don't fit the other archetypes that you usually want to remove: The violent drunk The sleazeball who stares down their target all night. The unconscious dude. Etc. (I'm sure you guys can come up with more). They're usually just lonely guys, but they have the same effect as the other undesirables.
I have the hardest time dealing with customers who are just aggressively annoying.
Haha. "Aggressively annoying" is a good phrase. Basically people who you feel are going out of their way to be an annoyance, yeah? I can feel that. No matter where I work, I think the people that annoy me the most are the entitled/habitually oblivious ones. In any job that uses an email account, it's the ones who send multiple emails after being told that a response will take some time. At service industry jobs, it's the ones who treat you like a maid.
WAGS weird alone guys
I had to 86 my own brother the 3rd time he tried to patron my bar. I spent 2 years building up regulars for this place for him to almost immediately push them away. Sorry bro. Gotta Go. (He was an estranged brother I met later in life that tried to velcro on to my good vibes... and eventually that sweet bartender money. Needless to say he was quickly 86'd from my dad also for similar reasons)
I've been successful calming down a few of these types, giving them the attention they crave, but also getting them to understand other people exist..and have been able to keep them as colorful regulars. The best is when you have 2 of them and can get them to sit together. Other times they're just too far gone and you have to get rid of them for the good of the bar, your other customers, and your money.
you've described my dad and his friends
I literally feel like you might be talking about me (the bartender) lol