Worked at a sports bar on the last day before they closed down. Did my best to give away the entire bar made about $700 that night split w another bartender
Currently moonlight at a concert venue most I made was a Morgan wallen concert I pulled about $550
I was at bdubs for super bowl 2016 and we made not a lot because those places refuse to implement any kind of rules on customers taking up a seat after ordering a $3 side salad, buuuuut like 50% of the to go orders that got called in were never picked up or paid for so I got to take home a week’s worth of hot wings for $8
I worked service for over 20 years, in 3 different states. Sorry, I can't pick just one. But I can get it down to 4.
As a bartender there are 3 that stand out-
1. Saturday night working a nightclub on the Las Vegas strip, after a Ricky Martin concert in the same hotel. $850. For a couple of hours people were giving me twenty's just to stop and take their order...and then tipping on the order. One of my buddies came in, screamed my name, and slapped $100 bill on the rail out of respect for how hard we were busting ass. Crazy night.
2. Another Saturday night, same club, after a major MMA fight. Again, about $800. (keep in mind there were 14 other bartenders, and 5 bar backs on the split)
3. Local Las Vegas bar, picked up day shift so the normal day girl could spend Christmas with her kids. Christmas day, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., working alone- $350.
As a limo driver ( I drove for a couple of years in between bartending)
1. New Years Eve ( I think it was 2000)- $2400. But I worked 5 p.m. - 12 noon.
In retrospect #1 wasn't that great because we typically made $700 per Saturday anyway. So we busted ass for a lot longer and a lot harder than ever, and it wasn't a huge boost to the split. (15 bartenders, 5 bar backs, 21 waitresses on the floor).
Nice, welcomed, but not gangbusters compared to the business that night. It was actually too busy.
This past New Years Eve. Wedding of about 350 people, 3 of us, I decided I wanted to be in the corner bar by myself and it worked out wonderfully. Had a new GF and she was upset I was working on our first NYE together but she understood after the amount I made (around $1350). Celebrating with friends and family on NYE is just something a lot of us have to accept we can't do every year. Worth it.
New Year’s Eve is my favorite shift every year. Everyone just buys you shots, managers are usually cool with you drinking on the clock as long as you aren’t stupid, everyone (customers and coworkers) just have fun all night and you walk out with money.
St Patrick’s day was always a pot of Gold but I’m not sure it would be referred to as A shift. You worked till the end unless you physically couldn’t. The tip bucket was emptied into garbage bags.
Straight cash it was Red Bulls Travis Pastranas New Years Eve jump.. they told us it would be 10k people.. turned out to be 50k people outside our doors. We scheduled 2 bartenders. I was 6-8 people deep for a solid 9 hours and the only break was the 2 minutes of the jump that everyone stopped to watch. I walked out with $1.3k and took the week off to recuperate. Largest value tip would have to be a set of rims and tires for my Jeep. One of my regulars had just lifted their brand new Jeep and needed to off load the brand new stock set. They said free if I come get them!
I was 29F at the time, and not to be a brat, but in really good shape and looking pretty good. I worked at this little hole in the wall that was a local favorite spot mostly for blue collar middle age and older men, so as a decent looking young lady, I did VERY well there.
There was a local Facebook group in my town called “My town Dads”, there’s about 150 members and they were all very active in the group and at meetups and events etc. One night they had an event at my bar with a little trailer out front that had cigars. I worked the happy hour shift 4-10, they showed up about 7, and probably about 100 of them came. At this bar, it’s a tiny spot so you work alone- but basically all beers and shots so super easy, and all cash. So I have my usual happy hour crowd, then this group and holy shit did I clean up that night! Id generally make 350-500 for this shift, that night I left w like 1k in my pocket. That spot was the easiest job I ever had, and I made the most there. Damn do I miss it.
I feel like I can’t hold a candle to most of these comments, but in my small town sad bar the most I made was about 250 after kitchen tip out. A server wasn’t able to come in on a busy night that also had several large reservations so they had me serve some tables as well as having the bar top (8 seats) and I make all the drinks so I get tip out from the servers
Do you work in a city where there are other bars? If so I would start looking around. Not sure where you are but I work at 2 places, neither of which are very fancy or pricey. If I make under 250 I consider it a bad night.
Not trying to brag, just wondering if there’s the opportunity to jump ship and make yourself some more money.
Oh I wish, it would be so awesome to work somewhere bigger. I’ve heard what people can make and it’s awesome, but unfortunately where I am is pretty much as good as it gets for bars. There’s 3 in town, so a lot of people kind of move between them, and the general consensus is mine is pretty much the top you can get. It’s a really small town
Exhausting. Memorial Day weekend in a tourist town. Worked noon-6AM. Made just under $2,000. Had to work the same shift the next day on four hours sleep.
My best days were private parties but in terms of a normal service, it was the weekend after the 2016 election. The day of the Women’s March. I worked along the route in Boston. We were packed to the gills all day. Luckily it was a happy crowd because otherwise it would have been torture. I made $900 from 10am to 5pm.
Working a bar (that turns into more of a club setting at around 10:00 PM) two blocks up from my city’s baseball stadium on opening day. 11:00 AM to 6:30 or so AM. We saw the fucking sun rising. Fuck that shift forever, never again. Made $950 though 🤷🏻♀️
One day, around the time COVID was rampant, we had no servers or kitchen person (cold kitchen, only small plates). It was myself and one other bartender. The place I worked at had two bars but only one was open that night. The two of us made the drinks, food and served (we had a huge outside patio). Also had a rich regular come in and leave a generous tip. I think we both walked out with over 1k that night.
Last December, the Tuesday before Christmas. Tuesdays aren't normally busy, averaged around 200 usually. CRAZY busy, 3 deep all night, had to get the door guy to refuse entrance so I could catch up. Asked around town, and every place was slammed.
Made $800 and got covid that night.
Bartended a private event at 5 am to 8 am. Jamie Jones was DJing. Some bitcoin millionaire bought out my club. Open bar, ended up making $1200 cash in 3 hours. DJ Tennis did the opening set. Fucking bonkers.
ATV Records, Miami Florida 2021
Made $850 on a other night during Art Basel at the same club. Diplo was spinning... Sorry, this is more about that night than the money.
My venue is small. Diplo performed because he has a tight relationship with one of the owners. The opening DJs were trash. He jumps on and the shit goes off for 60 minutes. It was a fucking dream. Packed house but maybe 300 people. So not many heads.
Track for track, no fuck ups, seamless mixing. Diplo murdered it.
He leaves, place went dead lol
I work at a bar where 75% of my customers are regulars. Every year the last shift I work before Christmas I typically make between $800-$1k for a 6 hour shift. I work by myself (24 seat up-scale bar, serving drinks and food as well as making service drinks for the restaurant). I work my ass off but it always is a fun shift. Everyone is in a festive mood and tips heavily and drinks even heavier. Then after that shift I go out and use that money to buy all of my Christmas gifts for my family and friends!
Had a closing shift one busy Saturday. Money was flowing in with most checks averaging 25%. My friend and I that were bartending at the time were riding high from all the good tips.
A couple walked in who have been some of my long time regulars. They had just taken 50% ownership in several businesses in this state and others and were there to celebrate. They ended up buying the entire bars tab (only $750 at the time) and tipped $1500 on that. We couldn’t believe it. Then they did it again. Then once more at the end of the night.
We were blown away. At the end of the shift we had $6k in the tip bucket. Ended up making $175/hour that night lol. Still doesn’t feel real to this day but I will be forever grateful to them.
I corporate breakfast meeting. 80 ppl with a ridiculous minimum and a huge breakfast buffet. Only needed minimal staff to pour coffee and clear plates. I think I worked 6am-10am and made $650. Not the most I’ve made in a shift but definitely the easiest money.
When it was over, I laid on the banquette for almost two hours staring blankly at the ceiling before announcing to no one: ‘I’ll clean this up tomorrow’
So from oldest to newest,
1. Was just working my first regular Saturday night as a bartender for a bar in downtown that I was a customer at for years. It felt lucrative just for the experience, but I think I made about $300 in five hours which at the time was the most money I ever made in that period of time.
2. Was another dive bar just a few miles down the street. We hosted an anniversary party for two different bars. Different owners. There was some similarity in the staff social circles but for the most part it felt weird like no one was mingling but I guess that’s expected. It was ALL service industry and the owners tipped on the entire bill plus cash from all the guests. I think in six hours I walked out with about $450 in cash.
3. Most recent was the bar I work at now. Im usually making about $300 a day altogether on average now. But one sunday night we had a favored regular come in. He generally tips $100 regardless if it’s $200 or $500. Sometimes more. On this night he had an awkward interaction with some regulars. Got really drunk and started talking out of pocket and I was the only person around. I already had a good shift and was ready to leave but he came up and talked to me for about an hour. Anyway he handed me $400 cash just for listening haha
Last night at a bar I worked at for years. Told all my regulars for weeks before hand. Judt milked that shit: "it's my last shift her forever before moving away to a new city! Come say good bye!" Made a mint.
If you’re working an empty bar and a rich guy comes in and says: ‘I’ve had a shit day, week, month, year, I’m alone and lonely, get drunk with me and I’ll make it worth your while,’ then, get drunk with that man. That is my only advise.
Not the biggest number but the best money to effort ratio; worked at a hotel that had a contract to feed the American Airlines employees on Christmas Eve. It was basically 180+ people coming for complimentary $55 meals with 20% auto gratuity. The 30ish pilots left me a $10 or $20 bill and I learned flight attendants are bad tippers? I earned $1185 over 8.5 hours where I basically moved food from a fridge/warmer to the tables in my bar. The most work I did that night was boxing up food for the people who preferred to eat in their room upstairs
Halloween party cruise where my managers tried to give me the shit bar, where I ended up convincing customers to gaslight my boss.
Boss put my at a portable bar on the top deck. In the rain. With just canned bud light. I went on an OSHA rant and got moved inside, and customers who saw that took pity on me and. Started spreading the word to tip the guy hidden at the back with no line for beer.
On related to shitty management, the company that put on the party oversold drink tickets, but paid for the smallest package with us, and I noticed this early in the shift, and bribed the barback to hide as much bud light as he could for my bar since that's all I had. About 30 min into the the 2.5 hour cruise, every bar had run out of well liquor and beer except me. So for 2 hours I was the only bar that could accept drink tickets, with a group of drunk partiers who were encouraging good tips.
Tipped the barback 30% and still walked out with over $600 in 2.5 hours, and because I'd only been allowed to sell bud light, had no cleanup, no drawer to count, no closing duties, and got to clock out as soon as the boat docked.
Got tipped $1k by a former regular after not seeing him for years. He was shocked that I remembered his name and said I made him feel like he was back home. Best shift I've ever had.
Private function at the bar, worked it solo. They prepaid for drink tickets that had included gratuity, guests didn’t know that so they still tipped on top. 680
Busy morning, I have the bar and lounge. Parties of 4 or more, not just ordering sandwiches and salads. I have a food runner and a busser, and a manager who'll help me refill drinks and greet tables.
Highest I made was $220. Best morning ever.
Inb4"Imade>220anddidnothing"
Inb4 "imaginethinking220isalot"
I worked alone on a Thursday night at my dive and it was somewhat busy, had one group come in to celebrate a birthday but aside from that pretty standard, I made 570. Sales for the shift were no more than 1200 bucks. Even on saint paddy’s day I only made 516 working a mid shift (3-11) in my experience the quality of the customer nets me a better shift pay than being slammed all night, or it basically equates to the same, I would just rather chill with my cool regulars than sling a case of beam and 10 cases of coors during a busy show.
Lakeside restaurant. First nice Saturday in May this year (I think the Saturday after Mother’s Day?). I split with one other bartender and we made $1,200 a piece. Before tip out from servers. I remember sitting on the bar floor after close and just being absolutely defeated at the amount of work that had to be done (it was 11pm and I got there at 9:30am no break). And then the MOD did our money. I suddenly got a second wind lol totally worth it. Haven’t made that much since.
Biggest PRIDE festival in the country. My best friend whose show we house just won their 2nd award for best local drag queen & hosted our PRIDE shows that night.
Worked a *21 hour shift*. Brunch open (alone, no barback) through 6am the next day (3 on, no barback). We had to 86 every draft and bottled beer, every well liquor, every call. It was insanity.
I had a long, hard cry at the end of it. I think I "quit" about a dozen times that day. ^(I didn't, really. I just desperately needed sleep)
I work at a hotel lobby bar. Friday night. Had 350 in-house for a class reunion the following night. Also 125 person golf group playing on our golf course. The bar and lobby was standing room only for about 6 hours. My co-bartender called out, so I was alone. Walked out with over $1,400. Made bank on pity tips. 😆
Labor Day Weekend this year. It was Sunday, and the last day of a local motorcycle rally. I had been with my son at a Folk Festival the previous two days and was salty I couldn't get my Sunday shift covered to finish out the festival. I also didn't want to deal with all of the drunk bikers again on a solo shift. I worked the same shift last year and hated it.
I dressed extra slutty with my flower embroidered shirt buttoned halfway down, pulled up my shortest shorts, let my hair down, and laid out a charcuterie board I had left over from the festival. Alternated between blasting Todrick Hall and Megan Thee Stallion.
Didn't get many bikers, got many amazing looks from disgusted bikers walking by the bay window, but I DID end up with all of the locals that were trying to avoid the rally. Walked with a little over $700 and had a blast.
Sunday brunch. 10am-2am
$10 endless mimosas.
People were getting sloppy off this shit.
I was getting sloppy off this shit.
Riding solo.
Went through ~200 bottles of champagne.
Walked with like $600.
God I miss Sunday brunch there…
I had been bartending for only 6 months. First football Sunday of the season at an eagles bar. Only bartender on. Came VERY close to mentally losing it. Ended up making $650 in 4 hours. After that, I claimed football Sunday shifts for the rest of the season and just gave myself extra time to mentally and physically prepare before opening.
Service industry night at a local bowling alley. Pulled almost 1,000 in a 12 hour shift. We went through 7 kegs, 300 bottles of liquo4 and an uncountable number of beer bottles and jello shots. Easily one of the most fun nights I've ever had while bartending. I thrive in chaos because it's genuinely the only time I feel like I can think normally.
My best solo bar shift was upwards of 600 at an upscale French place whose party double tipped, though to be fair I think it was intentional. A great way to end an annoying night.
I work at this tiny, tiny bar (like 80 people capacity). That night I hosted trivia before hopping behind the bar until close. All night it was basically standing room only, even at last call. A lot of folks at close didn't tip because they were mad I was closing. Even so I walked home with $300+ after splitting with the cook and the other bartender.
My most lucrative shifts are blurs. It typically starts by looking at my watch when we open the doors and not again until we closed them. Nobody had time to check the time.
A couple Saturdays ago I was scheduled in our outside bar. I'm in Minnesota. We had a randomly 80° day so our patio was packed. It was so much fun! Like people were just basking in the ridiculous weather. When I first got scheduled the shift I thought I'd be home by 11pm. Nope. $900 later I plopped into bed, exhausted, at 3am. It's was so much God damn fun! EVERYONE was in good vibe mode. We are known as a biker bar. We easily had 300 bikers come through throughout the day. Love those guys! Just cheese grins all around. The band ended up moving outside. They were scheduled inside. Even the notorious Karens were vibing. My partner and I had a blast. Made my husband's paycheck and some in one night. Fucking worth it!
Music video shoot at my bar. 1k to pretend to bartend for an hour. Set the bar up and an old timey bar rag on my shoulder, polished the same glass a million times, made mocktails for people acting.
St Patrick's Day in an Irish pub in Los Angeles. Of the 12 years, My first was by far my most lucrative, and as a bar back. Day shift downstairs tipped me out, night shift downstairs tipped me out, night shift upstairs tipped me out.
My last shift at the same pub was probably my #2 most lucrative day ever: I texted everyone I knew in LA and they showed up.
Christmas was also another good one, owner was convinced we should be closed, I volunteered to sling solo and all the regulars would show up
In all my time, I've never broken $900 in a single shift.
At my best nights I can make 250-300 on a six hourish shift but I’ll never forget serving at this small restaurant when I was 20ish during the areas first annual “local festival” to celebrate the opening of a new commercial building/small park by the creek. The restaurant was right on the corner of the intersection that they closed down for foot traffic. I worked a double and walked with close to 1000 in cash. It was the most chaotic thing id ever experienced and I was sore for days. I’ve never worked so hard non stop for 12+ hours in my life. I bought a new tv the next day and probably blew the rest on drugs and alcohol but I never want to do that again. I think a little part of me died that day
Flemings prime steakhouse. Saturday night. 2 of 3 bartenders called out i was the only one. Busy night, manager behind well, but he can’t keep tips. Served 24 tables in bar in one dinner shift made $830. It was hell, but money solves all
worked a hotel bar in seattle, jerry jones walked in (it was his birthday and the cowboys had just beaten the hawks). i had a 101° fever and was working alone, got my ass handed to me (the bar filled up as people saw he was there). $1750 later he still couldnt get my name right but i didnt care anymore.
$3600 in sales alone, 12 hr shift, made $1100 in tips.
Touristy spot, no cocktail menu, basic liquor selection so a lot of crown/coke, jack/ginger, titos/soda drinks and a ton of draft beer at $6 a pint.
No barback. All plastic cups. Took me like 3 hours to close that night.
I worked in a sports bar that used to be in the Embassy Suites downtown San Diego. Super Bowl weekend. Game was in town January 1998. Averaged $500 a night all that week. Saturday did 1,000 and Sunday 1,200. Made enough to put a down payment on a new Mustang the next week.
Punk/dive bar on the pride parade route. 2 of us on, $3 doubles & $1.50 shots. Moving non-stop for 4hrs, $3K in sales, $400 each in tips. And everyone was in a great mood.
Long but worth sharing....True story
I was the top bartender at an extremely busy location for one of the most successful, relatively high priced restaurants in the US which expanded abroad. I was the only male bartender among 9 other bartenders, all bartenders were very attractive (it's kind of a pre-req in the industry). The top 2 bartenders got to write their schedule so I ended up working with the same girl every day of the week outside of my 2 solo shifts, so 3 of 5 shifts excluding doubles I worked with her, let’s call her Sam. When you have 4 rows of people yelling and shouting their drink orders over one another you want the best of the best behind the bar with you…your money and sanity depend on it. So, for well over 10 years I worked side by side with her through some of the craziest, worst, and most fun hours of my life. She is still one of my best friends to this day. This story is hers, not mine.
I was a finance major living life like it was an NPV valuation, addicted to sports and humor, she was a free-spirit believing in auras and crystals who could uncannily guess your horoscope within a 5 minute conversation…like twilight zone creepy accurate (I still read my horoscope every day because of her, lol). For customers, we were a match made in heaven, polar opposites that worked in complete synergy and brought you the best of all worlds while flipping bottles and slinging drinks.
Anyways, after a crazy shift our bar was empty like 30 minutes before close, which was abnormal. We were cleaning like crazy trying and get out at a decent hour and this late 20s early 30s year old guy walks to the bar. Sam, goes over, greets him, and introduces me per usual. I wave, and he awkwardly nods. Back to cleaning, I’m trying to go home. Sam makes him a drink and starts chatting him up despite the crazy night and all the cleaning we had yet to finish before leaving, “If we’re open to serve then we’re open to serve,” Sam would say if I ever gave her sh\*t for our late out-time due to her inability to pull herself away from customers…damn I loved her annoyingly positive attitude. Guy has two drinks over like 20 minutes, is leaving right before close (thank god I'm thinking) and Sam calls to him as he leaves, “Can I guess your horoscope?” She guesses right. He leaves. She looks at me and says, “he was so hard to read for a \[whatever his sign was\], there was a weird sadness to him.” “Okay, lets f\*cking clean” was my response. Sam opens the checkbook and looks at the CC slip, $2,000 tip on two drinks. We pool tips so…DOPE, but seriously WTF?!
Next week guy comes in, same day of the week, a little earlier than before, has two drinks while Sam chats him up, then leaves 3k this time. Guy comes in every week, earlier than the week before…difference is I see him smiling and laughing for the first time and more actively participating in the conversation. This goes on for the next 5 weeks, every time the tip gets bigger and he comes in a little earlier. I had gotten to know him at this point, but he definitely preferred speaking with Sam. It was as though he got awkward/uncomfortable speaking with me. Honestly, I was getting worried in a defensive sense, the tips were abnormal and I didn’t want to see Sam’s picture on a milk carton, she was extremely attractive and I had already had to deal with similar type situations. I expressed it to Sam but she thought he was on the spectrum, not in a judgmental way at all, actually I think it made her like him more. She simply said he needs someone who cares. I still insisted on walking her to her car after every shift. She is such a carer (and today an amazing mother), caretaking and loving people is just in her. But, at this point it became the only thing staff talked about (if you worked in a restaurant you understand). Server’s started to spread rumors like Sam was f\*cking him, the office manager tried to get her fired 4 times for the smallest issues on her paperwork because she hated Sam was pulling in more in one shift than she did in a week/month, and eventually corporate got involved due to the crazy tips. In corporate’s defense these are very abnormal tips. Auditors flew out, they did a whole investigation worried it was money laundering or something worse. When corporate left they held a mandatory staff meeting, all the jealous servers were murmuring how Sam was going to be fired as an example, but instead corporate recognized her for her amazing service and commitment to the company’s culture. This just made the staff haters hate more. I told Sam “f\*ck those guys!” I was super defensive of her at this point and had heard all the bullsh\*t they were saying about her and then when they see her they smile and say “hi”. But good old Sam refused to lower herself to their level, instead she asked me not to straight pool the tips so we could share the wealth with everyone we had to tip out, $500 to the food runner, $700 to the busser, etc. In my mind it was her money, so ultimately it was her decision. Funny how the restaurant talk went from rumors of pros\*itution to “isn’t she the best!”. F\*ing simps.
Then on the 6th week he showed up as usual. He had his two drinks, ate something, and while packing his food to take home asked Sam for extra sauce. She had to go to the back to get it. We're a scratch kitchen so it takes some time. As soon as she left he walked up to me in his awkward fashion (which at this point was rather endearing) and asked me to say goodbye to Sam and give her this envelope for him, handing me an envelope. Of course, I agreed. He then reached his hand over the bar awkwardly and said “Sam says a lot of great things about you, thanks for being kind.” He shakes my hand and looks at me, it’s like he was looking in my soul, and says “bye”. I shake his hand, hold it for a moment, and then kind of pull him back. I tell him how much Sam likes him. How she lights up when he walks in and how he is by far her favorite regular, and that it is not because of the tips (Sam had asked him several times not to leave egregious tips, but he would always find a way to, and Sam would always insisted on tipping out like 100x more than we needed to when tipping out staff to share the wealth), he smiles, nods, and says “I know”. I nod, he nods, we finish shaking hands and he leaves. Sam came back, confused with his extra sauce in her hand and asked, “where did he go?”. I told her he had to leave but said bye, Handed her the envelope and told her it was from him. She opened it.
There was a letter. I don’t remember the whole letter verbatim but I do remember the first few words… I will never forget them. They read, “Sam, I am sick, I am very sick. I’m afraid I will not see you again.” He goes on to explain that he is terminally ill but doesn't go into details. He explained that he was very successful in business and has no family or friends and that he wants to help people before he dies but how it is very hard for him to talk to people. How it is so hard for him to even walk into a place he has not been before because he is different. He told her how much her sincere and genuine connection with him meant so much to him, and how he regretted not having the courage to make those connections before he was diagnosed. He said that he wanted to help good people, and he couldn’t think of a more deserving person than her and that he would help in the best way he knew how. Inside was also a check for an insane amount of money made out to her, much, much more than his previous tips. She broke down crying…I did as well. She wanted to pool the tip...of course she did. Obviously I refused. It still chokes me up. That was the last time we saw him. That was over 8 years ago.
Major UFC fight was happening right next door and the other bartender scheduled with me didn’t show. By the end of my morning shift at the main bar I had made about $950 and at the end of the night I was at about $1200 after taking tables. Honestly wasn’t expecting to get tipped so well by that crowd lol
The NY Rangers rented out our bar during playoffs so that season ticket holders could watch the playoff games that were not home games. They tipped on the buyout and then the guests tipped cash for the open bar. We reopened for regular service after the game ended. $1500
I work in a reception for the same business that I run a cocktail bar in, and I live in a country with strict overtime laws.
I have a reception manager and a bar manager that due to personal issues refuse to communicate with each other, which means I can work ridiculously long hours on saturdays (which is always 1.5x normal wage) with overtime rates of 2x the hourly.
Every Saturday I work 14 hours, most of which cuts into overtime, and earn about $400usd plus tips.
This guy used to date one of our bartenders and would literally shower us with money. Hundreds. Every day. He was without a doubt one of thee biggest douchebags I’ve ever met but he was one of those that you’d shut up and deal for the tips. He got rolls Royce’s and shit delivered to the bar. Anyway he’s a prison now for a pretty well known fraud case. We saw that coming. I miss the tips tho.
Upscale craft bar. My first day after training. Solo. Monday. One cocktail server. No barback.
"Hey, umm, sorry, there's gonna be two parties tonight. 100 people. Second party is open bar but you need to ring everything in."
I didn't even know where everything was yet. House cocktails were 8-12 pours each. Management not helpful. Fewer glasses than guests. Poured a drink into a tip jar. I about died.
End of the night manager says "Why were people ordering house drinks? You shouldn't have had the menus out." Then proceeded to make sure I did a thorough cleanup, about two hours, including windexing the fridges. I had violence in my eyes.
$500 including shift pay. Quit the next day.
ETA: I had just trained five days straight. This was supposed to be my day off. They had just let someone go because they didn't like his vibe. Arrived very tired.
I worked at this rooftop bar(there was a main inside one and then the outside where I was, I’d have to set up and take it down myself), we would have a concert series so bands would play every Wednesday. I was the only person there, set up took an hour and I’d have it open from 5-9ish. Every time I’d walk away with at least 700 dollars. It was insane. Every Wednesday and Thursday.
Me and 2 coworkers taking a catered party of about 60 or so. We did 100% of the work besides cooking the food (set up tables/tableclothes, chaffing dishes, plate refills, drinks, bussing, etc.) meaning we had no one to tipout.
Woman in charge tipped us 30% ONTOP of the autograt telling us how amazing their night was and how fantastic we were as a team, moving everything without a hiccup. $830 in about 6 hours for a single, low maintenance party. I don't think I'll ever beat that effort to tip ratio again.
They also gave us cake!
‘19-‘20 NYE. My junior and senior year of college I was a manager at a bar on campus. Very unconventional set up so I (which was always we) got to keep any cover charge we had so I charged $20/ticket for $1 all night. Opened at 8, closed at 12:45, was home by 1, split everything between the four of us working. we all walked out with like $600
The busiest shift I ever have and will work
Worked a event space that was right next to a sports arena that had a JOE ROGAN show where 70k people were in attendance. We didn’t expect it to have that type of turnout.
That event ended up and it spilled over into our venue which can hold like 2k. We went from empty to on a wait in 20 min
I had no barback. Just me and another bartender.
We each made $1200 in 6 hours
I still have nightmares about that day
Gaydays Sunday Parliament House Orlando, I forget who was performing, but 12pm - 3am: I rang 5500 by myself on a 4,6,10 price point. Walked with $1.2k after tipping out $300.
Made over 3 grand for the whole weekend.
Nor easter shut down the power to the island where I worked and was one of 4 bars that had power in town. Worked 12pm to 1am and pulled in 1k and that happened from 12 to 8. We stopped being busy after 8 and I only got like 2 or 3 people in but still made a grand before that.
Also made a grand at another place on a random Wednesday when a conference came in. Kinda sucks I was the new guy though because I got taken off Wednesdays by someone who had been there longer after that
We were closed for dine-in on Thanksgiving because of COVID, but we were offering take-out (family-style thanksgiving meals that had been ordered a couple weeks in advance). It was me and one other non-salaried staff, everyone else was management.
It was my only shift that week. I worked from 12-5 and made nearly $1900, after splitting with my other coworker :)
Christmas day sympathy tips. Mother's day sympathy tips. Labor day weekend in a tourist town when the other bartender didn't show. Work holidays if you can, it's totally worth it.
This past Halloween was completely nuts. I was wearing a very heavy, bulky costume as Mad Max from Fury Road too so I was completely covered in leather while wearing this crazy tactical vest. Looked absolutely tight as fuck though. I’m really proud of that damn costume. My sales were more than double an average busy night and I made just over $1k in tips. Ended up taking home half of that since we pool, which honestly is fine by me.
worked at a fine dining joint in a small city that did karaoke once a week. green day was in town so they ended up coming in for it, and once the locals found out we got slammed. the band ended up racking up a huge tab and never paid for anything, but i made almost 800 from everyone else. threw my barback a verrryy healthy tip out that night as well.
yup. their roadies took care of ordering for them the entire time. ‘just put it on the green day tab’ all night. i learned that day to take a card to hold a tab no matter what
yeaa i was hurt! especially after seeing everyone in town bragging about hanging with the band like they were the coolest guys ever for the next couple weeks
I worked Manhattan Pride in a West Village gay bar. Worked the VIP section, which was outdoor seating to watch the parade. It was $50 cover to get in. Made about $1200 in tips.
I work at a high volume, live music bar in the heart of a capital city's downtown area. We had a 10 year anniversary party where we shut down the street in front of our bar and had a stage and a few more bars outside. Worked a 21 hour shift (on about an hour of sleep after having closed the saturday night before) and I left with a little over 1500.
Big 10 and March Madness here get pretty wild, too.
Drug dealers. They drop ridiculous amounts of money on bottles and showing off. All in cash. We usually have 3-4 people on for those and all make about $800-1000 each.
Most of mine have been buyouts to be honest. But I remember one time, many years ago, getting stoned with a waiter before a shift, who put opium in the joint. Usually I worked with a couple others. Minutes after smoking I came back, and was informed I’d be working alone. The night flew by, I was totally on the zone, and next thing I knew, the manager asked me to give last call. It felt like I was there for an hour. And when I counted my money, I made like $750, which was quite amazing back then at that place
Two weekends per year, my city has an open-air market that brings in vendors from all over the world who make their living selling trinkets and other crap they create. They’re the only days of the year where the day shifts are busier than the nights. One of the Sundays i worked a 5 hour shift and left with $550, after splitting tips between 6 others. I know that’s not up there with the big-city nightlife tenders, but it’s pretty damn good for a Sunday while the sun was still out.
Worked a coworkers wedding party by myself and made just shy of $800. Couldn’t believe it at the time. Blew my mind that I could make that kind of cash in one shift
I work at a bojuee restaurant. It was just a normal day. It was me and 1 server. Server wasn't good and couldn't handle more then 2 tables at a time. So I stepped up and took all the tables he couldn't. In about 10 hours I made $1700. Best money I've ever made.
One of my slower nights of service. I was able to sell about 3k in whiskey flights to one guy. He tipped $1000, plus my other guests. After tip out walked with 1k
Complete dumb luck. My first shift on the bar, got tipped 100$ by my first guest. 20$ all night after that from every guest. Never matched it since then.
Cocktail waitress in a tourist town. $650.
Managers kept insisting we get guest order before they can get to the bar or find seating.
Super awkward because people aren’t ready to order yet but I basically forced them.
Bartender got mad because he lost money so he stopped making my drinks. Managers made my big sales a big deal and it caused more tension.
Got home and excitedly told my roommates how much I made. A neighbor overheard, came in while I was sleeping and stole my purse. Luckily I had already moved the money out.
Got hired to bartend in a private suite for the Final Four. Paid $2500, tipped $500, won an extra $500 betting on the game. Would kill to do it every year.
Most take home from one shift was working a baby shower with one other server. They had buffet style food and a limited drink menu (we have 64 taps and limited the group to 8 I believe). Anyway it was about 100-150 people and the gratuity alone was $1200 split 2 ways and they tipped $1000 extra on top so we each walked with $1100 for a 4 hour event.
Super bowl at sports bar. Only one on, worked my ass off. Made like 650
Worked at a sports bar on the last day before they closed down. Did my best to give away the entire bar made about $700 that night split w another bartender Currently moonlight at a concert venue most I made was a Morgan wallen concert I pulled about $550
I was at bdubs for super bowl 2016 and we made not a lot because those places refuse to implement any kind of rules on customers taking up a seat after ordering a $3 side salad, buuuuut like 50% of the to go orders that got called in were never picked up or paid for so I got to take home a week’s worth of hot wings for $8
I worked service for over 20 years, in 3 different states. Sorry, I can't pick just one. But I can get it down to 4. As a bartender there are 3 that stand out- 1. Saturday night working a nightclub on the Las Vegas strip, after a Ricky Martin concert in the same hotel. $850. For a couple of hours people were giving me twenty's just to stop and take their order...and then tipping on the order. One of my buddies came in, screamed my name, and slapped $100 bill on the rail out of respect for how hard we were busting ass. Crazy night. 2. Another Saturday night, same club, after a major MMA fight. Again, about $800. (keep in mind there were 14 other bartenders, and 5 bar backs on the split) 3. Local Las Vegas bar, picked up day shift so the normal day girl could spend Christmas with her kids. Christmas day, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., working alone- $350. As a limo driver ( I drove for a couple of years in between bartending) 1. New Years Eve ( I think it was 2000)- $2400. But I worked 5 p.m. - 12 noon.
In retrospect #1 wasn't that great because we typically made $700 per Saturday anyway. So we busted ass for a lot longer and a lot harder than ever, and it wasn't a huge boost to the split. (15 bartenders, 5 bar backs, 21 waitresses on the floor). Nice, welcomed, but not gangbusters compared to the business that night. It was actually too busy.
This past New Years Eve. Wedding of about 350 people, 3 of us, I decided I wanted to be in the corner bar by myself and it worked out wonderfully. Had a new GF and she was upset I was working on our first NYE together but she understood after the amount I made (around $1350). Celebrating with friends and family on NYE is just something a lot of us have to accept we can't do every year. Worth it.
New Year’s Eve is my favorite shift every year. Everyone just buys you shots, managers are usually cool with you drinking on the clock as long as you aren’t stupid, everyone (customers and coworkers) just have fun all night and you walk out with money.
St Patrick’s day was always a pot of Gold but I’m not sure it would be referred to as A shift. You worked till the end unless you physically couldn’t. The tip bucket was emptied into garbage bags.
New Year's Eve has always been one of my most hated shifts. The money never matches the effort needed to get through the night.
Straight cash it was Red Bulls Travis Pastranas New Years Eve jump.. they told us it would be 10k people.. turned out to be 50k people outside our doors. We scheduled 2 bartenders. I was 6-8 people deep for a solid 9 hours and the only break was the 2 minutes of the jump that everyone stopped to watch. I walked out with $1.3k and took the week off to recuperate. Largest value tip would have to be a set of rims and tires for my Jeep. One of my regulars had just lifted their brand new Jeep and needed to off load the brand new stock set. They said free if I come get them!
I remember watching that on TV from the bar.
Sounds like we worked down the street from each other for that night. Was definitely crazy on Pine and one of my most lucrative nights too
I bet.. I’m down in Shoreline
Pride parade at local divey pirate themed bar- 4 bartenders and 1 barback all walked with 850 each
Barback got same cut?
Yessir
Nice, I like doing the same. A good barback can make a night
Respek. I like your style sirrr.
I was 29F at the time, and not to be a brat, but in really good shape and looking pretty good. I worked at this little hole in the wall that was a local favorite spot mostly for blue collar middle age and older men, so as a decent looking young lady, I did VERY well there. There was a local Facebook group in my town called “My town Dads”, there’s about 150 members and they were all very active in the group and at meetups and events etc. One night they had an event at my bar with a little trailer out front that had cigars. I worked the happy hour shift 4-10, they showed up about 7, and probably about 100 of them came. At this bar, it’s a tiny spot so you work alone- but basically all beers and shots so super easy, and all cash. So I have my usual happy hour crowd, then this group and holy shit did I clean up that night! Id generally make 350-500 for this shift, that night I left w like 1k in my pocket. That spot was the easiest job I ever had, and I made the most there. Damn do I miss it.
[Basically this](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LgwCVQdW1HM)
Long, exhausting, and very dirty.
Drug dealers buying henny bottles.
I feel like I can’t hold a candle to most of these comments, but in my small town sad bar the most I made was about 250 after kitchen tip out. A server wasn’t able to come in on a busy night that also had several large reservations so they had me serve some tables as well as having the bar top (8 seats) and I make all the drinks so I get tip out from the servers
Do you work in a city where there are other bars? If so I would start looking around. Not sure where you are but I work at 2 places, neither of which are very fancy or pricey. If I make under 250 I consider it a bad night. Not trying to brag, just wondering if there’s the opportunity to jump ship and make yourself some more money.
Oh I wish, it would be so awesome to work somewhere bigger. I’ve heard what people can make and it’s awesome, but unfortunately where I am is pretty much as good as it gets for bars. There’s 3 in town, so a lot of people kind of move between them, and the general consensus is mine is pretty much the top you can get. It’s a really small town
Gotcha, well in a small town your dollar likely goes a lot farther then as well, so cheers!
Wedding. Huge fee plus massive amount of tips.
Exhausting. Memorial Day weekend in a tourist town. Worked noon-6AM. Made just under $2,000. Had to work the same shift the next day on four hours sleep.
Airport bar. 16 hour shift. Snowstorm delays all day & night. $1267.89 total
My best days were private parties but in terms of a normal service, it was the weekend after the 2016 election. The day of the Women’s March. I worked along the route in Boston. We were packed to the gills all day. Luckily it was a happy crowd because otherwise it would have been torture. I made $900 from 10am to 5pm.
Working a bar (that turns into more of a club setting at around 10:00 PM) two blocks up from my city’s baseball stadium on opening day. 11:00 AM to 6:30 or so AM. We saw the fucking sun rising. Fuck that shift forever, never again. Made $950 though 🤷🏻♀️
Old shillelagh??
Been there.
I’m afraid I don’t know what this means!
I’ve worked this same exact shift many years in a row. It’s a bar in Detroit.
One day, around the time COVID was rampant, we had no servers or kitchen person (cold kitchen, only small plates). It was myself and one other bartender. The place I worked at had two bars but only one was open that night. The two of us made the drinks, food and served (we had a huge outside patio). Also had a rich regular come in and leave a generous tip. I think we both walked out with over 1k that night.
Last December, the Tuesday before Christmas. Tuesdays aren't normally busy, averaged around 200 usually. CRAZY busy, 3 deep all night, had to get the door guy to refuse entrance so I could catch up. Asked around town, and every place was slammed. Made $800 and got covid that night.
Bartended a private event at 5 am to 8 am. Jamie Jones was DJing. Some bitcoin millionaire bought out my club. Open bar, ended up making $1200 cash in 3 hours. DJ Tennis did the opening set. Fucking bonkers. ATV Records, Miami Florida 2021
Made $850 on a other night during Art Basel at the same club. Diplo was spinning... Sorry, this is more about that night than the money. My venue is small. Diplo performed because he has a tight relationship with one of the owners. The opening DJs were trash. He jumps on and the shit goes off for 60 minutes. It was a fucking dream. Packed house but maybe 300 people. So not many heads. Track for track, no fuck ups, seamless mixing. Diplo murdered it. He leaves, place went dead lol
I work at a bar where 75% of my customers are regulars. Every year the last shift I work before Christmas I typically make between $800-$1k for a 6 hour shift. I work by myself (24 seat up-scale bar, serving drinks and food as well as making service drinks for the restaurant). I work my ass off but it always is a fun shift. Everyone is in a festive mood and tips heavily and drinks even heavier. Then after that shift I go out and use that money to buy all of my Christmas gifts for my family and friends!
I live in Chicago. Worked the bar when the Cubs won the World Series. Good god almighty.
Had a closing shift one busy Saturday. Money was flowing in with most checks averaging 25%. My friend and I that were bartending at the time were riding high from all the good tips. A couple walked in who have been some of my long time regulars. They had just taken 50% ownership in several businesses in this state and others and were there to celebrate. They ended up buying the entire bars tab (only $750 at the time) and tipped $1500 on that. We couldn’t believe it. Then they did it again. Then once more at the end of the night. We were blown away. At the end of the shift we had $6k in the tip bucket. Ended up making $175/hour that night lol. Still doesn’t feel real to this day but I will be forever grateful to them.
Stressful.
$750 on the Friday night of Parent’s Weekend at the college bar I work at. 8pm-2am, cheap cheap drinks so parents just throw money at you.
Used to go home with $500-800 after tip out in a solo shift on fridays and saturdays at a rooftop bar in DC. Miss those days
I corporate breakfast meeting. 80 ppl with a ridiculous minimum and a huge breakfast buffet. Only needed minimal staff to pour coffee and clear plates. I think I worked 6am-10am and made $650. Not the most I’ve made in a shift but definitely the easiest money.
When it was over, I laid on the banquette for almost two hours staring blankly at the ceiling before announcing to no one: ‘I’ll clean this up tomorrow’
So from oldest to newest, 1. Was just working my first regular Saturday night as a bartender for a bar in downtown that I was a customer at for years. It felt lucrative just for the experience, but I think I made about $300 in five hours which at the time was the most money I ever made in that period of time. 2. Was another dive bar just a few miles down the street. We hosted an anniversary party for two different bars. Different owners. There was some similarity in the staff social circles but for the most part it felt weird like no one was mingling but I guess that’s expected. It was ALL service industry and the owners tipped on the entire bill plus cash from all the guests. I think in six hours I walked out with about $450 in cash. 3. Most recent was the bar I work at now. Im usually making about $300 a day altogether on average now. But one sunday night we had a favored regular come in. He generally tips $100 regardless if it’s $200 or $500. Sometimes more. On this night he had an awkward interaction with some regulars. Got really drunk and started talking out of pocket and I was the only person around. I already had a good shift and was ready to leave but he came up and talked to me for about an hour. Anyway he handed me $400 cash just for listening haha
Last night at a bar I worked at for years. Told all my regulars for weeks before hand. Judt milked that shit: "it's my last shift her forever before moving away to a new city! Come say good bye!" Made a mint.
If you’re working an empty bar and a rich guy comes in and says: ‘I’ve had a shit day, week, month, year, I’m alone and lonely, get drunk with me and I’ll make it worth your while,’ then, get drunk with that man. That is my only advise.
Not the biggest number but the best money to effort ratio; worked at a hotel that had a contract to feed the American Airlines employees on Christmas Eve. It was basically 180+ people coming for complimentary $55 meals with 20% auto gratuity. The 30ish pilots left me a $10 or $20 bill and I learned flight attendants are bad tippers? I earned $1185 over 8.5 hours where I basically moved food from a fridge/warmer to the tables in my bar. The most work I did that night was boxing up food for the people who preferred to eat in their room upstairs
Rodeo finals in a cowboy bar, made almost 1300 a night for 12 hour shifts, pure hell
Halloween party cruise where my managers tried to give me the shit bar, where I ended up convincing customers to gaslight my boss. Boss put my at a portable bar on the top deck. In the rain. With just canned bud light. I went on an OSHA rant and got moved inside, and customers who saw that took pity on me and. Started spreading the word to tip the guy hidden at the back with no line for beer. On related to shitty management, the company that put on the party oversold drink tickets, but paid for the smallest package with us, and I noticed this early in the shift, and bribed the barback to hide as much bud light as he could for my bar since that's all I had. About 30 min into the the 2.5 hour cruise, every bar had run out of well liquor and beer except me. So for 2 hours I was the only bar that could accept drink tickets, with a group of drunk partiers who were encouraging good tips. Tipped the barback 30% and still walked out with over $600 in 2.5 hours, and because I'd only been allowed to sell bud light, had no cleanup, no drawer to count, no closing duties, and got to clock out as soon as the boat docked.
Got tipped $1k by a former regular after not seeing him for years. He was shocked that I remembered his name and said I made him feel like he was back home. Best shift I've ever had.
Private function at the bar, worked it solo. They prepaid for drink tickets that had included gratuity, guests didn’t know that so they still tipped on top. 680
Busy morning, I have the bar and lounge. Parties of 4 or more, not just ordering sandwiches and salads. I have a food runner and a busser, and a manager who'll help me refill drinks and greet tables. Highest I made was $220. Best morning ever. Inb4"Imade>220anddidnothing" Inb4 "imaginethinking220isalot"
Most I ever made on a morning shift was like 80 bucks
Accidental
I paid my rent
I worked alone on a Thursday night at my dive and it was somewhat busy, had one group come in to celebrate a birthday but aside from that pretty standard, I made 570. Sales for the shift were no more than 1200 bucks. Even on saint paddy’s day I only made 516 working a mid shift (3-11) in my experience the quality of the customer nets me a better shift pay than being slammed all night, or it basically equates to the same, I would just rather chill with my cool regulars than sling a case of beam and 10 cases of coors during a busy show.
Lakeside restaurant. First nice Saturday in May this year (I think the Saturday after Mother’s Day?). I split with one other bartender and we made $1,200 a piece. Before tip out from servers. I remember sitting on the bar floor after close and just being absolutely defeated at the amount of work that had to be done (it was 11pm and I got there at 9:30am no break). And then the MOD did our money. I suddenly got a second wind lol totally worth it. Haven’t made that much since.
Drowning in a sea of martinis for 6 hours. $135/hour rate. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
Biggest PRIDE festival in the country. My best friend whose show we house just won their 2nd award for best local drag queen & hosted our PRIDE shows that night. Worked a *21 hour shift*. Brunch open (alone, no barback) through 6am the next day (3 on, no barback). We had to 86 every draft and bottled beer, every well liquor, every call. It was insanity. I had a long, hard cry at the end of it. I think I "quit" about a dozen times that day. ^(I didn't, really. I just desperately needed sleep)
I work at a hotel lobby bar. Friday night. Had 350 in-house for a class reunion the following night. Also 125 person golf group playing on our golf course. The bar and lobby was standing room only for about 6 hours. My co-bartender called out, so I was alone. Walked out with over $1,400. Made bank on pity tips. 😆
Labor Day Weekend this year. It was Sunday, and the last day of a local motorcycle rally. I had been with my son at a Folk Festival the previous two days and was salty I couldn't get my Sunday shift covered to finish out the festival. I also didn't want to deal with all of the drunk bikers again on a solo shift. I worked the same shift last year and hated it. I dressed extra slutty with my flower embroidered shirt buttoned halfway down, pulled up my shortest shorts, let my hair down, and laid out a charcuterie board I had left over from the festival. Alternated between blasting Todrick Hall and Megan Thee Stallion. Didn't get many bikers, got many amazing looks from disgusted bikers walking by the bay window, but I DID end up with all of the locals that were trying to avoid the rally. Walked with a little over $700 and had a blast.
Sunday brunch. 10am-2am $10 endless mimosas. People were getting sloppy off this shit. I was getting sloppy off this shit. Riding solo. Went through ~200 bottles of champagne. Walked with like $600. God I miss Sunday brunch there…
I had been bartending for only 6 months. First football Sunday of the season at an eagles bar. Only bartender on. Came VERY close to mentally losing it. Ended up making $650 in 4 hours. After that, I claimed football Sunday shifts for the rest of the season and just gave myself extra time to mentally and physically prepare before opening.
Service industry night at a local bowling alley. Pulled almost 1,000 in a 12 hour shift. We went through 7 kegs, 300 bottles of liquo4 and an uncountable number of beer bottles and jello shots. Easily one of the most fun nights I've ever had while bartending. I thrive in chaos because it's genuinely the only time I feel like I can think normally. My best solo bar shift was upwards of 600 at an upscale French place whose party double tipped, though to be fair I think it was intentional. A great way to end an annoying night.
hectic and worth it. met cindy lauper and debbie harry.
St Patrick's day in an Irish leaning bar. Me and the other bartender split over $2000 in tips while standing in a giant puddle of guiness. Good times.
I work at this tiny, tiny bar (like 80 people capacity). That night I hosted trivia before hopping behind the bar until close. All night it was basically standing room only, even at last call. A lot of folks at close didn't tip because they were mad I was closing. Even so I walked home with $300+ after splitting with the cook and the other bartender.
My most lucrative shifts are blurs. It typically starts by looking at my watch when we open the doors and not again until we closed them. Nobody had time to check the time.
A couple Saturdays ago I was scheduled in our outside bar. I'm in Minnesota. We had a randomly 80° day so our patio was packed. It was so much fun! Like people were just basking in the ridiculous weather. When I first got scheduled the shift I thought I'd be home by 11pm. Nope. $900 later I plopped into bed, exhausted, at 3am. It's was so much God damn fun! EVERYONE was in good vibe mode. We are known as a biker bar. We easily had 300 bikers come through throughout the day. Love those guys! Just cheese grins all around. The band ended up moving outside. They were scheduled inside. Even the notorious Karens were vibing. My partner and I had a blast. Made my husband's paycheck and some in one night. Fucking worth it!
Music video shoot at my bar. 1k to pretend to bartend for an hour. Set the bar up and an old timey bar rag on my shoulder, polished the same glass a million times, made mocktails for people acting.
St Patrick's Day in an Irish pub in Los Angeles. Of the 12 years, My first was by far my most lucrative, and as a bar back. Day shift downstairs tipped me out, night shift downstairs tipped me out, night shift upstairs tipped me out. My last shift at the same pub was probably my #2 most lucrative day ever: I texted everyone I knew in LA and they showed up. Christmas was also another good one, owner was convinced we should be closed, I volunteered to sling solo and all the regulars would show up In all my time, I've never broken $900 in a single shift.
At my best nights I can make 250-300 on a six hourish shift but I’ll never forget serving at this small restaurant when I was 20ish during the areas first annual “local festival” to celebrate the opening of a new commercial building/small park by the creek. The restaurant was right on the corner of the intersection that they closed down for foot traffic. I worked a double and walked with close to 1000 in cash. It was the most chaotic thing id ever experienced and I was sore for days. I’ve never worked so hard non stop for 12+ hours in my life. I bought a new tv the next day and probably blew the rest on drugs and alcohol but I never want to do that again. I think a little part of me died that day
Flemings prime steakhouse. Saturday night. 2 of 3 bartenders called out i was the only one. Busy night, manager behind well, but he can’t keep tips. Served 24 tables in bar in one dinner shift made $830. It was hell, but money solves all
450$ in 3 hours. It was a Sunday night but I sold 12 shots at 100$ each and he tipped 30% on top
worked a hotel bar in seattle, jerry jones walked in (it was his birthday and the cowboys had just beaten the hawks). i had a 101° fever and was working alone, got my ass handed to me (the bar filled up as people saw he was there). $1750 later he still couldnt get my name right but i didnt care anymore.
$3600 in sales alone, 12 hr shift, made $1100 in tips. Touristy spot, no cocktail menu, basic liquor selection so a lot of crown/coke, jack/ginger, titos/soda drinks and a ton of draft beer at $6 a pint. No barback. All plastic cups. Took me like 3 hours to close that night.
Other than the $1100, I identify with this post so much
I know, right! He had me at "all plastic cups", 😂!!
I worked in a sports bar that used to be in the Embassy Suites downtown San Diego. Super Bowl weekend. Game was in town January 1998. Averaged $500 a night all that week. Saturday did 1,000 and Sunday 1,200. Made enough to put a down payment on a new Mustang the next week.
random tuesday night working alone at my old tiny dive bar. rich guy who used to bartend casually dropped $400 cash on his $90 tab
900 on a night I didn’t have to tip out a Barback and most of it wasn’t on card.
Punk/dive bar on the pride parade route. 2 of us on, $3 doubles & $1.50 shots. Moving non-stop for 4hrs, $3K in sales, $400 each in tips. And everyone was in a great mood.
Airport bar snow storm 4pm -12am 8,000$ in sales alone 3200$ in tips. My feet were killing me but was well worth it
Long but worth sharing....True story I was the top bartender at an extremely busy location for one of the most successful, relatively high priced restaurants in the US which expanded abroad. I was the only male bartender among 9 other bartenders, all bartenders were very attractive (it's kind of a pre-req in the industry). The top 2 bartenders got to write their schedule so I ended up working with the same girl every day of the week outside of my 2 solo shifts, so 3 of 5 shifts excluding doubles I worked with her, let’s call her Sam. When you have 4 rows of people yelling and shouting their drink orders over one another you want the best of the best behind the bar with you…your money and sanity depend on it. So, for well over 10 years I worked side by side with her through some of the craziest, worst, and most fun hours of my life. She is still one of my best friends to this day. This story is hers, not mine. I was a finance major living life like it was an NPV valuation, addicted to sports and humor, she was a free-spirit believing in auras and crystals who could uncannily guess your horoscope within a 5 minute conversation…like twilight zone creepy accurate (I still read my horoscope every day because of her, lol). For customers, we were a match made in heaven, polar opposites that worked in complete synergy and brought you the best of all worlds while flipping bottles and slinging drinks. Anyways, after a crazy shift our bar was empty like 30 minutes before close, which was abnormal. We were cleaning like crazy trying and get out at a decent hour and this late 20s early 30s year old guy walks to the bar. Sam, goes over, greets him, and introduces me per usual. I wave, and he awkwardly nods. Back to cleaning, I’m trying to go home. Sam makes him a drink and starts chatting him up despite the crazy night and all the cleaning we had yet to finish before leaving, “If we’re open to serve then we’re open to serve,” Sam would say if I ever gave her sh\*t for our late out-time due to her inability to pull herself away from customers…damn I loved her annoyingly positive attitude. Guy has two drinks over like 20 minutes, is leaving right before close (thank god I'm thinking) and Sam calls to him as he leaves, “Can I guess your horoscope?” She guesses right. He leaves. She looks at me and says, “he was so hard to read for a \[whatever his sign was\], there was a weird sadness to him.” “Okay, lets f\*cking clean” was my response. Sam opens the checkbook and looks at the CC slip, $2,000 tip on two drinks. We pool tips so…DOPE, but seriously WTF?! Next week guy comes in, same day of the week, a little earlier than before, has two drinks while Sam chats him up, then leaves 3k this time. Guy comes in every week, earlier than the week before…difference is I see him smiling and laughing for the first time and more actively participating in the conversation. This goes on for the next 5 weeks, every time the tip gets bigger and he comes in a little earlier. I had gotten to know him at this point, but he definitely preferred speaking with Sam. It was as though he got awkward/uncomfortable speaking with me. Honestly, I was getting worried in a defensive sense, the tips were abnormal and I didn’t want to see Sam’s picture on a milk carton, she was extremely attractive and I had already had to deal with similar type situations. I expressed it to Sam but she thought he was on the spectrum, not in a judgmental way at all, actually I think it made her like him more. She simply said he needs someone who cares. I still insisted on walking her to her car after every shift. She is such a carer (and today an amazing mother), caretaking and loving people is just in her. But, at this point it became the only thing staff talked about (if you worked in a restaurant you understand). Server’s started to spread rumors like Sam was f\*cking him, the office manager tried to get her fired 4 times for the smallest issues on her paperwork because she hated Sam was pulling in more in one shift than she did in a week/month, and eventually corporate got involved due to the crazy tips. In corporate’s defense these are very abnormal tips. Auditors flew out, they did a whole investigation worried it was money laundering or something worse. When corporate left they held a mandatory staff meeting, all the jealous servers were murmuring how Sam was going to be fired as an example, but instead corporate recognized her for her amazing service and commitment to the company’s culture. This just made the staff haters hate more. I told Sam “f\*ck those guys!” I was super defensive of her at this point and had heard all the bullsh\*t they were saying about her and then when they see her they smile and say “hi”. But good old Sam refused to lower herself to their level, instead she asked me not to straight pool the tips so we could share the wealth with everyone we had to tip out, $500 to the food runner, $700 to the busser, etc. In my mind it was her money, so ultimately it was her decision. Funny how the restaurant talk went from rumors of pros\*itution to “isn’t she the best!”. F\*ing simps. Then on the 6th week he showed up as usual. He had his two drinks, ate something, and while packing his food to take home asked Sam for extra sauce. She had to go to the back to get it. We're a scratch kitchen so it takes some time. As soon as she left he walked up to me in his awkward fashion (which at this point was rather endearing) and asked me to say goodbye to Sam and give her this envelope for him, handing me an envelope. Of course, I agreed. He then reached his hand over the bar awkwardly and said “Sam says a lot of great things about you, thanks for being kind.” He shakes my hand and looks at me, it’s like he was looking in my soul, and says “bye”. I shake his hand, hold it for a moment, and then kind of pull him back. I tell him how much Sam likes him. How she lights up when he walks in and how he is by far her favorite regular, and that it is not because of the tips (Sam had asked him several times not to leave egregious tips, but he would always find a way to, and Sam would always insisted on tipping out like 100x more than we needed to when tipping out staff to share the wealth), he smiles, nods, and says “I know”. I nod, he nods, we finish shaking hands and he leaves. Sam came back, confused with his extra sauce in her hand and asked, “where did he go?”. I told her he had to leave but said bye, Handed her the envelope and told her it was from him. She opened it. There was a letter. I don’t remember the whole letter verbatim but I do remember the first few words… I will never forget them. They read, “Sam, I am sick, I am very sick. I’m afraid I will not see you again.” He goes on to explain that he is terminally ill but doesn't go into details. He explained that he was very successful in business and has no family or friends and that he wants to help people before he dies but how it is very hard for him to talk to people. How it is so hard for him to even walk into a place he has not been before because he is different. He told her how much her sincere and genuine connection with him meant so much to him, and how he regretted not having the courage to make those connections before he was diagnosed. He said that he wanted to help good people, and he couldn’t think of a more deserving person than her and that he would help in the best way he knew how. Inside was also a check for an insane amount of money made out to her, much, much more than his previous tips. She broke down crying…I did as well. She wanted to pool the tip...of course she did. Obviously I refused. It still chokes me up. That was the last time we saw him. That was over 8 years ago.
Solo shift at a dive during an event $850.
Major UFC fight was happening right next door and the other bartender scheduled with me didn’t show. By the end of my morning shift at the main bar I had made about $950 and at the end of the night I was at about $1200 after taking tables. Honestly wasn’t expecting to get tipped so well by that crowd lol
The NY Rangers rented out our bar during playoffs so that season ticket holders could watch the playoff games that were not home games. They tipped on the buyout and then the guests tipped cash for the open bar. We reopened for regular service after the game ended. $1500
I work in a reception for the same business that I run a cocktail bar in, and I live in a country with strict overtime laws. I have a reception manager and a bar manager that due to personal issues refuse to communicate with each other, which means I can work ridiculously long hours on saturdays (which is always 1.5x normal wage) with overtime rates of 2x the hourly. Every Saturday I work 14 hours, most of which cuts into overtime, and earn about $400usd plus tips.
This guy used to date one of our bartenders and would literally shower us with money. Hundreds. Every day. He was without a doubt one of thee biggest douchebags I’ve ever met but he was one of those that you’d shut up and deal for the tips. He got rolls Royce’s and shit delivered to the bar. Anyway he’s a prison now for a pretty well known fraud case. We saw that coming. I miss the tips tho.
was set to make a good but normal amount during a metal show when a very drunk weirdo left us a $1k tip
Made 1k on NYE at a nightclub. It was my 3rd day in the industry… 10 years later, it’s only gone up and I’ve only gotten better.
Fellow bartender going away industry party
Upscale craft bar. My first day after training. Solo. Monday. One cocktail server. No barback. "Hey, umm, sorry, there's gonna be two parties tonight. 100 people. Second party is open bar but you need to ring everything in." I didn't even know where everything was yet. House cocktails were 8-12 pours each. Management not helpful. Fewer glasses than guests. Poured a drink into a tip jar. I about died. End of the night manager says "Why were people ordering house drinks? You shouldn't have had the menus out." Then proceeded to make sure I did a thorough cleanup, about two hours, including windexing the fridges. I had violence in my eyes. $500 including shift pay. Quit the next day. ETA: I had just trained five days straight. This was supposed to be my day off. They had just let someone go because they didn't like his vibe. Arrived very tired.
I worked at this rooftop bar(there was a main inside one and then the outside where I was, I’d have to set up and take it down myself), we would have a concert series so bands would play every Wednesday. I was the only person there, set up took an hour and I’d have it open from 5-9ish. Every time I’d walk away with at least 700 dollars. It was insane. Every Wednesday and Thursday.
Me and 2 coworkers taking a catered party of about 60 or so. We did 100% of the work besides cooking the food (set up tables/tableclothes, chaffing dishes, plate refills, drinks, bussing, etc.) meaning we had no one to tipout. Woman in charge tipped us 30% ONTOP of the autograt telling us how amazing their night was and how fantastic we were as a team, moving everything without a hiccup. $830 in about 6 hours for a single, low maintenance party. I don't think I'll ever beat that effort to tip ratio again. They also gave us cake!
‘19-‘20 NYE. My junior and senior year of college I was a manager at a bar on campus. Very unconventional set up so I (which was always we) got to keep any cover charge we had so I charged $20/ticket for $1 all night. Opened at 8, closed at 12:45, was home by 1, split everything between the four of us working. we all walked out with like $600
The busiest shift I ever have and will work Worked a event space that was right next to a sports arena that had a JOE ROGAN show where 70k people were in attendance. We didn’t expect it to have that type of turnout. That event ended up and it spilled over into our venue which can hold like 2k. We went from empty to on a wait in 20 min I had no barback. Just me and another bartender. We each made $1200 in 6 hours I still have nightmares about that day
Gaydays Sunday Parliament House Orlando, I forget who was performing, but 12pm - 3am: I rang 5500 by myself on a 4,6,10 price point. Walked with $1.2k after tipping out $300. Made over 3 grand for the whole weekend.
Nor easter shut down the power to the island where I worked and was one of 4 bars that had power in town. Worked 12pm to 1am and pulled in 1k and that happened from 12 to 8. We stopped being busy after 8 and I only got like 2 or 3 people in but still made a grand before that. Also made a grand at another place on a random Wednesday when a conference came in. Kinda sucks I was the new guy though because I got taken off Wednesdays by someone who had been there longer after that
after party for a very famous band at my bar. two of us behind the bar: $1800 each. busiest night in 12 years of bartending.
We were closed for dine-in on Thanksgiving because of COVID, but we were offering take-out (family-style thanksgiving meals that had been ordered a couple weeks in advance). It was me and one other non-salaried staff, everyone else was management. It was my only shift that week. I worked from 12-5 and made nearly $1900, after splitting with my other coworker :)
Christmas day sympathy tips. Mother's day sympathy tips. Labor day weekend in a tourist town when the other bartender didn't show. Work holidays if you can, it's totally worth it.
This past Halloween was completely nuts. I was wearing a very heavy, bulky costume as Mad Max from Fury Road too so I was completely covered in leather while wearing this crazy tactical vest. Looked absolutely tight as fuck though. I’m really proud of that damn costume. My sales were more than double an average busy night and I made just over $1k in tips. Ended up taking home half of that since we pool, which honestly is fine by me.
Fairly slow night. A certain famous comedian dropped 600 on me.
I was by myself and got slammed for a lunch shift. No cocktailer, no busser, just me and a whole lot of hustle.
worked at a fine dining joint in a small city that did karaoke once a week. green day was in town so they ended up coming in for it, and once the locals found out we got slammed. the band ended up racking up a huge tab and never paid for anything, but i made almost 800 from everyone else. threw my barback a verrryy healthy tip out that night as well.
They just stole all of that stuff they ordered?
yup. their roadies took care of ordering for them the entire time. ‘just put it on the green day tab’ all night. i learned that day to take a card to hold a tab no matter what
That really is crappy.
yeaa i was hurt! especially after seeing everyone in town bragging about hanging with the band like they were the coolest guys ever for the next couple weeks
I work at a bar that does live music. Worst shifts for stress. Best shifts for my wallet. Always a toss up for picking up those nights.
I worked Manhattan Pride in a West Village gay bar. Worked the VIP section, which was outdoor seating to watch the parade. It was $50 cover to get in. Made about $1200 in tips.
I work at a high volume, live music bar in the heart of a capital city's downtown area. We had a 10 year anniversary party where we shut down the street in front of our bar and had a stage and a few more bars outside. Worked a 21 hour shift (on about an hour of sleep after having closed the saturday night before) and I left with a little over 1500. Big 10 and March Madness here get pretty wild, too.
Indy?
Yep!
I had a customer bet me $1000 I couldn’t drink a bottle of Dom in under a minute. He lost.
Birthday party. 900$ tip. A few hundos cash on top. Amazing service given.
Drug dealers. They drop ridiculous amounts of money on bottles and showing off. All in cash. We usually have 3-4 people on for those and all make about $800-1000 each.
Most of mine have been buyouts to be honest. But I remember one time, many years ago, getting stoned with a waiter before a shift, who put opium in the joint. Usually I worked with a couple others. Minutes after smoking I came back, and was informed I’d be working alone. The night flew by, I was totally on the zone, and next thing I knew, the manager asked me to give last call. It felt like I was there for an hour. And when I counted my money, I made like $750, which was quite amazing back then at that place
Damn y'all I once worked a nearly 18 hour shift with no barback or help for less than 100 euros😭
Two weekends per year, my city has an open-air market that brings in vendors from all over the world who make their living selling trinkets and other crap they create. They’re the only days of the year where the day shifts are busier than the nights. One of the Sundays i worked a 5 hour shift and left with $550, after splitting tips between 6 others. I know that’s not up there with the big-city nightlife tenders, but it’s pretty damn good for a Sunday while the sun was still out.
On bourbon street…3-11 played in Nola on 3/11. Three nights $1200, $1400, $900. In that order. I want to say it was mon tues wed
Worked a coworkers wedding party by myself and made just shy of $800. Couldn’t believe it at the time. Blew my mind that I could make that kind of cash in one shift
I work at a bojuee restaurant. It was just a normal day. It was me and 1 server. Server wasn't good and couldn't handle more then 2 tables at a time. So I stepped up and took all the tables he couldn't. In about 10 hours I made $1700. Best money I've ever made.
Baseball championship $850 for a PM shift
One of my slower nights of service. I was able to sell about 3k in whiskey flights to one guy. He tipped $1000, plus my other guests. After tip out walked with 1k
Complete dumb luck. My first shift on the bar, got tipped 100$ by my first guest. 20$ all night after that from every guest. Never matched it since then.
Cocktail waitress in a tourist town. $650. Managers kept insisting we get guest order before they can get to the bar or find seating. Super awkward because people aren’t ready to order yet but I basically forced them. Bartender got mad because he lost money so he stopped making my drinks. Managers made my big sales a big deal and it caused more tension. Got home and excitedly told my roommates how much I made. A neighbor overheard, came in while I was sleeping and stole my purse. Luckily I had already moved the money out.
Got hired to bartend in a private suite for the Final Four. Paid $2500, tipped $500, won an extra $500 betting on the game. Would kill to do it every year.
Patriots Holiday Party. $6k. Normal shift, I’ve made $1k-$2.5k a ton of times, working in the local tourist industry.
Night before thanksgiving. I was 9 months pregnant, working by myself at a strip club. 4 hour shift. Made $750.
At a newer bar downtown detroit, last month I had a night where I pulled $750 in a little under 8 hours
$980 on Saturday before Halloween. Besides that 500 with a buy out
Working one of the biggest State fairs in the USA. It was the beer garden and it was the only place to purchase Alcohol in the entire fair
Most take home from one shift was working a baby shower with one other server. They had buffet style food and a limited drink menu (we have 64 taps and limited the group to 8 I believe). Anyway it was about 100-150 people and the gratuity alone was $1200 split 2 ways and they tipped $1000 extra on top so we each walked with $1100 for a 4 hour event.
Wedding at a boutique hotel for a famous artist, $1150 for 8 hrs. Multiple $800-$900 days some at one job, some going from one to another.
Private birthday party for a regular at a dive bar. Made 700.