Bar Back - JIUBA CORP

Barback Job Description:

Barbacks are the support team for bartenders. They focus on stock and clerical tasks so the bartender can concentrate on making drinks. Barbacks play an unsung role in optimizing the customer experience. Barbacks work in bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. While some may work afternoon shifts during the summer or if they are in a resort town, most of the action happens on nights and weekends. Their work shifts can run as late as four in the morning. This is a job for people who like to keep on their feet and stay busy. It takes someone who can multitask and work in a fast-paced environment to succeed at this position. Barbacks work directly with the bartenders on their shift, taking direction from the senior bartender. You should be a skilled multi-tasker with a passion for customer satisfaction and knowledge of wines, beer, and cocktails. To succeed as a Barback, you should be friendly, proactive, and efficient. Barbacks should also be passionate about the food and drinks they serve and creating a fun, enjoyable experience for every customer.

Barback Duties and Responsibilities:

Providing support to bartenders involves several different duties. We analyzed many barback job descriptions to compile the following list of barback duties and responsibilities:

Change Kegs as Needed

Barbacks need to have a certain amount of physical strength to lift full kegs and carry them from storage. They also must know how to properly tap a keg.

Clean and Restock Glassware

While most places have a dishwasher for kitchenware, glassware from the bar is washed and restocked by the Barback.

Open and Close Tabs

Barbacks open and close tabs for customers so bartenders can focus on the customers who are still ordering drinks. This requires basic math and a working knowledge of point of sale software.

Retrieve Drinks for Bartender

Barbacks don’t have the specialized knowledge of bartenders, but most can make basic drinks when support is needed during busy hours. They also clear out empty bottles and glasses from the lounge area.

Keep Beer Cooler and Liquor Shelf Stocked

When the stock of liquor or a certain beer get low, it is the Barback’s responsibility to restock the beer cooler and liquor shelf.

Prepare and Restock Garnishes

The limes, lemons, oranges, and other garnishes for beers and mixed drinks are prepared by barbacks. This duty requires manual dexterity to safely handle kitchen knives.

Alert Management of Problematic Customers

During down times, barbacks provide support to the security team by monitoring the crowd for any signs of unruly behavior.

Deliver Food

Barbacks also need to “run” food from the kitchen to waiting customers or to members of the wait staff. This involves lifting trays, plates, and glasses, sometimes multiple at one time.

Check Food

Barbacks inspect food orders for accuracy and presentability before it is handed over to guests and should check with guest satisfaction after two minutes or two bites.

Clean

When dropping off food or drinks and after guests have left the restaurant, Barbacks need to clear and clean their table, bring dirty dishes back to the kitchen and, depending on if the restaurant employs a dish washer, wash used dishes to prepare them for the next guests’ use.

Barbacks Skills

Successful Barbacks are energetic and detail-oriented individuals. They can effortlessly switch between working “behind the scenes” and “in the spotlight,” and are just as comfortable speaking with customers as they are speaking with coworkers. In addition to these general skills and personality traits, employers are seeking Food Runners with the following skills and responsibilities.

Physical stamina – Because Barbacks must be standing and walking on their feet all day while simultaneously carrying tasks behind the bar, it is important that they have a moderate to high level of physical stamina.

Communication skills – As the primary liaison between customers, Bartenders, and kitchen staff, Barbacks must have excellent communication skills, particularly when it comes to verbal interactions.

Attention to detail – In order to adequately clean tables and reliably identify when food going out of the kitchen isn’t up to par, Barbacks must have exceptional attention to detail.

Speed – Many aspects of a Barbacks job depend on the effective and efficient completion of tasks. Because of this, they must be able to move and act quickly, whether they’re walking food/drinks from the kitchen/bar to the lounge/bar, refilling drinks or clearing tables.

Accurate memory – Barbacks must remember which numbers are assigned to which tables, which waiters are serving which tables, which customers have made complaints and which customers have already received drinks. Thus, they must be able to accurately recall small details.

Barback Skills and Qualifications

Barbacks must be strong and have good physical endurance, as they must lift kegs and be on their feet all day. They also need to be able to switch tasks smoothly and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Here are some specific skills employers look for in barbacks:

Manual dexterity – to change kegs, fix drain clogs, and clean glassware

Basic mixology – although bartenders make most of the drinks, barbacks need to know how to mix the most common drinks so they can help during busy times

Social awareness – to feel the overall ”vibe” of a crowd and identify trouble before it happens

Teamwork – barbacks and bartenders work as a team and must have good communication to keep the bar running smoothly

Prioritization skills – there is no one to tell barbacks what to do when things get busy; they use their prioritization skills to complete tasks based on urgency and importance

Barback Education and Training

Employers do not require barbacks to have any specialized education. All that is required is a high school diploma. Technical knowledge, such as how to tap a keg, is learned through on-the-job-training.

Barback Salary

Barback Tools of the Trade

To accomplish their daily tasks, Barbacks use a variety of tools. If you plan on becoming a Food Runner, make sure that you feel comfortable using the following.

Standard restaurant equipment – Depending on the needs of the kitchen and wait staff, Food Barbacks may need to operate dishwashers, industrial sinks, ovens, walk-in refrigerators and more.

Point of Sale (POS) systems – In the process of greeting customers, taking drink orders or preparing bills for Bartenders, Barbacks may need to use a POS system to record purchases.