A Better Night (Could) Starts From A Better Tip

Hanging out on weekend with a bunch of crowd is always fun! There will always be jokes around, something come up to talks, and it could run much more when you have drinks to loosen up. But hey, there is also a few rules to understand, to make your night goes starry and fine. Mind to be a considerate patron who treats bartenders well and (most likely) you will be treated well in return. Whether you frequent a bar, pub, club, or dive you can have a much better night if you're on good terms with the bartender instead of acting like a jerk, and barfing all over your mate. Before, here some tips to share.

HOW TO GET SOME SERVICE AROUND?!
All you really need to do to get waited on is make eye contact with your money out, and have a bit of patience. If it's taking a while, a wave, nod or polite "Pardon me" will do. DON'T wave your money, whistle, snap, tap your glass on the bar, yell out the bartender's first name, or call them "pal", "buddy", "honey." Those are good ways to get a dog's attention, not a human's.

HAVE YOUR SHIT TOGETHER
Know your order before you go up. If you don't know what beers they serve, find a menu, list, or take a look at what's draft or the bottles on the wall. When you step up, give your entire order instead of announcing a new drink as each one's served. This is especially important in large groups. It's better to have 1 person walk up with six drink orders than six individual orders—it saves time and brain power. Have your money ready when the server gives you your drinks. If you're unsure how much that should be, ask while they're pouring.

MAKE YOURSELF MEMORABLE (IN A GOOD WAY THOUGH)
Two easy ways to make sure a bartender remembers you is to tip well and keep returning to the same one. A smile, wink, or nod are always pleasant but don't take over the bar flirting too seriously. They're used to being hit on by drunken mutants and are probably only being nice to give you better service for a higher tip. Chat sincerely with them if they start conversation, otherwise, just wait patiently and always say "please" and "thank you" when getting your drinks. Didn't your mother teach you anything?

DON'T BE HIGH MAINTENANCE
Cool it with the high maintenance shooters already. Don't order unknown or complicated shits that will only confuse and keep your server busy. Also, unless you're on friendly terms with the bartender, don't say "make it strong!" That implies that they makes weak drinks (which is insulting) and may get you a weak drink or one that tastes like rubbing alcohol.

SOME TIPS ON TIPPING
$1 per drink is average. $2 per drink is good (especially if the drink takes time to make). $3+ a drink makes you stand out. But first impressions are important, so always tip well on the first round of drinks. It'll pay off in quicker service, better drinks, and the occasional free one. Remember to tip, especially if the server gives you a free drink or round.
Not tipping is NEVER OK. You may think it's outrageous to pay someone an extra dollar for an already over-priced beer just for opening it, but that's just part of the game. If you're not going to tip (bad form indeed), don't spend too much time apologizing for it. Just walk away with your drinks, and send someone else up to the bar next time.

TABS AND FREE DRINKS
Running a tab is sometimes a good idea as sometimes bartenders won't remember to charge you for every drink. It's a bad idea however, if the server overcharges you and you're too drunk to remember what you had. So, as a general rule, remember how much you've charged on a tab. If the server undercharges you, tip well. If they overcharge you, state your case and listen to theirs. If a certain bartender usually charges you less on a tab, ask for them to handle it for you. If someone you're not used to runs your tab and doesn't give you free drinks, suck it up and pay the tab. Complaining that the other guy normally hooks you up may get him into hot water or make you look like a cheap ass who doesn't deserve free drinks to begin with.

{Photos: 1. La Biere Des Collines. 2 De Koninck. 3. Lindemans' Geuse & Kriek.}