REAL STORIES FROM REAL BARTENDERS >>>

I've been a bartender for a long time. I have met countless freaks, jerks, pervs, sweethearts, rockstars and crazies. Even though it's a physically and mentally exhausting job, these are the colorful people that make it all worthwhile. Well, that and the tips.

I'd like to share with you some of my personal experiences behind the bar, along with the stories from some of my fellow bartenders. Each week - under the clever heading of "Behind Bars" - I will dig into my memory bank - and the incident log books that all bars keep - to bring you some of my favorite stories.

Names of bars, bartenders and patrons have been changed or withheld to protect the innocent.

And the not so innocent.

Cheers!

This week...

Ode to the Weekend: Shitheads and Magic Moments

I have worked weekend nights my entire bartending career. Week after week. Friday after Friday. Saturday after Saturday. The scene is the same:  mobs of people laughing and conversing, waving money, sloshing drinks, and melting away the stresses of the work week, while simultaneously melting away their mind, all in the comfortable confines of their favorite watering hole. As much as I can handle my shift, and cruise through a busy night, it takes physical endurance. It's multi-tasking mania. Its an overall high stress environment.

Now, most bartenders recover from working vicious weekends by sleeping until 2 p.m. the next day.

But, seeing as I have two little munchkins that like to wake me early, sleeping in is impossible.

So, ever since my first son, I've longed to switch to day shifts. And recently, I found out that time has come. (Although I will miss my Angie!)

To my surprise, this transition has brought up tons of nostalgia for me. I find myself mourning the loss of those crazy weekend nights, fights, shitheads and all.

But, especially, I will miss the magic times between when the cops start chasing all the DUI drivers and when cab companies quit answering the phone, about 3-5 a.m.

It's this time, when the money is done and the shift beer poured, that I've been witness to some of the things that make this job awesome - epic pool games, snuggle sessions on pool table tops, and most recently, an after-hour delight featuring a tray full of magic brownies, a room full of magic people, and a magic solo performance on the electric upright bass by Tom Wait's bassist. (Sorry, too brownied to remember his name...)

I just know that I've been blessed as a bartender; I've witnessed amazing feats, met many fine, talented people, and given my liver a good run.

I look forward to my new day shifts, and Friday and Saturday nights, I'll see you on the flip side!

LINK: The "Behind Bars" collection