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If you have no experience as a bartender and want to work your way into a bartending position, getting a job as a barback is one of the most common ways to make your way behind the bar. It’s an incredibly important position and is also sometimes called “bar backer,” “bar back,” “bar runner,” or just “runner.”
Barbacks are an entry-level hospitality role, so they’re often hired with no experience. Barbacks tend to shadow and support bartenders, making this role an ideal stepping stone for someone who wants to be a bartender one day.
What Does a Barback Do?
There’s a reason I called the barback the “bartender’s sidekick.” But maybe it’d be better described as “the bartender’s lifeline.” The barback is responsible for doing all of the invisible little tasks that ensure the bartenders are able to do their job quickly and efficiently and that the bar keep running smoothly.
Before service even begins, their main responsibility is to get the bar ready for service. This can mean that the barback is putting away the liquor and beer delivery that came in during the day; stocking each bar station with straws, napkins, and coasters; prepping juices for service; cutting garnishes; and prepping and back ups. They basically work with the bartenders to ensure that the bar is fully stocked and ready to open for business.
During the shift, the barback position is typically one of the busiest in the bar/restaurant. If you ever see a young person that is constantly moving behind the bar and rarely interacting with guests, most likely that is the barback. During a shift, they will typically be responsible for cleaning and refilling glassware, changing kegs, cleaning the bar top, and restocking everything in the bar from spirits to syrups. Rarely will you see them taking drink orders or mixing drinks.
When the bar or restaurant closes for the night, the barback will work with the bartenders to break down the bar. This could mean taking out the trash, restocking bottles, and cleaning all the glassware.
- Replenishing bars with everything they need before, during, and after service. (This includes but isn’t limited to restocking liquor and wine; changing out beer kegs; washing & restocking garnish, syrups, napkins, straws, etc.)
- Cleaning and organizing the liquor room, beer storage area, wine storage, and dry goods area
- Cleaning everything else (Yes, everything. Counters, dishes, glassware, tools, floors, etc.)
- Working with managers to keep supplies up-to-date and make sure there are enough for service the next day
- Taking out the garbage
- Putting away incoming beer, wine, and liquor orders
- Tending to emergencies like picking up broken glass, fixing clogged drains, cleaning spills and unexpected messes, etc.
- Relaying information to / from the kitchen, security, the bar, etc.
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TRAITS OF A GREAT BARBACK:
Got yourself a barbacking job and want to knock it out of the park? Here are some traits of a great barback. Follow this example to get noticed – and possibly even get an the opportunity to work your way up to a server or bartender position.
- They Hustle – In this role, speed is important. Moving with a sense of purpose and being quick behind the bar is key for a good barback. If the bartender needs something on the fly (aka right now), the barback makes it happen quickly and then gets back to their normal duties.
- Masters of Observation – This shows itself in many forms. First, it can be them noticing that supplies or products are running low or that the bartender in station 1 usually likes the garnish tray on the left instead of the right. It can also be them noticing how a particular bartender can pour more drinks than any other bartender on the team and learn how they do it, or how another bartender makes higher tips than other bartenders. Great barbacks realize this is a good training ground for when they become bartenders themselves, and they’ll take the opportunity to soak up as much information as possible.
- Multitasking Geniuses – The best barbacks I’ve worked with always have a running list of items they need to accomplish. For example, if a bartender needs a bottle of Grey Goose on the fly, they’ll head over to the liquor room, grab the bottle of Grey Goose as well as a stack of plates, a pack of straws, or a 6-pack of Corona to restock the fridge. They maximize every minute, especially when it’s busy.
- Anticipate the Bartender’s Needs – As a bartender, your mise en place is your lifeline, and there have been many times that I have noticed I’m running out of ginger beer only to have my barback replenish it before I need it. Restocking a bartender’s garnish tray, syrup bottles, and mixers before they run out goes a long way.
- Have a Plan When Things Get Busy – This goes hand-in-hand with multitasking. By planning ahead, you can better use every minute. For example: “I’m going to overstock bar A with XYZ so I can concentrate on helping bars B and C with glassware, and then I’ll come back to bar A in 45 minutes.”
- They Know “the Dance” – This is something that you can only learn with time behind a busy bar. After a while, you begin to develop a sense of when and how to move as a team, sliding past each other without impeding each other’s movement. Watching a busy bar team that knows how to move together can be like watching a choreographed dance recital, but if one person does not know how to move with the team… that someone’s going to be wearing a beer the rest of the night. If you’re brand new, know that this takes time – but paying attention to how everyone in your bar moves and communicates will help you pick it up quickly.
Barback Basics
FAQ
Is it easy to become a barback?
Is barback an easy job?
Do barbacks make decent money?
Is bar backing hard?
Is working as a barback a good job?
Working as a barback is a fast-paced and rewarding job that can serve as a good way to earn service experience before starting a career as a bartender. While bartenders, servers and hosts perform most of the customer engagement, barbacks help streamline service by assisting bartenders and other staff.
Do you need a job posting for a barback?
A barback is an important role in many restaurants and bars. If you’ve seen your bartenders scrambling for garnishes or cleaning up spills when they could be making drinks, it may be time to put out a job posting for your next barback.
Is a barback a small job?
There’s no small job in a restaurant, and the barback is one of the most crucial roles at a busy bar. There are no two same barback positions anywhere, and each role depends on the restaurant’s needs, business, cocktail menu, and location.
How hard is it to work as a barback?
Working as a barback can be a physically challenging job. It may involve lifting and moving heavy objects, as well as working on your feet for hours at a time. Being able to navigate crowded spaces while carrying heavy objects or balancing stacks of plates and glasses are essential skills in this position. What is the work environment of a barback?