Barback: Duties and Job Tasks

While bartenders are the ones who interact directly with customers and make drinks, barbacks are essential for keeping everything running smoothly. From stocking supplies to cleaning glasses to preparing garnishes, it's a barback's job to make sure each service area has what it needs so that bartenders can focus on making amazing mixed drinks and cocktails. As such, a barback job plays a vital role in ensuring that customers have an enjoyable experience at the bar.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about bar back's duties– from what they do, how much they make, and the barback job description associated with this role – whether you're preparing to open a new bar or simply wanting to improve operations at your current bar.

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What is a Barback?

An efficient barback is crucial to every bartender in order to help them maintain an organized and functioning great bar environment. Although they may not be as visible as some other positions in a bar setting, barbacks are crucial for a bar's success.

Not only do they make an excellent bartending experience for customers, but they also provide positive customer service. Without them, bartenders would have a significantly harder time serving customers efficiently and keeping the bar fully stocked.

In high-volume bars, it's not uncommon to have multiple barbacks working alongside the bartending team. Bartenders are responsible for making drinks and providing customer service while barbacks help to restock supplies, clean glassware, and perform other duties related to beverage preparation. Since the hospitality industry is a fast-paced environment, a bar manager and all staff members in the bar have to depend on each other heavily to keep things moving efficiently. This includes opening and closing duties.

What does a Barback do on a day-to-day basis?

A barback's responsibilities are to support bartenders before, during, and after service. The following is an overview of common barback duties, tasks, and responsibilities undertaken at various times throughout the day.

Avant le service

A barback job is to prepare the bar area for service. They typically arrive before their shift begins and help the bartender set up.

Barback duties and responsibilities before service:

• Always keep the bar stocked with liquor bottles
• Veiller à ce que les bacs à glace soient remplis et prêts à être utilisés.
• Collecter les verres vides
• Conteneurs d'organisation
• Préparation des garnitures
• Préparation de mélanges de boissons
• Replace the beer kegs
• Présenter des verres propres aux clients
• Stocker des fournitures telles que des serviettes, des pailles et des citrons verts dans chaque station.
• Mise en place des fûts de bière
• Garder un chiffon bar propre à chaque poste de travail du barman.

Pendant le service

Although they may not be as visible as the bartenders or servers, barbacks are essential to a well-running restaurant or bar.

Barback duties and responsibilities during service:

• Nettoyer les tables et retirer les boissons et les assiettes des clients.
• Nettoyer les verres à boire et la vaisselle sale
• Aide à nettoyer les boissons renversées et le verre cassé
• Aider les barmen à préparer les boissons
• Assist in making drink orders when needed or fulfilling customer food orders
• Servir de l'alcool de manière responsable
• Veillez à informer la sécurité de tout danger potentiel, par exemple si une file d'attente se forme à l'extérieur du site établissement ou si quelqu'un semble trop enivré.
• Essuyez toutes les surfaces, en particulier la zone bar .
• Assist with inputting orders into the POS system as required
• Garder la zone propre en sortant les poubelles ou en effectuant le recyclage.
• Récupérer les verres qui ont été vidés de leur contenu. bar

Après le service

Closing duties are very important to ensure that the bar is ready for the next day. After service ends, barbacks usually assist with and/or are responsible for the following tasks:

Barback duties and responsibilities after service

• Nettoyer tout ce qui a été renversé ou sali pendant le service.
• Remettre les verres et les assiettes vides dans la zone de lavage de la vaisselle.
• Remettre toutes les fournitures dans leur lieu de stockage prévu à cet effet
• Réapprovisionner les bacs à glace si nécessaire
• Essuyer tous les comptoirs, la station bar et la zone de service.
• Avant l'équipe de demain soir, veillez à ce que le site bar soit préparé en stockant tous les récipients et en extrayant le jus des agrumes.
• Stocker toutes les livraisons de boissons alcoolisées et de bières arrivées dans la journée.
• Déboucher les éviers
• Sortir les poubelles ou les bacs de recyclage tout au long de la journée de travail.
• Suivi de l'inventaire des bouteilles de spiritueux à l'ouverture ou à la fermeture

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Common Questions about being a Barback

Can Barbacks Make Drinks?

Unlike a bartender's job, barbacks typically don't mix drinks. However, if they are of legal drinking or serving age and meet the requirements to bartend where they live, then they can usually pour a draft beer or open a bottle. To do so legally though, there are usually some local regulations in place that barbacks must follow.

How many hours does a typical barback work per shift?

The average barback works for 4-8 hours each shift, though this varies depending on the specific establishment. In addition, they often work a few days during the week as well as nights and weekends. For some bars, special shifts or events may require their bar backs to come in early or stay late.

In addition, barbacks should be prepared for their hours to vary, as they may often need to work late at night or early in the morning. Often, bar backs are also required to do multiple long shifts during busier times such as weekends and holidays.

Before committing to the job, it is important for prospective barbacks to take their own physical fitness level into account. This type of work requires both mental and physical stamina in order to be successful. Handling long hours is a key part of being a successful bar back.

What is the average pay for a Barback?

The barback paid minimum wage is around $10 - $12 per hour, depending on the state and city, with more experienced barbacks earning up to $15 an hour. The average salary for a full-time bar back working 40 hours per week can range from $20,000 to $30,000 annually. barbacks paid by the commission may make more, depending on the number of drinks they serve and the tips they receive. Additionally, bar backs are often eligible for benefits such as health insurance and paid time off.

How much do Barbacks typically receive in tips?

In many cases, multiple bars share a tip jar that the bar backs will collect from at the end of their shift. Most of these tips are shared among all the staff, including bartenders and other front-of-house staff. A bar back tip can vary greatly depending on the number of customers and how busy the night is. In addition to the regular bar back salary, bar back makes an extra $50 - $100 in tips at the end of their shift which is common for a barback's job.

In addition, some establishments may offer barbacks other incentives, or bonuses for working long hours or during busy periods. It is important to ask about these when considering taking on the job of a Barback. This can also influence how much money they can make each month.

What do you expect as a Barback?

One of the chief advantages of working as a barback is that you'll obtain first-hand experience in the hospitality industry. This can be priceless when seeking employment in this field down the road. Additionally, bar backs have the potential to gain specialized knowledge about mixing drinks, drinks menu items, and bar service operations. This experience can help you get hired for a bartender role in the future.

If you can't decide whether or not a Barback job is right for you, here are some things to consider:

Ce travail est (très) exigeant sur le plan physique : Vous devez être en bonne forme physique pour ce travail. Un quart de nuit typique comprend des tâches telles que soulever des fûts de bière, porter des caisses d'alcool et transporter des seaux de glace vers différents sites bars . Vous n'aurez pas un instant de répit entre le moment où vous commencerez votre quart et la minute où vous le quitterez. Si l'activité physique est importante pour vous, c'est le travail idéal pour accumuler les pas Fitbit.

It's Not Always Appreciated: A barback job requires you to have some extra patience as most of your co-workers will be asking for items from you throughout your shift. And, unfortunately, not all of them will remember their manners when they ask (especially in the beginning). Being a barback is hardly ever recognized, with bartenders, bar managers, other employees, and guests seldom expressing gratitude.

À quoi s'attendre en termes d'horaires : Les périodes les plus chargées sur le site bar sont les jeudis, les vendredis et les samedis, et vous ne travaillerez donc que ces jours-là. Si vous allez à l'école ou si vous avez un autre emploi pendant la journée, cela peut être avantageux pour l'emploi du temps.

What experience is required to be a Barback?

Although some experience might be helpful, it isn't necessary to have years of experience under your belt to become a good barback. All you need is the willingness to work hard in a fast-paced environment and fit in with the workplace culture.

How to Become a Barback

Many aspiring bartenders take on the role of barback to learn more about mixology and build up their experience. Most bartenders will start out in this role before eventually being promoted (usually after 6-18 months), depending on how quickly they progress and pick up new skills.

The requirements to apply for a barback position are as follows: having completed a high school diploma and being of the minimum age required by law to serve alcohol. Start your job search by applying at your favorite local bar or restaurant. As part of the interview process, some places may require that you do an unpaid trial shift. Afterward, training lasts 1-2 weeks until you officially become a full-time bar back.

Essential skills and qualities for a barback

There are several key skills and qualities that a barback position needs. We've outlined both hard and soft skills needed to be a great barback:

Barback Job Description: Hard Skills

• Doit être capable de rester debout pendant de longues périodes et de soulever des objets lourds.
• Ils doivent constamment déplacer et stocker des articles lourds.
• Familiarité avec le service de barman et bar
• Ils s'arrêtent régulièrement derrière le site bar pour aider un client, qu'il s'agisse de prendre une commande ou de répondre à une question.
• Les connaissances de base en mixologie
• Any good barback will have a firm understanding of the different drinks being made and how they are prepared. This knowledge allows them to better prioritize tasks and take initiative when necessary.
• Connaître la sécurité des couteaux et avoir des compétences générales en matière de couteaux

Barback Job Description: Soft Skills

Good communication skills. Professionalism and excellent customer service skills are key to performing barbacks duties when interacting with both guests and other staff members. They should be able to understand and resolve any issues that may arise.

Ability to work independently or as part of a team: Because barbacks typically work independently and potentially in high-pressure situations, it's important that they're able to take initiative and work quickly.

Able to take charge when needed: There are times when a bar manager and bartender become too wrapped up in their own duties to communicate what they need help with, a good barback should be able to take the lead and be proactive in order to ensure that items are moved or tasks completed.

Organizational skills: A major part of a barback duties is making sure the stockroom, coolers, and liquor shelves are organized and up-to-date for the evening shift. They should be attentive to expiration dates and stock levels, to ensure the bar never runs out of drinks.

Flexibility: Barbacks should be prepared to work odd hours and on holidays. Availability is key in this role, as they are often the first ones in and last ones out of the bar each night. They need to be flexible with their schedule and able to adjust quickly when needed.

Comfortable taking orders: A bartender cannot do their job properly if they don't have a good barback. If a bartender requests menu items, they should be considered a top priority and fulfilled without hesitation.

Service skills: Barbacks need to be familiar with the drinks being served, so as to assist in any way necessary. They might have to help a bartender when they are overwhelmed or take an order if there is a long line. They also need to stay focused while working in loud and high-traffic environments, so as to provide the best service possible.

Ability to prioritize: A barback is responsible for keeping the bar stocked and organized, but sometimes they will get pulled away to take orders or answer questions. When this happens, it's important that they are able to do so without harming the quality of service your establishment provides.

How to Find the Ideal barback

Before you hire a barback, the most important quality to look for is whether they want to be promoted to a bartender position. This not only will make them work harder but also your best bartenders usually come from within the ranks. Additionally, check your state’s policies as they pertaining hiring this type of position as these laws differ by state.

Par exemple, dans certains États, l'âge minimum pour servir de l'alcool est de 18 ans, mais cette personne doit être sous la surveillance directe d'une personne de 21 ans ou plus présente sur les lieux où l'alcool sera consommé. La personne que vous engagez doit être titulaire d'un diplôme de fin d'études secondaires ou d'un GED, et il serait bon qu'elle puisse fournir des références.

Enfin, ils doivent connaître la configuration du site bar , comprendre les lois et règlements sur les boissons alcoolisées et posséder un permis de conduire valide au cas où de l'alcool devrait être transporté vers des lieux hors site. Ils doivent également posséder des compétences de base en mathématiques et comprendre les principes du service à la clientèle.

Barback Job Description Template

Barback responsibilities may range from stocking supplies to cleaning up the bartending area, to running menu items. The ideal candidate for a barback position should be able to highlight the necessary skills and qualifications needed to excel in this role on their resume.

To help you create a posting that attracts great candidates, we've provided a great barback job description template.

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Lieu : [Insérer le lieu]

Type d'emploi : [temps plein/temps partiel]

Rend compte à : [Insérer le nom de Bar Manager/Barman en chef]

Résumé du poste :

Le barback est chargé d'assister l'équipe de barmen dans tous les aspects du service bar , y compris la préparation et l'entretien de la zone bar , l'approvisionnement, et de veiller à ce que tous les clients vivent une expérience exceptionnelle. Il doit être capable de travailler efficacement dans un environnement en constante évolution, tout en conservant une attitude positive et un comportement professionnel.

Principales responsabilités :

• Assister les barmen dans la préparation et le service des boissons
• Veiller à ce que le site bar soit correctement approvisionné et entretenu tout au long du service.
• Nettoyer et polir la verrerie et les articles de bar
• Récupérer et réapprovisionner la bière, le vin, les spiritueux et les fournitures dans les zones de stockage.
• Maintenir la propreté et l'organisation de la zone bar , y compris laver la vaisselle et essuyer les surfaces.
• Respecter toutes les procédures de sécurité, d'hygiène et de manipulation des aliments.
• Aider aux tâches de fermeture, y compris le démontage et le nettoyage de la zone bar .
• Fournir un excellent service à la clientèle à tous les clients

Qualifications :

• Diplôme d'études secondaires ou équivalent
• Expérience préalable dans un bar ou un restaurant de préférence
• Knowledge of basic bar equipment and tools
• Capacité à travailler dans un environnement en évolution rapide et à gérer simultanément plusieurs tâches.
• Excellentes compétences en matière de communication et de service à la clientèle
• Capacité à soulever des objets lourds (jusqu'à 50 livres) et à rester debout pendant de longues périodes.
• Doit pouvoir travailler selon des horaires flexibles, y compris le soir, le week-end et les jours fériés.

Pour postuler à ce poste, veuillez soumettre un curriculum vitae et une lettre de motivation. Nous sommes un employeur qui souscrit au principe de l'égalité des chances et nous accueillons tous les candidats qualifiés.

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Barback Interview Questions

When hiring bar staff, you probably have a set of questions to gauge their personality and if they're fit for the job. But here are a few industry-specific questions to test your barback's commitment to the profession.

• Quels sont vos objectifs pour l'année prochaine ? Les cinq prochaines années ?
• Quels sont les aspects que vous appréciez le plus dans votre travail à bars?
• What are some of the reasons you want to become a barback?

Quels sont les moyens d'assurer le bon fonctionnement du site bar pendant une période de travail intense ?

• Seriez-vous prêt à obtenir une certification de serveur d'alcool ?

Barback training tips

Barback responsibilities can be quite complex and managing the bar area is no easy feat. So here are a few tips to help you train your current or new barback and ensure they can handle all that comes with the job.

As a bar manager, you are responsible for ensuring your staff knows your expectations and understands the basics of their role. Pair them up with an experienced bartender: This ensures that your barback has someone to go to if they have questions or need help.

Areas that barbacks need to be trained in are:

• Recettes de boissons alcoolisées, menus et mesures
• BarLe maintien du service
• Service à la clientèle
• Lois et règlements sur les boissons alcoolisées
• Organisation
• Sécurité et hygiène
• Utilisation du système POS

It is important to have a structured training plan in place that covers all these topics and more so barbacks can learn quickly and be ready to work. It’s also important to create an environment where they feel comfortable asking questions, giving feedback, and expressing any concerns they may have.

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See you ROI rise, with WISK's user-friendly inventory management software interface, barbacks can easily manage inventory, keep track of stock levels, and seamlessly communicate with bartenders and managers. WISK automates these processes, allowing barbacks to focus on ensuring a well-stocked bar and a smooth flow of service. The real-time insights provided by WISK empower bar backs to anticipate restocking needs, minimizing downtime, and helping the entire team operate more cohesively. Book a call now!