Been a bartender more of my life then I havent at this point. Bartended 1st for my cousin Gary Gutenberger at the bar I now own when it was called Garys Seldom Inn. It was mostly a beer and shot kind of bar. My next job bartending was at a lake resort in stoughton which is where I really learned how to bartend. Bloody Marys from scratch. Hand muddled old fashioned and ice cream drinks, martinis, gimlets, manhattans, any cocktail you can dream of and lots you couldnt. Dozens of beers and wines i had never heard of. Illinois tourists and big big tips. $100 nights were the norm. Then I worked a little red neck joint just outside of Madison, then a biker bar right next to the CC riders clubhouse. My boss was named Tiny, the 67,ex enforcer for that club. Thats where a bar owner who I had told I wanted to own my own place told me to work for as many different types of places and owners and learn what I wanted to do and what I didnt from all of them. I bartended banquets/weddings at a couple different hotels and then I got a job as General Manager of the Lodi Bowl. I learned management was no where as fun as bartending. But I got to hire my good friend Terrie Opelt who was real popular cuz she was pretty darn cute! :) Then I ended up going to Stout and bartending at The Office just off the lake. Worked at a supper club on outskirts briefly and then ended up at Jerichos in the best western. We had comedy every Friday and it was 1 of my favorite jobs. Then I filled in at Good Time Charlies while waiting for sale of The Teepee room to go thru and since The Office in Menomonie had changed names asked my former boss if she minded if I called my bar The Office. She gave me her old sign. Well after 5 years I went back to school and moved around trying different towns and schools. Truth is at that time I was more into volleyball and drinking then school. I worked at Post road Pub in Plover and the holiday inn in Stevens Point. Was there for state democrat banquet. Crappy tippers. I worked 3 country jams and 1 time up the hill at sportsmans club when they still had camping. Probably the best single night of tips I ever made and thats not counting the best body shots I ever got to do. Carl Westermann thanks for that job and do u still have pictures of me doing shots off her...... :) Then Lacrosse where I worked at Ringside/Coconut Joes. Octoberfest there was hands down the busiest/insanest place I ever worked except maybe after The Bucks and hockey games let out when I worked across from where they played in downtown Milwaukee. But eventually I had to grow up and finish school and get a real job. So about 6 years no bartending before I opened up Bucks Bar and came back to Neillsville. I love my bar and my patrons but sometimes I feel bad that they never got to see me at my best behind the bar. Ive forgotten how to make 10 times more drinks then I remember. I can haul ass once in awhile but not like once did. But truth is as cool as I think Bucks is its not a nightclub or supper club and i dont need to be that guy and what Ive lost in skill I make up for in good looks! Wine, Shaun Connery, and me.....we all get better with age. :)
Posted on: Sat, 03 May 2014 10:37:03 +0000
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