DEFINITION OF A "REGULAR".

What does it take to be considered "a regular" at a bar?

It's quite simple actually.  You go to that particular bar on a consistent basis.  You become familiar to the bartenders and staff at the bar, getting to know them by name.  You tip the bartenders.  You treat the place where you spend a lot of your time with respect.

And as a regular what do you get in return?  You get taken care of.  You get treated with respect.  You get looked after by the bar and its staff.  Whether it be through preferential seating,  first choice of TV selection/programming, buybacks, discounts on your bill, extra TLC if you find yourself "out of sorts" (i.e. drunk), the occasional set of tickets or invites to an event; Things that someone just off the street wouldn't get.  Regulars are valued at every bar because they make up the fabric of the bar-  and is a vital and important part of a bar's personality.  As a result, most bars are fiercely loyal to their regulars.

Now what happens when after you take care of a regular customer like you normally do, they complain?     What do you do with the individual who feels as if they weren't taken care of enough?   Even after they had been taken care of nicely by the bar to begin with?  And after you've "taken care of them", they still bitch about their bill, in essence- accusing you of padding their bill, while conveniently ignoring the fact that they had a bevy of groupies enjoying drinks and shots on their tab throughout the night?  Then to add insult to injury, leaving a paltry tip to display their displeasure for not being "taken care of" enough?  I mean, really,  How much is enough? So once again, how do you deal with someone like that?

Simple:  You don't take care of them anymore.

When you want to play the role of "high roller" by buying drinks for your friends and the additional folks that come and go throughout the night, then calling out the bar staff by bitching about the bill at the end of the night, it accomplishes one thing: You've now established yourself as "That Guy". And not in a good way.  Just because you are afforded the status of regular and the perks that comes with it doesn't give you the right to dictate the terms of the perks.  Bartenders have good memories and they never forget.

Again, we value our customers, especially our regulars.  However, keep in mind that at the end of the day, this is still a business and there's only so much we can give.  And if that isn't enough for you, then maybe you should find another place to play and see if you'll be afforded the same treatment that you got here. And if you do, so be it.  No harm, no foul.


Moral of the story:  Don't be "That Guy".  And don't look a gift horse in the mouth.


Cheers!