I bartend in a craft beer bar in the French Quarter of uptown Charlotte. My bar is small, with four tables in the seating area and four seats at the actual bar. We have twenty beers on tap, along with two wines and a food menu filled with typical bar food, including hot dogs, burgers, nachos, and four different kinds of chili. We are young and unique, offering our clients a quiet setting, bereft of television's constantly playing sports. We have one TV which contains our tap list. The ambience is set with music and chatter. In this setting, I feel I have touched upon what bars were always meant to be about.
The intimate setting of my bar is ideal for the businessman to come through and enjoy an after-work beer with coworkers. There is no raucous babble or booming music. The atmosphere is quiet and settled. Many a happy hour I've spent pouring beer and serving food to the average joe, catching snippets of conversation about their work days.
I feel the bar I work at is exactly what a bar is meant to be. It is a place for fellowship and discussion. A place where you gather with friends, coworkers, family, and clients to enjoy each others' company amidst others doing the same. The alcohol is a tongue-loosener, giving you the freedom to express your opinions and feelings more openly.
Many bars in modern times encompass the "pick up" crowd. They serve to those who only look for sexual desire and lust. They provide avenues for sleazy men to slither their way up to unsuspecting victims in an attempt to take down their pants. They are loud, crowded, and musty, with overpriced drinks and entrance fees that rival tickets to a sporting event.
Though I don't particularly enjoy the allures of the modern bar, I can understand them. They are the fundamentals and traditions of bars expanded into huge arenas. They cater to the modern generation, who demand constant entertainment and attention. I too am a member of this generation, but I fail to see the pull of a nightclub as compared to a small, mellow gathering place.
Working in a traditional bar has given me the opportunity to meet a variety of people, from Charlotte and abroad. Through the conversations I have with these folk, I have gained valuable knowledge on what it takes to make it in the real world after college. I wouldn't have been able to have these conversations in a venue where interaction with customers is limited to ordering and payment. I appreciate the opportunity I have been given in my workplace and I wish to encourage those who also struggle to enjoy crowded clubs. Find a small bar, sit down, and enjoy the company you have around you. You'll find the rewards to be very beneficial.
