Here are photos of the typical barman.

The barman’s required dress code is typically in accordance with the style of the bartenders.    These dress standards range from completely casual (without any given dress code) to a formal black tie and tuxedo uniform.  In most cases, wear requirements will depend on the bar and its clientele.  A sports bar attracts a more casual attire.  In these businesses, the usual staff attire is t-shirt and jeans.

Hotel lobby bars are more upscale.  Workers tend to dress formal to match the guests who arrive on business.   Expect to find barmen in dress shirts and dress pants, and sometimes in a suit.

Restaurant bars usually have their barmen wear the restaurant uniform.  This can be a polo shirt with slacks, a t-shirt with jeans or even formal wear.  The attire here will vary based on the classiness of the institution.    More often than not, restaurants require barmen to dress in the same style as servers.

ARE BARMEN MOSTLY MALE OR FEMALE?

While data strongly suggests more females enter the bartending industry than men, there has been no indication that females occupy most jobs.  Initially, a barman was usually a position filled by a man; hence the name “barman.”

These days, women, or “bar-women,” are more active in the workforce.  There is no clear reliable statistic yet showing that men still outnumber women in this position.  Young females, working behind the bar, can be more profitable for a bar serving mostly single men.

On the same token, a bar catering to mostly women benefits more when attractive men are on staff.  (Albeit, cases who’d “mostly-women” bars are usually uncommon.”). Gay bars can benefit from male barmen or bartenders, even if the employee is straight.

IS THE DEMAND FOR BARBACKS INCREASING?

(Search amount of jobs)

As automation takes over the workplace, we are seeing an increasing amount of machines take the place of “human” workers.  In recent times, it is not surprising to place a food order on a touchscreen kiosk at McDonalds.

While machines have not yet replaced bartenders and barmen, it is an increasing concern of the industry.

Some bartenders have been replaced by computers.

In Las Vegas, a machine automated bar is completely staffed by computers.  Ordering is done on a kiosk.  Clientele are able to order one of 199 drinks.  While the machine stocks the glasses refills it’s liquor reserves, there is no barman.

Automation and AI are true threats to the future of barmen.  There will be fewer jobs in the future.   A consensus has not been formed by the industry on when exactly computers will overtake a majority of the industry.

It is clear that there will always be a demand for human service in bars.   Clients crave personalization, emotion and connection, and these conditions can only exist in “real” human life—for now.

It seems that any large leap in computerized automation of bar service is still 10-15+ years in the future.

Right now, most bar owners seek to maximize efficiency.  Any busy bar today can benefit from hiring barmen.  The result of such hiring brings the bar a larger bottom line.  This is due to cost savings or the ability to reduce bartenders in the presence of barmen.

WHAT ESTABLISHMENTS DON’T HIRE BARBACKS?

Barmen are not always needed.  In some situations, barmen are useless.   Every bar decides for itself, the order threshold for employing a barman.  Optimizing the operation depends on the types of drinks primarily served in the facility.   For example, beer orders take less time to serve than a “Sex on the Beach” cocktail.   However, if there are less than 15 or 20 drinks ordered per hour, there is often no need for a barman.

When one bartender has sufficient time to manage all of their orders and complete all additional bar tasks, the presence of a barman is foolish.

Occasionally, restaurants avoid hiring barmen but utilize non-bar staff to help fulfill the duties.  For example, a restaurant’s wait staff may have periods of downtime.  In this rest, servers sometimes handle barmen responsibilities.   After acquiring experience, food workers are from time-to-time asked to transition to a “barman” from a “waiter.”    This is typically when the bar’s orders surpass business from the kitchen.   Many barmen and bartenders today started working in the drink industry after a job in food service due to this situation.

Barman income

Will a barman earn as much as a bartender?

The earnings of a barman depend on each company’s internal payment structure.   To answer this question, tips and hourly pay must be considered.

CAN A BARMAN EARN TIPS?

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible for a barman and bartender to earn the same amount of tips.  It is a common assumption that more tips will be taken home by bartenders and servers than by barmen.   After all, clients usually tip these staff members directly.   Even if a client is aware of a barman’s involvement, a barman will not usually receive the same amount directly from a client.

A barman can receive the same amount of tips as a bartender (or in rare cases more tips) when institutions divide tips equally amongst staff.   This is becoming a more common practice in the 21st century.

Tips to barmen are occasionally is at the discretion of the bartenders.  In this case, bartenders pay barmen out of their own tips.   Larger tip amounts are often shared on busier shifts.  Smaller tip earnings can come to barmen on the tail-end of a slow night.   In many institutions, bartenders are solely responsible for determining this amount paid to barmen.

Other companies require staff to contribute all direct tips to a “tipping pool.”   This pool is then divided amongst workers at the end of each shift.    Each role receives a fixed tip rate in this case.

CAN BARMEN EARN S HIGHER SALARY THAN BARTENDERS?

The salary question is a complicated question to answer.   First of all, most service staff are paid an hourly rate nowadays.    The answer to who earns more or less depends on the state, and sometimes the business.   In the United States, state jurisdictions set minimum hourly rates for service workers.   With the exception of California and a few other states, most states reduce minimum wages for food and drink service.   The reason is these states expect workers to earn part of their income from tips.

Barmen earn a higher hourly rate than bartenders when there’s not an opportunity for the barmen to earn or share in the tips.  It should be noted that after tips and hourly earning, bartenders generally earn more than barmen.

As a result, many barmen work their way up to bartender.

Do female barmen earn less than their male counterparts?   I read in the news, most women make less money than men for the same work.

There are many factors that determine total take home pay.   Among these factors, are time off, shifts worked, and responsibilities.   It is well known that men are more likely to work in jobs that are detrimental to health.  Overnight “third shift” work is no exception to this.  In these cases, men earn more than their female counterparts.

Women working in the nightlife industry are often in their 20’s.  This is a common age for child bearing.  Due to pregnancy leave and motherhood responsibilities, women’s pay can be also affected.

While reputable data is unclear for comparing barmen and female barmen earnings,  it is possible to speculate that the average total female barmen income is slightly lower for the aforementioned reasons.

Whether there are hiring biases or different pay levels are right or wrong will not be discussed here.  Plenty of political forums exist for pay wage gap arguments.

Do Barbacks make drinks?

WHEN IS BARBACKING ILLEGAL?

In some countries and states, a barback must meet a minimum age requirement to work behind the bar.  Some states require barbacks to be or drinking age or close to 21 years old.  Other states and countries have no retrictions limiting minors’ direct handling of alcohol.

A 19 or 20-year-old barback can earn an invaluable experience that will one day help him or her become a bartender when laws allow.

HOW OLD EXACTLY DO I NEED TO BE?

Make sure to check your local alcohol serving laws before hiring a new barback. While the legal drinking age is 21 in the United States, barbacks and even bartenders can be under 21 depending on your state’s on-premise alcohol serving laws. In Colorado, the age to serve alcohol is 18, while in Washington it’s 21. Some states place conditions on bartenders or barbacks under 21 years of age, requiring that a manager or supervisor age 21 or older be present when the person is tending bar, or that the bartender under 21 take special beverage server training.

Under the Licensing Act 2003 children can work in pubs and restaurants: they can wait on tables, collect glasses, clear tables and take orders from customers.

• In California, minors between 18 and 21 can serve alcohol in a “bona fide public eating place,” but minors can’t be employed in any place which primarily serves booze — like a bar or club (unless they’re musicians). So an underage staffer serving margaritas at Chili’s would be OK, but not at a local nightclub — unless the staffer is with the band.
• In Texas, almost any 18-year-old is allowed to be employed as an alcohol server, as long as that minor employee has completed alcohol server/seller training. There are a variety of training courses available throughout the state, and many are provided online.
• In Nebraska, servers need to be at least 19 years of age in order to sell and serve alcohol, but only 16 to handle and dispose of alcohol containers. This means a 19-year-old can bartend and a 16 year-old-can haul full and empty liquors bottles to and from a Nebraska bar.
• In Utah, bartenders and liquor store clerks need to be 21 in order to legally sell or serve booze in Utah. But a 16-year-old can sell beer at an off-premise location as long as he or she is supervised by someone 21 or over.

The Minimum Age for Bartending in On-premises Establishments by State

Minimum Age To ServeMinimum Age To BartendManager or
Supervisor
Must Be
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City/County Specific Requirements

In addition to each state’s laws on minors serving alcohol, business owners should be aware of their local jurisdiction’s laws on alcohol servers. For example, an employer may be operating in a dry or semi-dry county with more stringent rules than the state regarding alcohol serving age.

This intersection of state and local alcohol laws can be confusing. That’s why bar and restaurant owners hoping to hire a minor to serve alcohol may want to contact an attorney familiar with state and local laws first.

CAN INTROVERTS BE A BARBACK?

Barbacks don’t have too much interaction with customers, so this is ideal if you’re an introvert. They get a regular base wage—usually, hourly—that’s supplemented by a portion of the bartender’s tips.