[DVY]

I pre-grease a lot of places esp high end restaurant bars.

I'll ask the bartender his name and tip a 20 upfront. Yea it seems like a lot, but if he comps 2-3 drinks out of 5-6. Then tip around the same after to lock him in. Its a worthwhile investment.

Then when you come back you just tip a fat tip at the end depending on the hookup.

I've gotten upwards of 20 drinks free (tab 8 dollars), then tipped 40 buxs.

If its just me and a girl having 2-3 drinks each, I just drop 25 tip on a 8 tab.

Bartender have a lot of power over the check.

[MrXY]

That's an excellent point. Being a regular and good tipper not only gets you better service and social proof, it also gets you free drinks, bigger drinks and stronger drinks, so it's not as expensive as it seems since you are getting more for your money.

What the bartender is doing is diverting some of the money that would go to the house as drink revenue into his own pocket. Both you and he understand this. For newbies- this is a tacit agreement that should never be verbalized.

[PapayaTapper]

Yep...tipping well and getting on the bartender's good side is a great investment.

There was a female bartender at one of my regular favorite spots that treated me like a king until she left to get a "real job" unfortunately when she turned 25. I'd text her in advance if I was going to go and she'd actually save a couple of bar stools for me. She'd get the kitchen to cook off menu for me. She'd even introduce me to chicks that she knew (I banged a couple). She was actually really cool.

At the end of the night I'd get a $12 tab (for two people) that should of been at least $100 I'd (or we when it was with a buddy) tip her $30-40. It was great while it lasted.

I've got a couple other local bartenders on the good side and they treat me well..so I tip them well. Haven't had one of them hand me tail yet like she did though, so now that I think about it I may need to make another investment

[DonnyGately]

Treat the bartenders and staff well is like Rule #1 of going out a lot. If over half the workers there wouldn't immediately have your back if something came up, you're doing it wrong. [for your places on lock, not some place you only go every month or less.]