[Iso]

I hear a lot about the importance of "locking" up the club. Getting friendly with the bartenders/bouncers/owners/etc so that you get free drinks in the future. Can anyone who has done give me examples of what they did and what the conversations were like to lock these places up? Did it require you giving a lot in tips?

[TornadoByProxy]

It depends on the place. Sometimes it's just going there often when it is slow and getting to know the people who work there. Learning their names, what they are into, who they date. Having a smoke with them sometimes. Then of course, always leaving a good tip at the end. Pretty much making friends with them so they treat you like a friend when it is busy.

If you're looking to get the hot new club on lockdown, then you're going to have to pay. Everyone working there is new so there is no loyalty. They don't know how long it's going to work out so they're out for quick cash. And since it's new, every outsider is trying to find an in. So it's an arms race you'd better be able to afford.

[PapayaTapper]

If your objective in getting a place "locked down" is free drinks... youre doing it wrong...but that can be a side affect

What it "looks like" is being treated like a friend / celebrity when you go there. Being treated well by others sends the "this guy has good dick" message on your behalf to your intended (hopefully) audience: vaginanimals aka chixes.

Plus it just makes the experience of going out more pleasant when you dont have to wait in line, or for a drink, etc.

I actually had a bartender who would save me seats at the bar no matter how crowded the place got. All I had to do was call/text her. Eventually it where I would go there with a buddy or date eat and drink all night and get a tab for $8 (of course Id then tip her $50+) for what would have been $200+. Works for both of us

It takes time and yes you need to tip really well but it does payoff

[MikeInRealLife]

I have several bars on lock here in Phoenix, though I'm not a clubgoer so I can't speak to that. But getting a bar on lock boils down to a few things:

- Regularity. You have to show up there consistently. Friday night I dropped into one of my regular spots just to show my face and do some maintenance, because I hadn't been there in a couple of weeks. Chatted up the two bartenders and a manager with no expectations. Like TornadoByProxy mentioned, it doesn't hurt to go in when it's slow. That's when you can actually have a decent convo.

- Tip well. You don't have to extravagant -- I hear bartenders and servers gripe about shitty tips constantly -- but you do need to set yourself apart from the catty happy hour typists who squabble over every cent, and the cheap fucks who tip 10%. Assuming no comped drinks, I usually tip about 25%. If I do get free drinks, I make sure to tip on the value of those, as well. Remember that you probably won't miss a few extra dollars, but the bartender will recognize you as a solid tipper.

- Get to know the bartenders, servers, etc. Different bar Friday night, I had a funny convo with one bartender about his crazy roommate, and talked to the other about his golf game (he's semi-pro). Another bar that night (I was barhopping) I listened to the bartender moan about her car troubles. The thing is, these folks usually have a finely-tuned sense of bullshit. You have to be genuine in your interest. They'll usually know it if you're just trying to get free drinks. I've hung out with some of the cool ones outside their bars, including an absolutely smoking hot Hooters bartender, and a server who is a part-time model/actress and a full-time legit 9.

It definitely pays to have places on lock. Three bars on Friday night, and here's what happened:

Bar 1 - Higher-end place with good wines and snooty cocktails. Half off all my drinks, and that meant half off the cheap happy hour prices. Stayed for two hours and left with a nice buzz for $21 plus tip.
Bar 2 - Irish pub emphasizing beer and whiskey. Got two free Jameson rocks. Paid for two beers, so $8.
Bar 3 - Sports bar right after the Diamondbacks game. Got two shots and two beers free, plus I already get 15% off. Six drinks and the bill was $7.

Generous tips at all, of course.

One of the funniest things now is the looks on the faces of other bar patrons who don't have the places on lock. I'll go in when it's three deep at the bar and just wave to the bartender. They already know what I drink, so it just appears for me. Other people waiting will be all "WTF?" and I just smile at them.

[Stakes Is High]

as a past bartender, I always recognized people who i had a prior conversation with, especially those that habitually left more juice at the end. they get priority service. then there are those that i recognize to be high maintenance or shitty tippers, they get pushed down my list of priorities.

One instance. guy comes in often, super cool dude who owns a printing shop. he first always has a stella, then a high end cabernet. his wife? a mint mojito. The second I saw them enter, even if they werent at the bar, id send these over. when at the bar 30%+ always. usually gets the stella on the house and a fat pour on the wine. he once had a party of 8 over in the dining. i sent his and his wife's drinks as normal before the server was even there. he threw me $30 for that.

Other times a group of 4/6 would always come in, always had the same cocktails, always good conversation. I'd make their drinks and would always reserve space for them in the bar lounge. If they came in, the second I saw them, get to work on their cocktails. Why ?Easy no maintenance and 25%.

Other dude, old, fat, balding, but one hell of a story to tell. He'd come in when busy. Pour him a Angels Envy old fashioned + burning of the orange zest for theatrics then spend 3 minutes just straight shootin the shit. Whoever was around him would them engage him or inquire something about him. Why? He came in and I dropped everyone to help dude out. He'd eventually have 6-7 drinks and then skate off on his harley.

[Sebastian]

When I was in college, I thought it was cool to walk in to the club passing the lines, bartender gives what you drink first than other people and shit.

Now when I think about it, those things are really stupid.

If you patronize a certain bar regularly and get to know people there, nothing is wrong with that.

But I wouldn't try to invest your time and money to get to know the staffs. You wouldn't consider to be friends with them in real life anyways.

I would just pay for my drinks like an average human being and wouldn't try to act friendly to them so I can get some free things out of it.
(there are more situations where you would have to kiss someone's ass to get deals in life. I would rather worry about those)

[arafat scarf]

(07-09-2017 11:28 AM)Iso Wrote:  

I hear a lot about the importance of "locking" up the club.

Here's how I do it.