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Running Service

Practical guideIntermediate4 min readEditorial draft

How to stay calm and fast when the bar fills up: ticket order, economy of motion and communication.

✦ Ask the Sommelier

Read the whole ticket

Before touching a bottle, read the whole ticket and group. First what's slow and holds well (stirred drinks, crushed ice drinks), then shaken drinks, and last anything with sparkling wine or beer, which loses fizz.

Economy of motion

Every step you don't take is time saved. Grab two bottles at once, build several tins in a row, shake two drinks together if your technique allows.

  • Build cheapest ingredient to most expensive: mistakes cost less.
  • Ice goes in last, right before shaking.
  • Clean as you go, not at the end.

Communicate

Tell servers how long it'll be, ask for help before you go under, and confirm modifications out loud ('no salt', 'no sugar'). A mistake flagged early is a small mistake.

Key terms

Comanda
Written or printed order ticket.
In the weeds
Being overwhelmed by order volume.

Sources

  • The Bar Book by Jeffrey Morgenthaler
  • BARTENDER.MX Editorial

Updated October 20, 2026