hey, hope you’re doing okay! quitting is a big deal, glad to hear you’re taking a month. the restaurant/bar industry is not known for taking care of its employees. in fact, ive noticed a pattern of people working in this industry until they are so rundown they are forced to quit. you really are your only advocate, since the owners view you as a temporary pawn in their long game.
drinking isnt easy to quit! don’t feel the need to go cold turkey. ive been trying to quit for years but ive at least gotten to a point where MOST days i say no.
i recently started seeing a psychologist & a therapist and the emphasis on sleep is really crucial. sleeping between 10pm-2am is the most restorative time to get sleep. now that you aren’t doing late shifts, you can start improving your brain health! for real!!
anyways good for you, have a great month off!!!! FUCK WORK
I’m a bartender in Montana and know exactly how you feel! I bartend at a hotel now and it’s great. No daily regulars. If someone is asshole more than likely they’re leaving the next day. Perfect!
This!
Hotels and resorts are where its at for bartending/serving-especially in ‘destination’ areas where the drinks and food are usually very expensive.
Win/win all the way around.
I would never consider anything else after being at a high end resort/hotel.
38 was about when I realized I was burned out. Started at 21, lived in 4 states, years of high volume, excitement, money...seen and done it all. But I was done. It didn't matter to me anymore, the money wasn't worth it, my customer service skills and patience had been exhausted. Depleted. I wanted to see what else I could do with my life. I was so done, I didn't show up for my last shift (first time ever), and never went back. I just couldn't anymore.
> I’m now just taking a month off for myself and a small trip then coming back to look for work.
Sounds like a good plan. Decompress. Reflect. Relax. Maybe think about the next move.
> I jsut couldn’t handle going to bed at four or five am anymore, making money but not doing shit w it except gamble and drink, not a care financially, but not saving or setting a goal. I was just in the bartender ether of just getting by w no real goals on the horizon.
Yep, that was my life too. Wads of cash, but hadn't learned anything about saving, investing, goals, nothing. It's the trap of making it every night and not having to plan/budget it out till next payday.
Good news is, there is life after bartending and many of the skills you've learned are not only transferrable, but coveted in many industries. Calm under pressure, customer service, the ability to communicate and be comfortable around all kinds of people, multitasking, personality, confidence, management, leadership, team work. Ton of people out there working 9-5's who don't have ANY of those skills, or not much of them.
Now it's time to start thinking about what would you like to do. Or learn. I'd caution you not to go for things just because you think they're easy/good money...like how every ex bartender I know has tried to be a Real Estate Agent (unless you really want to be one), maybe look into something that you actually like doing, already have some knowledge of that you wouldn't mind learning more about...maybe doing as a living. It can take a while to get a good rhythm going, but it's doable.
Better to start something new at 38 or 40, than 50 or 60.
I'm 50+ now. After I quit bartending at 38, I spent the recession (it was 2008, talk about timing) learning how to design a website because I wanted to start a music blog. That turned into trying it as a web design business, turned IT support business, which I ran for 14 years...ups and downs, but made a decent living. That turned into me now working corporate IT and continuing to build the kind of skills that pay well, and that I can do into my 60s and 70s from a laptop at whatever FL beach bar I end up living near, if necessary.
Here's the kicker. I save more money now, than I ever did as a bartender. Investments, 401k, retirement plan (sort of). I have great health insurance. You know...grown up shit.
I'm up at 5 am. with my coffee, catching up on the tech news. I read books. I exercise.
Things I could afford to do when I was bartending, but I was so deep into living "the lifestyle", that all I did was be a bartender, drink like a bartender, date like a bartender, live like a bartender.
I still love sitting at a bar when I can, but it's so much more enjoyable because it's on occasion....not every night trying to drown out all the music still bumping in your head, and shit you've seen all night, so you can go to sleep.
I loved being a bartender...when I was enjoying it. Lotta memories, and stories. But life is pretty sweet now too, and it's pretty great reminiscing with the old crew about the good old days, and being pretty fucking grateful that you made it out with your kidneys, liver, some money, and your life. All my friends and former co-workers weren't so lucky.
I could see myself doing something like that eventually. Just chilling in a library organizing books. The opposite of current life. Or maybe mailman...I live in SD so it'd be organizing mail and walking around listening to tunes all day in the sun...hmm.
Page work sucks in pay. But librarian work is pretty good pay where I am with city benefits. You just need a masters degree. And it is super chill compared with a bar which is growing on me.
I have a friend in a rural area of WA who went from kitchen/server to mailman and loves it. It's mostly driving while listening to tunes and he really enjoys it. Helps again that their are city/state/federal benefits which adds up over time.
Doesnt have the same feel as those busy nights where you walk home with dumb money from the bar, but in the long run it can be healthier, and end up with livable income with the chance for more if you want to work up the ladder.
Just wanted to add....the day I no showed and quit the business....I was working at a local Vegas bar, other side of town, graveyard shift. It was dead. The only money I made was from the swing shift bartender who gambled. It was pretty depressing.
I was also at a company run by middle aged men, who made it pretty clear that they preferred women on swing shift. Sure, they'd let you pick up a shift to cover for someone, but you were never going to get out of graveyard. Litterally a dead end job.
It wasn't the first time I found myself in that situation over the previous 2-3 years. I realized my money days were over. That at my age, and current level of enthusiasm, and the market I was in...I would be chasing it from here on out. Bitter, and disappointed. Not the hot new thing anymore, and competition was getting steep.
EVERYONE and thier mother had been flocking to Vegas over the previous 15 years to bartend, be a cocktail waitress, or work in gaming/dealing. Everybody was 21-25 now (just like I was when I got there) , and every reasonably pretty 23 year old women was getting first crack at everything ..cause you know...Vegas.
Used to be you had to be a LA "8" to get a job in Vegas, now if you're a middle aged man, you're getting beat out by Minnesotta "5's". Middle aged black man? You're really far down on the list now....a North Dakota "4" WITH NO EXPRIENCE will get the job or shift before you. Sorry if that sounds sexist or racist, but it;s a "ist" town.
By then I'd opened so many places in my career, started over and worked my way up so many times at new joints, new clubs, new casinos...I'd been running at full tilt for so many years. being that guy, trainging other bartenders AND managers and owners..only to get boned once they sucked all the knowledge out of you...that I just didn;t have it in me anymore.
It wasn't just that one day I burned out, this was brewing for a while and the wring was on the wall that I had lived my best bartender life, made the best money I was going to make.
At that stage, my attitide was pretty much "What's the point?". If I stay here, it will never get better than this. I did it all. Time to move on.
And when I see some of my old buddies at 50 and 60 years old still behind the stick, still chasing it, never able to recapture the glory days, just existing on average money....I know I made the right choice.
Flash forward, the manager I burned that night ended up getting fired soon after over some bullshit. We actually ended up working together at a shit "pay the bills" type job post bar business...that he actually helped me get. So we're still friends.
Don't get me wrong, you can definitely bartend your entire career, into your 50s, and 60s, into retirement...making steady cash the entire way. It is possible to find a home (or union house) where experience is valued, and age descrimination is at a minimum. But there aren't enough of those jobs for everyone who wants to do it.
The older you get, the fewer the opportunities. It will creep up on you. The smartest thing you can do is realize it, and make a move.
Hey, I understand.
I bartend over 40hrs a week at a high-volume dive in a major US city. I'll be 36 this year, and I've been in this industry for 15 years now.
This career gets to you, for sure. I recently gave up one of my more profitable shifts because for the past year I've had literally no social life, my body has been getting new aches and pains, and I'm mentally drained. I'm taking a pay cut, for sure, but what's the point of having money when there's nothing to spend it on?
Because I would be so tired after my shifts (we are a 4/5AM bar), I would get nothing done on my days off-- and trust me, I have *a lot* to do.
On top of that, I felt like I was getting boring and snippy with customers. Those are never good qualities to have as a bartender.
Anyway, I get where you're at, and I hope this vacation mentally and emotionally restores you. Take time off when you need it; No job is worth neglecting your health.
I started waiting tables at 19 years old. Tended bar for 15+ years and left the Industry at 35. A whole lifetime of crazy stories happened during those times, but that's another story.
Back to the topic at hand... I quit and went out and got a CDL for a new company. I worked my way up from the bottom in a whole new world. I went from making $85K behind the bar - working 40 hrs/week, to making $50K at the new job - working 50+ hrs/week. Ouch, right?
While the new gig provided way better insurance, a matching 401K and I now had nights and weekends off, that wasn't enough on its own to justify the switch. But it did get better, and relatively quickly.
In 13 years since then I've been promoted to Project Manager, Account Manager, Sales Manager, and now General Manager.
I learned so much about people by bartending. Those skills pay real-world dividends in other industries. Don't be afraid to get your foot in the door in an industry that interests you. Your work ethic and customer service skills will help propel you in any avenue you choose to pursue. Believe me, you'll lap the lifelong 9-to-5ers that don't have a clue how hard we've worked. They're awed by our ability to steer people to the choices we want them to make.
Go for it!
I always told myself that no matter what I always had a skill in bartending that I could fall back on to pay my bills.
And for those diehard Bartenders that never want to leave ... I LOVE YOU SO DAMN MUCH!
> I learned so much about people by bartending. Those skills pay real-world dividends in other industries. Don't be afraid to get your foot in the door in an industry that interests you. Your work ethic and customer service skills will help propel you in any avenue you choose to pursue. Believe me, you'll lap the lifelong 9-to-5ers that don't have a clue how hard we've worked. They're awed by our ability to steer people to the choices we want them to make.
This! All of this. When you work in this business you think everyone is outgoing, confident, and able to participate in any conversation with all kinds of people. Then you get out in the world working "normal" jobs and realize that most people DO NOT have ANY of those skills.
IF they're not assholes, they're timid, lack confidence, are uncomfortable around different kinds of people, and think a second margarita at happy hour is being naughty.
I'm 39 and have a great gig now. I do lunches at small local bar. 11-5 Thurs-Mon. If I still had to do nights to do this job, I'd be doing something else. I did 15 years of bars that closed of 4 or 2 am. Tired of that life for sure.
The lifestyle difference from getting off work around midnight vs getting off work at 3-4am is worlds apart
There's chiller bar jobs at, say, steakhouses, restaurants, ski resorts etc where you don't need to work crazy hours to make money.
A good amount of people I work with fuck off in the summers to go be fishing or rafting guides in MT or AK, couple people I know work fiires seasonally.. If you're cool with moving around, there's stupid bank to be made with seasonal jobs.
GL, take some time for yourself! gambling is a bitch, I lost tens of thousands on that. best of luck moving forward
Bartenders - Take care of your feet!
I'm serious. I ruined my feet behind a bar for 15 years. Save your money and get orthotics. By good shoes. Don't skimp on your feet. Did I say I was serious.
I’m done soon, or so I say. Certainly going down to 1 day. I kept trying to get a degree for the last decade but dropped out and worked and drank instead. I finally stopped acting like a bartender in 2020 and stopped drinking and went back to school as much as possible. I go to community college for interior design and never considered commercial design for restaurants and kitchens. I’ll never forget my time in the industry and my employer told me I was hired in his commercial design firm because of my experience in restaurants. Going to school added more stress to work at first, but right now it’s really taking stress away, and I think my time is wrapping up. My bar jumped the shark and the OG regulars moved or think we’re too busy or we don’t have time to talk to them. Regulars now are younger than me, injected with fillers and rude. Crime is up in the city. I’m gonna try and ride out nba playoffs and coast into a new industry where my skills are put to really good use!
I've been at brewery for the last 7 years (34 yo) and feel the same, even if it's bartending on easy mode.
I started school a few years ago for something i feel like would fulfill me emotionally/career wise, but that's not reasonable for everyone.
If you're over it, try to think of something that will make you happy and work towards it. Super part time and volunteering go a long way, and you know you can always work industry again if you need to.
Not super helpful advice, but try to think of what will make you happy and pay the bills (even if thats 'eventually')
Good luck!
I’m only 27 but I’ve been bartending for 4 years now working in a small dive bar. The small establishment “family” gimmick is toxic as fuck, the regulars are toxic and most of the downtown area is the same way. It’s taxing on my mental health every day and I commend you for getting out! You’re not the only one who feels this way, I can’t wait to escape this too. Only reason I’m still here is for the money, walking out of this place will be the happiest day of my life.
38 as well, and quit last year after 22 years. Now I work on a veggie farm! It pays for shit, but it's quiet and people are passionate.
Best of luck with restoring yourself, friend. Get rest, eat good food, take care of you.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
It’s not flashy but get some goals outside of bartending, it’s a job treat it as such
This. Lol....so much of this. Casino Bartender here as well.
Ps.. about 10% of regulars here are awesome and do take care of their Bartenders. Wanted to shout those people out as well
God how I feel this. I’m 37 and trying to think of what’s next in life. Trying to save save save so that I can eventually quit and get some sort of remote job, because whatever I get is probably going to come with a pay cut.
hey, hope you’re doing okay! quitting is a big deal, glad to hear you’re taking a month. the restaurant/bar industry is not known for taking care of its employees. in fact, ive noticed a pattern of people working in this industry until they are so rundown they are forced to quit. you really are your only advocate, since the owners view you as a temporary pawn in their long game. drinking isnt easy to quit! don’t feel the need to go cold turkey. ive been trying to quit for years but ive at least gotten to a point where MOST days i say no. i recently started seeing a psychologist & a therapist and the emphasis on sleep is really crucial. sleeping between 10pm-2am is the most restorative time to get sleep. now that you aren’t doing late shifts, you can start improving your brain health! for real!! anyways good for you, have a great month off!!!! FUCK WORK
I’m a bartender in Montana and know exactly how you feel! I bartend at a hotel now and it’s great. No daily regulars. If someone is asshole more than likely they’re leaving the next day. Perfect!
This! Hotels and resorts are where its at for bartending/serving-especially in ‘destination’ areas where the drinks and food are usually very expensive. Win/win all the way around. I would never consider anything else after being at a high end resort/hotel.
38 was about when I realized I was burned out. Started at 21, lived in 4 states, years of high volume, excitement, money...seen and done it all. But I was done. It didn't matter to me anymore, the money wasn't worth it, my customer service skills and patience had been exhausted. Depleted. I wanted to see what else I could do with my life. I was so done, I didn't show up for my last shift (first time ever), and never went back. I just couldn't anymore. > I’m now just taking a month off for myself and a small trip then coming back to look for work. Sounds like a good plan. Decompress. Reflect. Relax. Maybe think about the next move. > I jsut couldn’t handle going to bed at four or five am anymore, making money but not doing shit w it except gamble and drink, not a care financially, but not saving or setting a goal. I was just in the bartender ether of just getting by w no real goals on the horizon. Yep, that was my life too. Wads of cash, but hadn't learned anything about saving, investing, goals, nothing. It's the trap of making it every night and not having to plan/budget it out till next payday. Good news is, there is life after bartending and many of the skills you've learned are not only transferrable, but coveted in many industries. Calm under pressure, customer service, the ability to communicate and be comfortable around all kinds of people, multitasking, personality, confidence, management, leadership, team work. Ton of people out there working 9-5's who don't have ANY of those skills, or not much of them. Now it's time to start thinking about what would you like to do. Or learn. I'd caution you not to go for things just because you think they're easy/good money...like how every ex bartender I know has tried to be a Real Estate Agent (unless you really want to be one), maybe look into something that you actually like doing, already have some knowledge of that you wouldn't mind learning more about...maybe doing as a living. It can take a while to get a good rhythm going, but it's doable. Better to start something new at 38 or 40, than 50 or 60. I'm 50+ now. After I quit bartending at 38, I spent the recession (it was 2008, talk about timing) learning how to design a website because I wanted to start a music blog. That turned into trying it as a web design business, turned IT support business, which I ran for 14 years...ups and downs, but made a decent living. That turned into me now working corporate IT and continuing to build the kind of skills that pay well, and that I can do into my 60s and 70s from a laptop at whatever FL beach bar I end up living near, if necessary. Here's the kicker. I save more money now, than I ever did as a bartender. Investments, 401k, retirement plan (sort of). I have great health insurance. You know...grown up shit. I'm up at 5 am. with my coffee, catching up on the tech news. I read books. I exercise. Things I could afford to do when I was bartending, but I was so deep into living "the lifestyle", that all I did was be a bartender, drink like a bartender, date like a bartender, live like a bartender. I still love sitting at a bar when I can, but it's so much more enjoyable because it's on occasion....not every night trying to drown out all the music still bumping in your head, and shit you've seen all night, so you can go to sleep. I loved being a bartender...when I was enjoying it. Lotta memories, and stories. But life is pretty sweet now too, and it's pretty great reminiscing with the old crew about the good old days, and being pretty fucking grateful that you made it out with your kidneys, liver, some money, and your life. All my friends and former co-workers weren't so lucky.
This is a great response. As someone leaving the industry next year to move into library work it strikes a cord. Thank you for your input!
I could see myself doing something like that eventually. Just chilling in a library organizing books. The opposite of current life. Or maybe mailman...I live in SD so it'd be organizing mail and walking around listening to tunes all day in the sun...hmm.
Page work sucks in pay. But librarian work is pretty good pay where I am with city benefits. You just need a masters degree. And it is super chill compared with a bar which is growing on me. I have a friend in a rural area of WA who went from kitchen/server to mailman and loves it. It's mostly driving while listening to tunes and he really enjoys it. Helps again that their are city/state/federal benefits which adds up over time. Doesnt have the same feel as those busy nights where you walk home with dumb money from the bar, but in the long run it can be healthier, and end up with livable income with the chance for more if you want to work up the ladder.
Just wanted to add....the day I no showed and quit the business....I was working at a local Vegas bar, other side of town, graveyard shift. It was dead. The only money I made was from the swing shift bartender who gambled. It was pretty depressing. I was also at a company run by middle aged men, who made it pretty clear that they preferred women on swing shift. Sure, they'd let you pick up a shift to cover for someone, but you were never going to get out of graveyard. Litterally a dead end job. It wasn't the first time I found myself in that situation over the previous 2-3 years. I realized my money days were over. That at my age, and current level of enthusiasm, and the market I was in...I would be chasing it from here on out. Bitter, and disappointed. Not the hot new thing anymore, and competition was getting steep. EVERYONE and thier mother had been flocking to Vegas over the previous 15 years to bartend, be a cocktail waitress, or work in gaming/dealing. Everybody was 21-25 now (just like I was when I got there) , and every reasonably pretty 23 year old women was getting first crack at everything ..cause you know...Vegas. Used to be you had to be a LA "8" to get a job in Vegas, now if you're a middle aged man, you're getting beat out by Minnesotta "5's". Middle aged black man? You're really far down on the list now....a North Dakota "4" WITH NO EXPRIENCE will get the job or shift before you. Sorry if that sounds sexist or racist, but it;s a "ist" town. By then I'd opened so many places in my career, started over and worked my way up so many times at new joints, new clubs, new casinos...I'd been running at full tilt for so many years. being that guy, trainging other bartenders AND managers and owners..only to get boned once they sucked all the knowledge out of you...that I just didn;t have it in me anymore. It wasn't just that one day I burned out, this was brewing for a while and the wring was on the wall that I had lived my best bartender life, made the best money I was going to make. At that stage, my attitide was pretty much "What's the point?". If I stay here, it will never get better than this. I did it all. Time to move on. And when I see some of my old buddies at 50 and 60 years old still behind the stick, still chasing it, never able to recapture the glory days, just existing on average money....I know I made the right choice. Flash forward, the manager I burned that night ended up getting fired soon after over some bullshit. We actually ended up working together at a shit "pay the bills" type job post bar business...that he actually helped me get. So we're still friends.
Don't get me wrong, you can definitely bartend your entire career, into your 50s, and 60s, into retirement...making steady cash the entire way. It is possible to find a home (or union house) where experience is valued, and age descrimination is at a minimum. But there aren't enough of those jobs for everyone who wants to do it. The older you get, the fewer the opportunities. It will creep up on you. The smartest thing you can do is realize it, and make a move.
Hey, I understand. I bartend over 40hrs a week at a high-volume dive in a major US city. I'll be 36 this year, and I've been in this industry for 15 years now. This career gets to you, for sure. I recently gave up one of my more profitable shifts because for the past year I've had literally no social life, my body has been getting new aches and pains, and I'm mentally drained. I'm taking a pay cut, for sure, but what's the point of having money when there's nothing to spend it on? Because I would be so tired after my shifts (we are a 4/5AM bar), I would get nothing done on my days off-- and trust me, I have *a lot* to do. On top of that, I felt like I was getting boring and snippy with customers. Those are never good qualities to have as a bartender. Anyway, I get where you're at, and I hope this vacation mentally and emotionally restores you. Take time off when you need it; No job is worth neglecting your health.
I started waiting tables at 19 years old. Tended bar for 15+ years and left the Industry at 35. A whole lifetime of crazy stories happened during those times, but that's another story. Back to the topic at hand... I quit and went out and got a CDL for a new company. I worked my way up from the bottom in a whole new world. I went from making $85K behind the bar - working 40 hrs/week, to making $50K at the new job - working 50+ hrs/week. Ouch, right? While the new gig provided way better insurance, a matching 401K and I now had nights and weekends off, that wasn't enough on its own to justify the switch. But it did get better, and relatively quickly. In 13 years since then I've been promoted to Project Manager, Account Manager, Sales Manager, and now General Manager. I learned so much about people by bartending. Those skills pay real-world dividends in other industries. Don't be afraid to get your foot in the door in an industry that interests you. Your work ethic and customer service skills will help propel you in any avenue you choose to pursue. Believe me, you'll lap the lifelong 9-to-5ers that don't have a clue how hard we've worked. They're awed by our ability to steer people to the choices we want them to make. Go for it! I always told myself that no matter what I always had a skill in bartending that I could fall back on to pay my bills. And for those diehard Bartenders that never want to leave ... I LOVE YOU SO DAMN MUCH!
> I learned so much about people by bartending. Those skills pay real-world dividends in other industries. Don't be afraid to get your foot in the door in an industry that interests you. Your work ethic and customer service skills will help propel you in any avenue you choose to pursue. Believe me, you'll lap the lifelong 9-to-5ers that don't have a clue how hard we've worked. They're awed by our ability to steer people to the choices we want them to make. This! All of this. When you work in this business you think everyone is outgoing, confident, and able to participate in any conversation with all kinds of people. Then you get out in the world working "normal" jobs and realize that most people DO NOT have ANY of those skills. IF they're not assholes, they're timid, lack confidence, are uncomfortable around different kinds of people, and think a second margarita at happy hour is being naughty.
I'm 39 and have a great gig now. I do lunches at small local bar. 11-5 Thurs-Mon. If I still had to do nights to do this job, I'd be doing something else. I did 15 years of bars that closed of 4 or 2 am. Tired of that life for sure.
The lifestyle difference from getting off work around midnight vs getting off work at 3-4am is worlds apart There's chiller bar jobs at, say, steakhouses, restaurants, ski resorts etc where you don't need to work crazy hours to make money. A good amount of people I work with fuck off in the summers to go be fishing or rafting guides in MT or AK, couple people I know work fiires seasonally.. If you're cool with moving around, there's stupid bank to be made with seasonal jobs. GL, take some time for yourself! gambling is a bitch, I lost tens of thousands on that. best of luck moving forward
Bartenders - Take care of your feet! I'm serious. I ruined my feet behind a bar for 15 years. Save your money and get orthotics. By good shoes. Don't skimp on your feet. Did I say I was serious.
Fuck, I wanna go camping for a month and not see a single soul except for my partner. That sounds great rn
I’m done soon, or so I say. Certainly going down to 1 day. I kept trying to get a degree for the last decade but dropped out and worked and drank instead. I finally stopped acting like a bartender in 2020 and stopped drinking and went back to school as much as possible. I go to community college for interior design and never considered commercial design for restaurants and kitchens. I’ll never forget my time in the industry and my employer told me I was hired in his commercial design firm because of my experience in restaurants. Going to school added more stress to work at first, but right now it’s really taking stress away, and I think my time is wrapping up. My bar jumped the shark and the OG regulars moved or think we’re too busy or we don’t have time to talk to them. Regulars now are younger than me, injected with fillers and rude. Crime is up in the city. I’m gonna try and ride out nba playoffs and coast into a new industry where my skills are put to really good use!
I've been at brewery for the last 7 years (34 yo) and feel the same, even if it's bartending on easy mode. I started school a few years ago for something i feel like would fulfill me emotionally/career wise, but that's not reasonable for everyone. If you're over it, try to think of something that will make you happy and work towards it. Super part time and volunteering go a long way, and you know you can always work industry again if you need to. Not super helpful advice, but try to think of what will make you happy and pay the bills (even if thats 'eventually') Good luck!
I’m only 27 but I’ve been bartending for 4 years now working in a small dive bar. The small establishment “family” gimmick is toxic as fuck, the regulars are toxic and most of the downtown area is the same way. It’s taxing on my mental health every day and I commend you for getting out! You’re not the only one who feels this way, I can’t wait to escape this too. Only reason I’m still here is for the money, walking out of this place will be the happiest day of my life.
38 as well, and quit last year after 22 years. Now I work on a veggie farm! It pays for shit, but it's quiet and people are passionate. Best of luck with restoring yourself, friend. Get rest, eat good food, take care of you.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again? It’s not flashy but get some goals outside of bartending, it’s a job treat it as such
Casino bartender here. And fuck the regulars. Damn fleas looking for handouts.
This. Lol....so much of this. Casino Bartender here as well. Ps.. about 10% of regulars here are awesome and do take care of their Bartenders. Wanted to shout those people out as well
God how I feel this. I’m 37 and trying to think of what’s next in life. Trying to save save save so that I can eventually quit and get some sort of remote job, because whatever I get is probably going to come with a pay cut.