Bartending isn't as easy as it looks. Most people think a bartender just stands behind a bar and serves drinks. While this may be true, there is so much more to this fun and rewarding job. A bartender must not only know how to serve a wide variety of drinks, but a bartender must be personable, attentive and he or she must make the customer feel as though they are the only one at the bar; even if they're not. That's how the best bartenders make the most money. You can make this kind of money, too, if you follow these tips on becoming an effective bartender.

Study Your Drinks

One of the worst moments for a bartender is when a guest walks up to the bar and asks for a drink that you don't know how to make. Every bartender goes through this at least once in their career (which is okay), but you can minimize these moments by becoming more familiar with the various ingredients that go into each drink. It doesn't matter if you're making a Long Island Iced Tea, a Texas Tea, Margaritas, Martinis, Bahama-Mamas, Pina Coladas, Daiquiris, or anything else. The more you know the better, and this especially holds true for shots. If by chance you study, study, study and still don't know, ask your new guest. They may give you a little flack, but it's a great way to break the ice and make it exactly how you want it.

Be Personable

You want to be the customers' friend. A bartender that has no personality and just sits behind the bar taking drinks with a blank expression on his or her face won't make many tips. The bartender who's outgoing, funny, and likeable is the one who makes the most money. People look forward to ordering from a bartender like this, they feel as though they're special and they just have a better experience than if the bartender's a fuddy duddy.

Be Attentive

One of the best tips any bartender can give another bartender is to be attentive. This means you cater to your guest's needs and still be personable at the same time. Granted, it also means make their drinks correctly, but most people head to the bar because they are trying to escape something. Maybe they just got laid off work, there are marital problems on the home front, or the day just didn't go as planned. If you understand this ahead of time, there are occasions where you're going to feel like a counselor. When you think about it, bartenders can be the best listeners if you're able to find one of the best. This alone can increase your tips tremendously.

There are many other ways you can become an effective bartender, but the tips we've given you today is the best way to start. If you choose a career behind a bar, having all of these traits should be a priority.