Nadia tends bar at The Triangle and The Imperial in Juneau Alaska. Judging from the photos on her MySpace profile, she can definitely bring the flair. Nadia has a lot of interesting things to say about the world of bartending. In fact, this is one of my favorite bartender interviews so far. So read it…

Why did you decided to get into bartending?

I started bartending because it was a perfect fit during my college years. It was like getting paid to party with my friends, a few nights a week!!

How did you go about getting your first bartending gig? Was it tough to land your first one?

Actually my first real bartending gig was not that hard. I went and applied at a night club in Ybor City. I didn’t think it would matter if I had experience or not, they just wanted a pair of boobs behind the bar! I remember it was pretty crazy. They wanted some girls to hang out outside the bar and basically show off body parts to bring people in to the bar. My best friend and I went down and actually stood outside the bar with flyers and big signs. Around 2am we would go behind the bar and work for 2 hours before it closed. We did this for a few weeks and after being yelled at and berated by the guests about what was actually in the drink, we managed to learn pretty quickly! But after a few weeks of standing outside practically naked, then going in and picking up the scraps. I said to myself, FUCK THIS!!!! Second jobs are way better.

What is your favorite drink to make?

The Bar Mat Shot but to be serious, I came up with a shot called the naughty, (what most know me as) …and I used it in a during a flair competition that won me a trip to Vegas! It became a big hit at the bars that I have worked at, drank at, and is now on most of the drink lists around town. But you don’t know what naughty really taste like until you get one from me!!

What is your least favorite drink to make?

The Sexy Alligator or the Lethal Weapon! I like to flair, have fun and hang out with the guest … not spend hours layering fucked up drinks.

What is your bartender pet peeve?

When someone comes up and asks for a beer. “A beer you say?”……….. seriously I mean really!!! Do they not know there are millions of different kinds.

What’s the most interesting/scandalous thing that’s happened to you on the job?

While working in the Virgin Islands!!! (Wow that was an experience) The guests would actually grab you to get your attention. It was a mess, I mean every Tuesday the place would fill up with locals that would act like the place was their home, don’t get me wrong there are some wonderful locals there, but man were they rude if they didn’t get their drink in time!! One time I actually had a guest grab me by the back of the head and slam me into the bar top. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!

What’s the best line somebody has used to get a free drink from you?

Someone once came into the bar told me they knew the bar manager and that he came there all the time and would get anything he asks for. I said cool, how do you know him. He said oh, we’ve been friends for a long time… I said I am the bar manager do you mean the owner? He said uh.. ya.. ya I mean the owner. I tapped the bar owner on the shoulder standing next to him and said.. oh you mean this guy?? .. he was stumped. But you would be suprised at how many people try that!!

What’s the most memorable pickup line you’ve heard?

There’s a lot.. after 9 years behind a bar, there’s going to be a lot! But the most ridiculously memorable line used “I really like your drink.. wanna fuck!!”. ahh romance!! My reply “No, but the girls next door charge by the hour!!”

Who would YOU want to have a drink with and why?

This may sound funny… but I would like to have a drink with my Father when he was my age. I would like to know more about the man.. that now does not talk about himself and only about his children it seems.

Tell us one thing about tending bar that we might not know.

It looks like fun with all the lights and the music, but take away the “Single Serving Friends”, its pretty lonely when the lights come on! That’s why you have to surround yourself with REAL solid friends during the day!

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