P(our) Symposium 2019

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This year I was honored (and quite shocked, really) to be invited to speak at the P(our) Symposium in London. I spoke about my experience being behind the bar for the past 23 years, and in addition to the usual myth-busting and casual outrage, I decided to get very personal on this one. Also, I was nervous as hell so please excuse the awkwardness.

5 Replies to “P(our) Symposium 2019”

  • Fede Cuco says:

    Hermano Cantinero,
    I never tire of watching this talk, many truths for young colleagues to hear.
    Thank you for everything you always share.
    Goal hug

  • Ky Belk says:

    Thanks Jeff. I’m turning 51 this year, and even as a bar director now responsible for five bars I’m still pulling four (or more) bar shifts a week, mostly because I love it and I wouldn’t know how to do it any other way. At times, looking around it seems like I took a wrong turn somewhere, that I’m still bartending. Most of the time, however, I’m proud of it – of who I am and what I do. And yes, for anyone maybe listening, we’ll never really realize this “Golden Age” of bartending if you all tap out after five years.

  • Cole Youngner says:

    Wow. Thank you for this. I followed your blog for years and through some unexpected changes in life, transitioned into bar/restaurant industry full time. I learned a lot from you and got inspired by you for giving a damn the way you do and seeing what you do as professional and a career. It’s been an adjustment growing into not doing what I went to school for and wanting to be taken seriously, especially by my family. This talk is so affirming that I’m bartending for a reason and that it’s something I love doing (even when I have off nights or am in the weeds all shift). Thank you again, Jeffrey, and keep doing what you’re doing.

  • Steve says:

    Thank you for staying behind the bar and sharing that with those of us who get to sit across from you.

  • There are so many parallels to this in the coffee industry, and your experience mirrors mirrors mine as a barista in many ways. Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing this with us, it means a lot.

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