Name: Mike Scalzo.
Age: 38.
Bar: Shamrock Jack’s Steak and Seafood.
Residence: Irondequoit.
Did you go to college? I went to MCC and RIT for design. I completed my associate’s degree.
How did you get into bartending? I was DJing at a club in California and trained on the side to tend bar.
How long have you been at your bar? Eight months.
Assuming you frequent your bar, where would you go for drinks if the place shut down? I like a wide variety of beer and love The Old Toad and Tap & Mallet for their selection and knowledgeable staff. Or anywhere Red Sox fans gather en masse. (Shamrock Jack’s — home of Red Sox Nation Rochester!)
What’s the craziest thing that you’ve seen at your bar? A bear, a bottle of beer and the Red Sox Wally the Green Monster (all mascots) duking it out and racing.
What’s your least favorite drink to pour and why? The easy answer would be a mojito or anything muddled, but I enjoy building/crafting drinks. When a guest really enjoys a cocktail I’ve prepared, or even better, suggested, I’ve done my job.
What drink do you pour the most? I pour Labatt Blue and Blue Light and make grape bomb shots the most.
How much should I be tipping? Fifteen percent minimum for adequate service, 20 percent for excellent, 25 to 30 percent for an extraordinary experience.
What’s the quickest way to get a bartender to hate me? Snap your fingers or yell down the bar when he/she is preparing drinks for other guests.
If they acknowledge you, rest assured you will be served at their earliest opportunity.
What’s the quickest way to get great service? Frequent establishments that pride themselves on great service. Otherwise, previous good tipping or complimenting the bartender.
What’s the worst pickup line you’ve overheard at the bar? Guy: “You shouldn’t drink anymore.” Girl: “Why? I just got here.” Guy: “Because, you’re driving me home.”
Do you have a full-time job? I fill my days with custom woodworking and remodeling. Being your own boss can be very fulfilling.
The days I work both jobs can be exhausting, but as the saying goes, “Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
