Do You Want to Start a Tab?

Carl and Riley dive into intriguing stories from the service industry, discussing the challenges faced by bartenders and servers. 

From dealing with problematic customers to navigating racial bias and personal values, they explore two intense narratives: a bartender's discomfort serving a known Nazi and a woman confronting racial stereotyping during a restaurant outing. 

The episode highlights the importance of professionali...

Join Carl and Riley as they welcome Anton, the owner of Lone Wolf Kingston, a vintage-style cocktail bar in Hudson Valley. Dive into tales of mixology mishaps, shifting cocktail trends, and unique customer experiences, including the saga of the “worst Negroni ever.”

The trio discusses ethical dilemmas in cocktail crafting, the evolving drinking culture, and the art of leaning into negative reviews with humor. Discover the ...

Carl and Riley, seasoned bartenders, delve into the unpredictable world of the service industry. They share tales of demanding customers and amusing situations, rating stories from mundane to extraordinary. 

The episode discusses customer etiquette and highlights how establishments handle outside food policies and the irksome habit of customers telling staff to smile. 

With real-life anecdotes and listener-submitted stories,...

Carl and Riley, with their combined 16 years of hospitality experience, dive into amusing and challenging tales from the service industry in this episode. 

They discuss bartending mishaps, including crafting unconventional drinks and customer inquiries about cocktail alcohol content. The duo shares insights on the importance of precise bartending techniques, like chilling martini glasses and providing sanitized straws, whil...

Riley and Carl delve into challenging issues in the hospitality industry, highlighting women bartenders' experiences with sexism and unwelcome touching. 

They discuss the importance of having supportive colleagues and the growing trend of cashless restaurants, driven by safety and efficiency concerns. 

Carl shares insights from years in the industry, while Riley emphasizes the need for setting boundaries and respecting perso...

Join Carl and Riley as they delve into the intriguing world of bartending, exploring wild customer interactions, bartenders' reputations, and the challenges of managing awkward workplace situations. 

This episode tackles misconceptions about dating bartenders, including stereotypes of flirtation and infidelity. Additionally, they address unique managerial dilemmas like handling a coworker's constant flatulence. 

Carl and Ril...

Carl and Riley return after a break to share amusing and perplexing tales from the service industry. They discuss an overworked restaurant employee frustrated by performance punishment and dive into a bewildering story involving a cook using coworkers to cover up an affair. 

Amid the laughter and insights, they explore themes of work-life balance and the complexity of workplace dynamics in hospitality. Carl and Riley, witho...

Carl and Riley share intriguing stories from the service industry, exploring wild customer encounters and unexpected moments. They discuss a dramatic life-saving event involving CPR and the Heimlich maneuver at a restaurant, emphasizing the importance of first aid training. 

Another heartwarming tale involves a bar owner aiding a stranger with food and phone charging, leading to a reunion three years later. This episode ble...

Riley shares a witty way to handle an unruly sports fan, while guest Ian Anderson recounts a memorable moment involving a PBR-fueled confrontation. 

The trio discusses the art of de-escalation, navigating the hospitality industry, and maintaining respect amidst challenging interactions. 

Whether you're in the service industry or just a fan of engaging stories, this episode promises a mix of laughs, insights, and real-life ba...

Hosts Carl and Riley, joined by guest Camden, dive into the bartending world with humorous and wild tales from behind the bar. The episode features stories of unusual drink orders, over-served wedding parties, and a server struggling with a twist-off wine bottle.

 They discuss dealing with demanding customers, handling fakes, and the surprising antics of underage patrons. Alongside this madness, they explore the intricacies...

Bartenders Carl and Riley share tales behind the bar, tackling humorous mixology mishaps and unexpected encounters. Riley attempts to recreate a cocktail, leading to a candid discussion about bartending trials and teamwork. 

They explore a Reddit story of a bartender sharing her number with a regular, delving into the nuances of barroom flirting and etiquette. Additionally, they discuss dealing with challenging regulars, pa...

Carl and Riley dive into the unpredictable world of the hospitality industry, sharing wild stories and real-life bar dilemmas. They discuss bar etiquette, the role of barbacks, and the challenges of maintaining harmony among staff amidst chaotic shifts. 

The duo evaluates a scenario involving inter-staff dynamics and debates its impact on job efficiency and morale. With a mix of humor and insight, Carl and Riley rate each s...

Carl and Riley explore the hospitality industry, sharing bizarre tales and rants from behind the bar. They discuss the challenges bartenders face when dealing with regular patrons who exploit the system, especially those arguing over unpaid drinks. 

The duo also highlights an alarming story of a family using fake IDs, leading to an unexpected revelation on a supposed 21st birthday. As they explore these incidents, they offe...

Welcome to The Carl Busch Diaries podcast! Today, instead of a regular "Do You Want to Start a Tab?" you are listening to Carl's other podcast.  

Today, I'm excited to take you on a personal journey as a wine shop owner. In this episode, I’ll be sharing seven vital lessons I’ve learned in just three months. From mastering time management and learning the power of saying no to embracing mistakes and fully immersing myself in...

Carl and Riley delve into the unpredictability of the service industry with engaging tales from behind the bar. Carl shares a rant from a bartender about the baffling trend of Gen Z patrons attempting to use photo IDs. 

Riley recounts a disturbing encounter involving a 16-year-old employee and an inappropriate customer. Tune in to hear their discussions on how these situations were handled, the legal implications, and the b...

Carl and Riley dive into bartending horror stories, tackling encounters with entitled customers and the repercussions on staff. Riley shares a Reddit tale about a toxic manager from a Tex-Mex joint, while Carl recounts a bartender’s unfair firing for refusing service to rowdy patrons. 

They discuss the impact of management on job satisfaction and the evolving bar culture. Amidst their lively banter, they prepare for the Iow...

Carl and Riley talk with Jon Mateer, a seasoned bartender and top-10 finalist in the USBG Presents World Class Sponsored by Diageo bartender competition. Jon shares his experience preparing for the competition, including crafting creative cocktails, navigating speed rounds, and pairing drinks with food. 

He offers insights and tips for future competitors and reflects on his journey and achievements. Perfect for cocktail ent...

Carl and Riley recount their adventure at a brewery pool party and a dive bar visit before diving into a special discussion with returning guest Billy, a competitor in the US World Class Bartender competition by Diageo. 

Billy shares his journey from creative drink submissions to intense live rounds in Denver, dropping tips on menu design and competition strategy. They also discuss the camaraderie within the bartending comm...

Carl and Riley, seasoned bartenders, delve into hilarious and cringeworthy stories from the service industry. They share a Reddit post about a manager facing a rare customer complaint over a simple mistake and another about pretentious bar patrons.

 Discussions include the mental shortcut of Hanlon's razor and customers' inappropriate use of the term “alphas.” They analyze these scenarios with a blend of humor and insight, ...