Hannah has been bartending for only a month, but she loves everything about it, from working at a fast-paced environment such as the one at the Island House to people-watching at nights. And more: she can make money while still enjoying the Vineyard like she’s been doing since her childhood.
TW: Where are you from?
I’m from Natick, Massachusetts, but I’ve been coming to the island every year since I was little. I live on Chappaquiddick.
TW: How long have you been working here?
I think about a month, maybe a little less.
TW: Is this your first summer working here? Yeah.
TW: Ever worked as a bartender before? Nope.
TW: How has it been so far? It’s been good. I mean, it gets super busy here at night, but I like it so far, it’s a fun job?
TW: What do you like about it?
I like how fast-paced it is at night, like, how the bar is completely packed and there’s four rows of people deep behind the bar stools. I like making drinks, the complexity and how many there are, and how I can twist it to make it a little different.
TW: Do you have a favorite drink to make?
Probably a Mojito or a Kamikaze shot.
TW: Is there a drink you don’t like to make? Probably Lemon Drops because people usually order them at night when it’s super busy and it takes so long to make them, so it’s kind of a hustle.
TW: What’s the best way to get your attention when it’s super busy?
Some people will be kinda rude about it and just order when I’m ordering for someone else… but probably to get my attention, usually people say “Hey, can you take my drink next, I’ll give you a really big tip?”, and that’s usually what gets my attention.
TW: And what don’t you like that people do?
They will either order something super complicated or I’ll be making someone else’s drink and they’ll just blurt out their order without really consulting with me first, or me going up to them. Some people are just.
TW: What do you like about working here at the Island House?
I like the people, I like the staff, they’re super nice. I like where it is, that I can people- watch on the porch. It’s a great atmosphere working here.
TW: You probably see a lot of drunk people. Do you have any stories? Funny things you’ve seen?
Yes. YES!! (laughs). The other day one of my coworkers, a girl literally grabbed her face and tried to kiss her. So that was definitely one. A lot of people will come up and show me fat stacks of hundreds and they tell me like if I’d run away with them… I don’t know. But probably the kissing one was the most funny. I mean, everyone comes in drunk and kind of acts weird (laughs).
TW: What do you do when you’re not working?
I go to the beach, I love the beach. I go sailing a lot up at Gay Head, and that’s about it.
TW: Is that why you like coming here in the summer?
Yeah, I just love the Vineyard. It’s beautiful here.
