So many people I knew had at one stage of their lives done some form of bartending. Whether at a club, bar, pub, warehouse party, house party or friend’s birthday. They had been in charge of the drink-pouring, and done a (mostly) great job. But it’s more than that. The lure of bartending comes from the stories you hear from the bartenders themselves.

The DJs they meet, the parties they get to witness, the stories they tell the morning after, the enormous amount of phone numbers they end up collecting. For some bartenders it can be about the tips they make, too. Yet on the whole it’s the experience that comes along with being on the other side of the bar which seems to draw so many into the profession – however briefly it may be.

My chance came during my travels through Europe. I was invited to a warehouse party in London by friends of friends. It was for the launch of a new magazine centred around the arts in London – fashion, music, and so on. There were modelling photo shoots, street artists showing off their best work on the warehouse walls, live bands and DJs, and a massive outdoor lounge area and dance floor. Florence & The Machine were expected to make an appearance. Oh, and did I mention that there were three bars? All of them supplied by well-known alcohol brands, like Peroni, who sent over a solid 120 cases of beer.

Turns out, the party was going to get even bigger and busier than expected, so I was asked if I would be willing and able to assist. Boom.

I put on the Peroni t-shirt and picked up the Peroni bottle opener. And I have to say, I had an absolutely BRILLIANT time. There were a good 300 people who turned up on a sunny summer’s day in London, and I think I met every single one of them. We shared jokes, I got blatantly flirted with, I slid drinks along the bar, and just generally got involved in the festivities. Oh, and ended up very, VERY drunk. Apparently there was a “one for you, one for me policy” that I was forced to abide by. Could be worse.

What a day. Which turned into a night. Which turned into morning again. It was a great induction. I may not be the world’s best bartender, but fuck, I can open Peroni’s like a boss…