WASILLA — For many, a bartender is more than simply a person who serves their favorite libations. He or she becomes a friend, at times a confidante, and a sounding board to unload the weight of the day’s problems.

Shannon Klein has been serving drinks and providing a sympathetic shoulder to patrons at Tailgaters Sports Bar and Grill for 11 years. She was hustling behind the bar on a brisk Monday afternoon, answering questions while tapping beer kegs, serving food and mixing drinks.

Frontiersman: What’s something about being a bartender the average customer may not know? Klein: That’s a hard question. It’s a lot harder than people think it is. You really have to have a straight head, you have to have a lot of patience. You have to multitask all the time. I think if you’re great with kids, you’ll be great with drunk people. Sometimes it’s like running a day care.

F: What kind of training did you do to become a bartender?

K: I didn’t do any training. I was a waitress since the time I was 13 and started bartending at 21. They trained me for a week on how to make the drinks, and that was pretty much it.

F: On average, what do you serve most? Is there a signature drink you’re especially good at making?

K: At nighttime, we do a lot of mixed drinks and during the day it’s more beer. We’re really good here at Tailgaters with our bloody marys. We all make then the same way and people love our bloody marys.

F: You’ve heard the assertion that a bartender serves as a therapist for some customers. Is this true?

K: Yeah. You hear a lot from people (when they’ve) had a bad day, they like to come in and dump on you about it, gripe about it. You just nod and shake your head and just listen. That’s all people want is someone to just listen. If they have a bad day, they need to unload it before they explode. ... Sometimes they’ll get personal with divorces and that kind of stuff, and it’s hard to react to that. Or, when someone passes away. Sometimes people come in here when their grieving. Listen to them, tell them you’re sorry and keep their drinks full. Then, make sure they get home safe.

F: How can you tell when someone’s had enough, and how do you deal with that?

K: Most of the time, you can tell the signs: glazed eyes, slurred speech, they get louder, more boisterous. Then, you slow down their drinks, make them a little bit lighter, offer them food, a cab. Finally, if you have to cut them off, it depends on the person. Some of them get really mean and some of them are pretty cool with it. They let you call them a cab and they’re on their way.

F: How much of your job is serving people and how much being a buddy?

K: About 50-50. During the daytime, it’s not much at all, but at night, that’s a different story. People come in here to have a good time. ... The secret to being a good bartender is to be aware of your surroundings. You have to be aware of everything that’s going on in the bar at all times. You have to be aware of what they’re drinking, how much, who they’re talking to, their body language, their voices, stopping fights before they start.

F: You’ve been doing this for 11 years, so you obviously like your job. What is it about bartending that keeps you motivated?

K: It’s a social job. You get to talk and have a good time, laugh and have fun with your friends. Some of my best friends I’ve met bartending.

If you can’t handle people or don’t do good under pressure, it’s not the job for you. When people are drunk, it’s kind of like they’re little kids, so you have to take care of them. It’s your responsibility. You got them that way, so it’s your responsibility to take care of them.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.