JiaWei Bai

JiaWei Bai, apprentice bartender at Employees Only Singapore found a home back behind the bar after returning from serving in the Singapore Military. JiaWei wanted to go back to slinging cocktails behind the stick and has learnt from one of the best in the business, Steve Schneider. Drinks World’s Lukas Raschilla spoke to JiaWei about his experience thus far working at EO.

LUKAS RASCHILLA: You have gone from being in the military to bartending. What made you want to become a bartender?

JIAWEI BAI: I started as a part-time server at a bar to earn some extra pocket money while studying. One thing led to another and the art of bartending unwittingly charmed its way into my heart. Before I enlisted in the army, I was already a rookie bartender slinging bespoke cocktails at another local bar. That really provided me with a good training ground to learn about the different types of spirits and pairing ingredients. During the two years I was in the military, my interest in bartending never waned despite the hectic and physically demanding schedules. I continued increasing my knowledge by reading cocktail books and studying recipes in my free time. Needless to say, I also stepped up on speed, efficiency and discipline while serving my nation, which helped me a lot in my career. Bartending was never a profession associated with prestige and glamour, but I couldn’t wait to return to the bar and I never looked back.

LR: How have you found Employees Only and working with Steve Schneider so far?

JWB: I’m loving every minute of it! Every night is a different experience and I live for the adrenaline rush. The crowd here is loud and fun and I have served all kinds of people from all walks of life. I work with a high performing team, every single one of us is trained by Steve himself, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

LR: Had you heard about EO before applying for a position there?

JWB: In all honesty, I stumbled across a hiring advertisement on Facebook and looked up the company out of curiosity. I had absolutely no inkling of who they were, apart from a couple of quirky pictures of men with thick moustaches. I sent in my resume anyway and heard nothing back for two weeks, I actually thought it was a scam!

LR: You performed a shift at EO in New York. Can you tell me about that experience?

JWB: The trip to EONY last November was a real eyeopener for me. I had the opportunity to experience the perfect epitome of New York nightlife and work in one of the world-renowned speakeasies. The aesthetics of the bar were comfortingly familiar, yet the place owned an exclusive character and style found nowhere else. New York clearly has an unrivalled cocktail bar scene and people just love going out. By 5:30pm on a Sunday, people were already queuing for the 6pm opening time, and within minutes of the business opening the place was at full-house. I watched the bar team work flawlessly with an endless stream of energy, banging out cocktails at lightning speed. And then it was general madness for the rest of the night. Employees Only New York truly lives up to its name. The whole experience left me very inspired to keep up the tradition and spirit of Employees Only.