Ricky @ Bar-Tini

///PHOTOS & INTERVIEW BY JJ MACK

Tell us about how you got involved in working at Bartini and when?
One of my friends told me about Bartini’s open call, so I went and I got the call back the same day, and that’s how my relationship started. I started working for Bartini more than two years ago. I bartended at Splash before when Splash was the top club in New York. My boss was John Blair, and I learned a lot about the business. Never even thought that I would end up in this industry to be honest. I graduated from business school, and I was taking acting classes. I was in a soap opera, and I filmed some movies, but I just needed something steady, so I decided to move up in this industry. I really do love people, and I do love working with people, so I think this job is just perfect for me. I think that it is very important to do things in life that you like, so here I am doing something that I really like.
Describe yourself based on what you like to do professionally.
I’m an Aries, so I’m definitely stubborn, and I don’t like to be told what to do. I do have a great relationship with my boss, Joseph Puc. He is young and easy going, and we get along very well. We work as a family. I know what has to be done at the bar, so he really doesn’t pamper me and he doesn’t need to tell me what to do. So this really makes my job easy.
Is being a manger easy? Hell no! It’s a lot of work, constant work! Seven days per week from 4 p.m. till 4 a.m., plus answering phone calls, messages and emails from home, and on top of everything doing the promotion for the bar. Of course all this wouldn’t be possible without my great team at the bar.
On Tuesdays we have our amazing show SCANDAL with Jospehine Halle B. On Wednesdays, our fun show with Misty Meaner and Mocha Lite, MERMAIDS ONLY, with our amazing video DJ Natzu. SCORE Party on Thursdays have been going great with Sasha Seven and Antonio Cedeno and their guest DJs. On FRIDAY the night is reserved for SUMMER SHARE HK with The Best Franco Di Luzio and Mark Lander. The party is always packed with hot shirtless dancers, Jello shot boys, my hot bartenders in their undies and of course not to forget the amazing Bootsie Le Faris and Amanda Pupon. And our always crazy packed SQUIRT SATURDAYS

with my resident DJ Danni Echi. On Sundays we do have a great HH crowd, and nights are mostly reserved for private events or my monthly parties as SINGLES MINGLE with Charlie the Matchmaker, and our very successful party HABIBI that brings a lot of hot Middle Eastern boys to my bar.
What’s next or what are you looking forward to in the future?
I’m always coming up with new ideas, and I’m always open to bringing new things to my bar. I do have tons of projects in my mind, and I will introduce them once they are all perfected for BAR-TINI.
Any advice to your followers, to your friends or to the managers of the clubs/bars in our gay community?
I really do love working in the gay community, and I always enjoy seeing all my dear friends and followers at the bar. I think BARTINI is a unique and cozy little lounge filled with positive energy. I just know that people feel my happiness, and that is very important in this business. I’m friendly with everyone, and I make everyone feel like they are at home when they come to BAR-TINI. I love different people, and I love to see my customers happy with smiling faces having a blast. And most importantly I love to see tons of our regulars all the time, and I think that speaks for its self. Just think that if you work hard enough and you give all your energy and heart into this business, people will recognize, and the hard work and dedication will pay off.
Has it been easy or difficult to become a manager of your place?
I started working as a bartender at BAR-TINI, and from the day one I have been doing much more than just bartending. Joe and his family recognized that and promoted me. I am a perfectionist; it’s just the way I am. I really want to make everyone happy, which is a difficult task, but I’m doing my best.
I think with all our shows at the bar, people can pick a night suitable to their taste in music and entertainment. New York gay life is about variety, and that is what I’m giving back to my community.