Beer Man Here!

I wanted to take a minute to refresh everyone on the job of "Beer Man".

Now I know I've described my job in previous blogs, but after numerous recurring questions I wanted to clarify what it is that I do as a Beer Man.

We (beer men) have a window of when we can show up at the stadium as early as 2 hours before and as late as 45 minutes before the first pitch. We clock in, get our commissary assignment and then eat if we'd like to.

Yes, at that time we get a discount on select foods and are guaranteed to have a free hot dog or bratwurst and a small soda. I usually get a hot dog, but after a few games they start to lose that ballpark taste. I then make my way towards my commissary.

There are 5 commissaries that I could be assigned to. The first home series of the season, I was assigned to commissary 261. Ever since then, I've been at commissary 240. I'm only able to buy/return beer at the commissary I'm assigned to.

I show up to the commissary and get my first load of beer, soda/water, peanuts/cracker jacks. This is all credited to my account which I'm required to pay back at the end of the night for whatever I sell from my first load. Typically I sell through several cases of beer and so I'll have money to pay for numerous cases through the game.

After I have my beer on ice and everything ready to go I usually hang out with the other beer men in the commissary. Usually it's small talk but there are several guys that I've gotten to know on a deeper level than just, "Hi." Yes, the same guys are typically assigned to the same commissary every game...that is unless things aren't working out for someone and they can be moved, but that's usually not the case.

So I've kept is as a rule of thumb to not go out into the stands till the National Anthem has taken place...I learned from a veteran beer man that you'll just go and get tired before the game even starts just to make a few sales. I didn't learn this till after the first week of games and noticed a huge difference in how much energy I saved just from waiting to go out into the stands that early.

I'm able to go anywhere in the stadium that there are seats to sell beer (with exceptions to a few sections). Usually I stay close to the commissary I'm assigned to since that's the only place I can buy beer from...I don't want to end up halfway around the stadium and be out of beer...So I've typically stayed in sections 230-255.

...National Anthem plays...then game on!

Then I sell beer...blah blah blah...insert interesting stories/encounters here...

As soon as the last out is made in the bottom of the 7th inning, I must stop selling beer. I then head back to my assigned commissary to make any returns that I may have and cash out for the night. With about 15-20 of us in commissary 240, I sometimes don't get out of there till the middle to the end of the 8th inning. I then go and clock out and am able to make my way out of the stadium. Now if I end up having to walk through the stands to get to my car...then I make my way towards an exit...even if it means watching that last inning.

I know several people have wondered how I get paid...well if you never have thought about it before or done it in the past, please TIP the beer man. I get paid by tips and commission only...so no sales = no pay... To give you an idea of commission...I make about $0.90 per bottle that I sell.

I love working at the stadium. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow night's game and the upcoming home stand. If you happen to ever go to a game, let me know, I'll come say hi to ya and sell you a few beers (if you're old enough).

Visit back here late tomorrow night for stories from tomorrow night's game!