$1 is Not Enough Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:09:09 -0500 https://onedollarisnotenough.com en Β© 2026 Lunden Media LLC yes Support this Podcast b4990311-0d25-5ed9-bdf9-a63faacabe07 steve@onedollarisnotenough.com Steve L episodic true Real stories from behind the bar. Bad tips, worse customers, and 20+ years of things you're not supposed to say out loud. Bartender and host Steve Lunden shares unfiltered tales from the service industry, from the regulars you love to the ones who make you question humanity. Solo rants, guest bartenders, and the conversations that only happen after last call. If you've ever worked a shift, you'll feel this. If you haven't, you'll never look at your bartender the same way again.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) bartender, bartending, tipping, tips, service industry, hospitality, funny stories, storytelling, rants, comedy podcast, behind the bar, bar life, server life, bad tippers, nightlife, customer service, Steve L steve@onedollarisnotenough.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/rfci7c7cenudyf9xqddtx8qsbd7t?.jpg $1 is Not Enough https://onedollarisnotenough.com Steve Lunden You Tipped Me. Then I Tipped Everyone Else. You Tipped Me. Then I Tipped Everyone Else. Send us Fan Mail

You Tipped Me. Then I Tipped Everyone Else.

You leave your server a $20 tip. You walk out feeling like you took care of them.

But what about the bartender who made every drink for your table?

In this episode of $1 Is Not Enough, Steve digs into one of the most complicated and controversial parts of the restaurant industry: tip-outs.

In Minnesota, employees generally cannot simply be forced by their employer to hand over their tips, and there are specific rules governing tip sharing. But legality isn't the only question.

What about hospitality?

What about teamwork?

What about the bartender who helped generate the sale that produced the tip in the first place?

Steve takes a hard look at the server/bartender relationship, the arguments on both sides, tip fatigue, and the question that a lot of restaurant workers have probably argued about at one point:

If the bartender made the drinks for your table, shouldn't they get something?

In this episode:

  • How tip-outs actually work
  • Why servers and bartenders frequently disagree about tips
  • The difference between being legally required to tip out and voluntarily recognizing someone's contribution
  • Why sales-based tip-outs can be particularly controversial
  • Whether bartenders should receive part of a server's tip when they make the drinks
  • Why support staff compensation creates another layer of complexity
  • The growing problem of tip fatigue
  • Where Steve stands on voluntary tip-outs
  • Real-world hospitality experiences from behind the bar
  • The "$1 Test": Is one dollar enough recognition for someone who helped you earn your tip?

The question for you:

If you're a server, should you voluntarily tip out the bartender when they're making drinks for your tables?

If you're a bartender, how does your restaurant handle it?

And if you're a customer, did you ever realize what happens to your tip after you leave it?

Let's argue about it.

Support the show

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πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

You Tipped Me. Then I Tipped Everyone Else.

You leave your server a $20 tip. You walk out feeling like you took care of them.

But what about the bartender who made every drink for your table?

In this episode of $1 Is Not Enough, Steve digs into one of the most complicated and controversial parts of the restaurant industry: tip-outs.

In Minnesota, employees generally cannot simply be forced by their employer to hand over their tips, and there are specific rules governing tip sharing. But legality isn't the only question.

What about hospitality?

What about teamwork?

What about the bartender who helped generate the sale that produced the tip in the first place?

Steve takes a hard look at the server/bartender relationship, the arguments on both sides, tip fatigue, and the question that a lot of restaurant workers have probably argued about at one point:

If the bartender made the drinks for your table, shouldn't they get something?

In this episode:

  • How tip-outs actually work
  • Why servers and bartenders frequently disagree about tips
  • The difference between being legally required to tip out and voluntarily recognizing someone's contribution
  • Why sales-based tip-outs can be particularly controversial
  • Whether bartenders should receive part of a server's tip when they make the drinks
  • Why support staff compensation creates another layer of complexity
  • The growing problem of tip fatigue
  • Where Steve stands on voluntary tip-outs
  • Real-world hospitality experiences from behind the bar
  • The "$1 Test": Is one dollar enough recognition for someone who helped you earn your tip?

The question for you:

If you're a server, should you voluntarily tip out the bartender when they're making drinks for your tables?

If you're a bartender, how does your restaurant handle it?

And if you're a customer, did you ever realize what happens to your tip after you leave it?

Let's argue about it.

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L Buzzsprout-19806189 Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:00:00 -0500 1291 1 14 full true Special Episode: "Twenty-Five Years" | A September 11th Tribute Special Episode: "Twenty-Five Years" | A September 11th Tribute Send us Fan Mail

Twenty-five years ago, the world changed in a single morning. Not gradually, not over time. In one morning.

In this special episode, Steve steps away from the bar stories to do something a little different. A tribute to the people we lost, the people who ran toward it, and the way a country full of strangers became something else, even if just for a moment.

This one isn't funny. It isn't supposed to be.

In this episode:

  • What that morning felt like and why our brains never let it go
  • The question we all carry: do you remember where you were?
  • What happened in the bars and the living rooms and the firehouses in the days after
  • What twenty-five years really means, and what we owe the people who weren't there yet
  • Why grief doesn't have an expiration date

To everyone who lost someone that day. To everyone who ran toward it. To everyone still carrying it. This one's for you.

Support the show

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πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

Twenty-five years ago, the world changed in a single morning. Not gradually, not over time. In one morning.

In this special episode, Steve steps away from the bar stories to do something a little different. A tribute to the people we lost, the people who ran toward it, and the way a country full of strangers became something else, even if just for a moment.

This one isn't funny. It isn't supposed to be.

In this episode:

  • What that morning felt like and why our brains never let it go
  • The question we all carry: do you remember where you were?
  • What happened in the bars and the living rooms and the firehouses in the days after
  • What twenty-five years really means, and what we owe the people who weren't there yet
  • Why grief doesn't have an expiration date

To everyone who lost someone that day. To everyone who ran toward it. To everyone still carrying it. This one's for you.

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L Buzzsprout-19770756 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:00:00 -0500 576 1 11 full false Dad + Mini-Me Dad + Mini-Me Send us Fan Mail

This week I brought in a very special guest -- my 11-year-old son.Β 

He asked to be on the show, so here we are. We talk about what it's actually like growing up with a bartender for a dad, what he thinks about tipping (spoiler: he gets it), and what he'd say to the customers who don't. Unfiltered, honest, and maybe the best episode yet.

What We Cover

  • What his friends think dad does for a living
  • His take on tipping -- in his own words
  • The hard parts of having a dad who works nights and weekends
  • Whether he'd ever work in hospitality
  • His message to the bad tippers

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

This week I brought in a very special guest -- my 11-year-old son.Β 

He asked to be on the show, so here we are. We talk about what it's actually like growing up with a bartender for a dad, what he thinks about tipping (spoiler: he gets it), and what he'd say to the customers who don't. Unfiltered, honest, and maybe the best episode yet.

What We Cover

  • What his friends think dad does for a living
  • His take on tipping -- in his own words
  • The hard parts of having a dad who works nights and weekends
  • Whether he'd ever work in hospitality
  • His message to the bad tippers

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L Buzzsprout-19781144 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:00:00 -0500 1231 bartender, bartending, hospitality, tipping, tips, service industry, podcast, behind the bar, bartender life, working parents, hospitality worker, restaurant industry, family, parenting, bartender dad, funny podcast, real talk, unfiltered, service worker, 1 12 full true The Four Most Dangerous Words at a Bar The Four Most Dangerous Words at a Bar Send us Fan Mail

Four words. That's all it takes to make every bartender within earshot silently lose their mind.

In this episode, Steve breaks down the phrase no bartender wants to hear, who's actually saying it, why it sets off every alarm in our heads, and what it really costs the people on the other side of the bar.

In this episode:

  • The tell-tale signs that give you away immediately
  • A full taxonomy of the types (college summer guy, we see you)
  • Why this phrase is never just information, it's a negotiation
  • The real damage it does to a shift, a section, and a tip
  • What we actually want from you instead

Whether you've said it yourself or you've heard it a hundred times, this one's going to hit.


$1 is Not Enough is a podcast about bartending, bad tippers, and the stories the hospitality industry never gets credit for telling.

New episodes every [DAY]. Follow and leave a review if this show has ever made you feel seen.

And remember, the drink might be free, but the bartender isn't.


Copyright 2026 Lunden Media, LLC, All Rights Reserved

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

Four words. That's all it takes to make every bartender within earshot silently lose their mind.

In this episode, Steve breaks down the phrase no bartender wants to hear, who's actually saying it, why it sets off every alarm in our heads, and what it really costs the people on the other side of the bar.

In this episode:

  • The tell-tale signs that give you away immediately
  • A full taxonomy of the types (college summer guy, we see you)
  • Why this phrase is never just information, it's a negotiation
  • The real damage it does to a shift, a section, and a tip
  • What we actually want from you instead

Whether you've said it yourself or you've heard it a hundred times, this one's going to hit.


$1 is Not Enough is a podcast about bartending, bad tippers, and the stories the hospitality industry never gets credit for telling.

New episodes every [DAY]. Follow and leave a review if this show has ever made you feel seen.

And remember, the drink might be free, but the bartender isn't.


Copyright 2026 Lunden Media, LLC, All Rights Reserved

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L Buzzsprout-19770672 Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:00:00 -0500 858 bartending, bartender life, tipping, hospitality industry, service industry, bar stories, behind the bar, bad tippers, entitled customers, comedy podcast 1 10 full true The Weekend, Double J & Dave The Weekend, Double J & Dave Send us Fan Mail

Some weekends are memorable for all the right reasons. This was not one of them.

In Episode 9, I take you back to a weekend shift featuring Double J and their husbands, where the drinks were flowing and things got progressively stranger as the night went on.

Double J got a little too comfortable with the alcohol, while Dave decided the best way to spend the evening was apparently hitting on other women right in front of their husbands. Because apparently reading the room is no longer a required life skill.

And then there was the really weird part.

Dave disappeared outside with a female server for a couple of minutes. They came back in, she was suddenly moving at warp speed, and then it happened again. Let's just say I had a pretty good idea what was going on, and I strongly suspected Dave wasn't just stepping outside for fresh air.

Plus, I get another chance to vent about young, clueless kids working expo, the seemingly complete lack of situational awareness, and the phenomenon I like to call being professionally brain-dead.

It's another collection of bad decisions, questionable behavior, and stories that could only come from behind a bar.

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

Some weekends are memorable for all the right reasons. This was not one of them.

In Episode 9, I take you back to a weekend shift featuring Double J and their husbands, where the drinks were flowing and things got progressively stranger as the night went on.

Double J got a little too comfortable with the alcohol, while Dave decided the best way to spend the evening was apparently hitting on other women right in front of their husbands. Because apparently reading the room is no longer a required life skill.

And then there was the really weird part.

Dave disappeared outside with a female server for a couple of minutes. They came back in, she was suddenly moving at warp speed, and then it happened again. Let's just say I had a pretty good idea what was going on, and I strongly suspected Dave wasn't just stepping outside for fresh air.

Plus, I get another chance to vent about young, clueless kids working expo, the seemingly complete lack of situational awareness, and the phenomenon I like to call being professionally brain-dead.

It's another collection of bad decisions, questionable behavior, and stories that could only come from behind a bar.

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L Buzzsprout-19732764 Mon, 31 Aug 2026 16:00:00 -0500 1907 $1 Is Not Enough, A Dollar A Drink, bartender podcast, bartender stories, bartender life, bartender stories funny, bar stories, bar life, restaurant stories, restaurant industry, hospitality industry, service industry, server stories, customer stories, 1 9 full true Broke in Theory Broke in Theory Send us Fan Mail

You know the coworker. They spend every shift telling anyone who will listen how broke they are. Bills. Rent. Gas. The whole thing. But the second an actual shift opens up and you offer it to them? Gone. Silent. Left on read.

In Episode 8, Steve breaks down one of the most universal phenomena in the service industry: the coworker who is broke in theory but mysteriously unavailable in practice. Twenty-plus years behind the bar means twenty-plus years of watching this play out, and today it all comes out.

In This Episode:

  • The four types of Broke in Theory coworkers (and how to spot them)
  • The Professional Complainer, the Conditional Worker, the Ghost, and the Audacity Regular
  • The specific story that finally pushed Steve over the edge and made him record this episode
  • War stories from 20+ years in the industry
  • The psychology behind why people do this (it's more human than you think)
  • A callout for YOUR stories, because we know you have them

Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.

Connect:

Enjoying the show?
Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's the fastest way to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories have been modified to protect the guilty.

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

You know the coworker. They spend every shift telling anyone who will listen how broke they are. Bills. Rent. Gas. The whole thing. But the second an actual shift opens up and you offer it to them? Gone. Silent. Left on read.

In Episode 8, Steve breaks down one of the most universal phenomena in the service industry: the coworker who is broke in theory but mysteriously unavailable in practice. Twenty-plus years behind the bar means twenty-plus years of watching this play out, and today it all comes out.

In This Episode:

  • The four types of Broke in Theory coworkers (and how to spot them)
  • The Professional Complainer, the Conditional Worker, the Ghost, and the Audacity Regular
  • The specific story that finally pushed Steve over the edge and made him record this episode
  • War stories from 20+ years in the industry
  • The psychology behind why people do this (it's more human than you think)
  • A callout for YOUR stories, because we know you have them

Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.

Connect:

Enjoying the show?
Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's the fastest way to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories have been modified to protect the guilty.

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L Buzzsprout-19704275 Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:00:00 -0500 1271 service industry, bartender podcast, bartending life, restaurant workers, hospitality podcast, bar stories, coworker stories, server life, comedy podcast, workplace humor, bartender stories, FOH life, tipped workers, shift work, storytelling podcast 1 8 full true Things You Learn That Nobody Teaches You Things You Learn That Nobody Teaches You Send us Fan Mail

Twenty years behind the bar teaches you things no training covers.Β 

In Episode 7 of $1 is Not Enough, Steve breaks down the unwritten rules of bartending: how to read a room before something goes wrong, the right way to cut someone off (and why "I can't serve you anymore" is the wrong phrase), how to handle the friends who push back harder than the drunk person does, and the quiet social contract that regulars and bartenders share without ever talking about it.Β 

Real stories, real talk, no filter.Β 

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

Twenty years behind the bar teaches you things no training covers.Β 

In Episode 7 of $1 is Not Enough, Steve breaks down the unwritten rules of bartending: how to read a room before something goes wrong, the right way to cut someone off (and why "I can't serve you anymore" is the wrong phrase), how to handle the friends who push back harder than the drunk person does, and the quiet social contract that regulars and bartenders share without ever talking about it.Β 

Real stories, real talk, no filter.Β 

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L Buzzsprout-19651028 Sat, 15 Aug 2026 14:00:00 -0500 977 bartending, bar life, service industr,y hospitality, bartender, bar stories, behind the bar, bartending tips, tipped workers, one dollar is not enough 1 7 full true Long Weekend, Weak Paycheck Long Weekend, Weak Paycheck Send us Fan Mail

A long weekend behind the bar sounds like a recipe for good business and good money.

Not this time.

In this episode of $1 Is Not Enough, Steve breaks down a frustrating weekend behind the bar. Friday night looked packed, but the entire bar was essentially filled by one family. Saturday was steady, but the real fun started when the bartenders weren't getting tipped out by servers, while still being expected to help with their tables and clean up after customers in the billiards room.

Two shifts. A whole lot of work. About $250 total.

This is the reality of working behind the bar that customers don't always see. The cleaning, the running around, the extra work, the tip-outs, and the endless little things that somehow become the bartender's responsibility.

After 25 years behind the bar, Steve has learned one thing:

The drink might be free, but the bartender isn't.

Welcome to $1 Is Not Enough, where bartending stories, customer insanity, workplace nonsense, and 25 years of experience come together for an honest look at what really happens on the other side of the bar.

Subscribe, follow, and share your own bartender stories in the comments.

#DollarIsNotEnough #Bartending #BartenderLife #BartenderStories #RestaurantLife #ServiceIndustry #BehindTheBar #Hospitality #BartendingStories #CustomerStories

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

A long weekend behind the bar sounds like a recipe for good business and good money.

Not this time.

In this episode of $1 Is Not Enough, Steve breaks down a frustrating weekend behind the bar. Friday night looked packed, but the entire bar was essentially filled by one family. Saturday was steady, but the real fun started when the bartenders weren't getting tipped out by servers, while still being expected to help with their tables and clean up after customers in the billiards room.

Two shifts. A whole lot of work. About $250 total.

This is the reality of working behind the bar that customers don't always see. The cleaning, the running around, the extra work, the tip-outs, and the endless little things that somehow become the bartender's responsibility.

After 25 years behind the bar, Steve has learned one thing:

The drink might be free, but the bartender isn't.

Welcome to $1 Is Not Enough, where bartending stories, customer insanity, workplace nonsense, and 25 years of experience come together for an honest look at what really happens on the other side of the bar.

Subscribe, follow, and share your own bartender stories in the comments.

#DollarIsNotEnough #Bartending #BartenderLife #BartenderStories #RestaurantLife #ServiceIndustry #BehindTheBar #Hospitality #BartendingStories #CustomerStories

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L Buzzsprout-19648505 Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:00:00 -0500 972 1 6 full false I Don't Care If You Were Born Before 9/11, I Still Need Your ID I Don't Care If You Were Born Before 9/11, I Still Need Your ID Send us Fan Mail

"I was born before 9/11."

That's nice.

I still need your ID.

In this episode of $1 Is Not Enough, we're talking about one of the most common arguments bartenders hear: customers who get offended about being carded, and people who think a picture of their driver's license on their phone is somehow the same as carrying the real thing.

I'll explain why bartenders ask for ID, why the rules exist, and why your convenience isn't worth someone else's job.

If you've worked in bars or restaurants, you've definitely lived this conversation.

Like, subscribe, and let me know your craziest "I don't have my ID" story in the comments.

submit stories to stories@onedollarisnotenough.com

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

"I was born before 9/11."

That's nice.

I still need your ID.

In this episode of $1 Is Not Enough, we're talking about one of the most common arguments bartenders hear: customers who get offended about being carded, and people who think a picture of their driver's license on their phone is somehow the same as carrying the real thing.

I'll explain why bartenders ask for ID, why the rules exist, and why your convenience isn't worth someone else's job.

If you've worked in bars or restaurants, you've definitely lived this conversation.

Like, subscribe, and let me know your craziest "I don't have my ID" story in the comments.

submit stories to stories@onedollarisnotenough.com

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L Buzzsprout-19648497 Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:00:00 -0500 795 1 5 full true A Dollar a Drink A Dollar a Drink Send us Fan Mail

I posted a TikTok about tipping and the Internet had opinions. Let's talk about the dollar-a-drink myth, the comments that proved my point, and the time someone left me thirty-seven cents on a hundred dollar tab.

🌐 onedollarisnotenough.com
πŸ“© Got a story? stories@onedollarisnotenough.com

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

I posted a TikTok about tipping and the Internet had opinions. Let's talk about the dollar-a-drink myth, the comments that proved my point, and the time someone left me thirty-seven cents on a hundred dollar tab.

🌐 onedollarisnotenough.com
πŸ“© Got a story? stories@onedollarisnotenough.com

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L Buzzsprout-19648490 Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:00:00 -0500 721 1 2 full true Welcome to $1 is Not Enough Welcome to $1 is Not Enough Send us Fan Mail

Meet your host, Steve Lunden. 20-plus years behind the bar, thousands of stories, and zero filter left. In this first episode, Steve breaks down what this show is, why it exists, and what you're in for. If you've ever worked in the service industry, welcome home. If you haven't, buckle up.

🌐 onedollarisnotenough.com
πŸ“© Got a story? stories@onedollarisnotenough.com

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

Meet your host, Steve Lunden. 20-plus years behind the bar, thousands of stories, and zero filter left. In this first episode, Steve breaks down what this show is, why it exists, and what you're in for. If you've ever worked in the service industry, welcome home. If you haven't, buckle up.

🌐 onedollarisnotenough.com
πŸ“© Got a story? stories@onedollarisnotenough.com

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L Buzzsprout-19648457 Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:00:00 -0500 234 1 1 full true Three Free Drinks Three Free Drinks Send us Fan Mail

What happens when 700 guests show up, everyone gets three free drink coupons, two bartenders call out, and nobody tells the bar staff until an hour before the doors open?

Chaos.

In this episode of $1 Is Not Enough, Steve takes you behind the bar for one of the most exhausting shifts of his career. Nearly $5,000 in complimentary drinks were poured during a VIP grand opening event, leaving six bartenders scrambling to keep up with nonstop orders. After hours of shaking cocktails, changing kegs, restocking bottles, and serving hundreds of guests, the night's payout was just $35.

This isn't a story about bad customers. It's a story about poor planning, unrealistic expectations, and the hidden cost of "free" promotions on the people who make them possible.

If you've ever worked in hospitality, you'll probably be laughing, shaking your head, or reliving a shift you'd rather forget.

In this episode:

  • The reality behind VIP grand opening events
  • Why "free drinks" usually mean more work, not less
  • How poor planning impacts bartenders' income
  • What guests can do to support service staff, even when the drinks are free
  • The story behind one unforgettable $35 night

Whether you're a bartender, server, restaurant manager, or just someone who enjoys hearing what really happens behind the scenes, this episode is for you.

Pour yourself a drink, preferably one you paid for, and let's get into it.

Submit your stories to: stories@onedollarisnotenough.com

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

What happens when 700 guests show up, everyone gets three free drink coupons, two bartenders call out, and nobody tells the bar staff until an hour before the doors open?

Chaos.

In this episode of $1 Is Not Enough, Steve takes you behind the bar for one of the most exhausting shifts of his career. Nearly $5,000 in complimentary drinks were poured during a VIP grand opening event, leaving six bartenders scrambling to keep up with nonstop orders. After hours of shaking cocktails, changing kegs, restocking bottles, and serving hundreds of guests, the night's payout was just $35.

This isn't a story about bad customers. It's a story about poor planning, unrealistic expectations, and the hidden cost of "free" promotions on the people who make them possible.

If you've ever worked in hospitality, you'll probably be laughing, shaking your head, or reliving a shift you'd rather forget.

In this episode:

  • The reality behind VIP grand opening events
  • Why "free drinks" usually mean more work, not less
  • How poor planning impacts bartenders' income
  • What guests can do to support service staff, even when the drinks are free
  • The story behind one unforgettable $35 night

Whether you're a bartender, server, restaurant manager, or just someone who enjoys hearing what really happens behind the scenes, this episode is for you.

Pour yourself a drink, preferably one you paid for, and let's get into it.

Submit your stories to: stories@onedollarisnotenough.com

Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L 0836e46b-1457-4d29-a37c-6c53cb53a762 Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:46:17 -0500 781 1 4 full true Make it Strong Make it Strong Send us Fan Mail

"Make it strong." Three words every bartender has heard a thousand times. Steve breaks down what it actually means, the types of people who say it, and why it tells your bartender everything they need to know about you before the drink even hits the glass. Plus, the "I'll take care of you" bribe, the send-back, the pour watchers, and the right way to actually get a stronger drink without making your bartender's eye twitch. This show isn't just about bad tippers. It's about everything behind the bar.


🌐 onedollarisnotenough.com
πŸ“© Got a story? stories@onedollarisnotenough.com


Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Send us Fan Mail

"Make it strong." Three words every bartender has heard a thousand times. Steve breaks down what it actually means, the types of people who say it, and why it tells your bartender everything they need to know about you before the drink even hits the glass. Plus, the "I'll take care of you" bribe, the send-back, the pour watchers, and the right way to actually get a stronger drink without making your bartender's eye twitch. This show isn't just about bad tippers. It's about everything behind the bar.


🌐 onedollarisnotenough.com
πŸ“© Got a story? stories@onedollarisnotenough.com


Support the show

πŸ“² Follow the Show

πŸ›’ Merch


Send Your Stories:
Got a coworker who pulled this? We want to hear it. Email stories@onedollarisnotenough.com or DM us on Instagram. The best ones get read on a future episode.


Support the Podcast

Enjoying $1 Is Not Enough? Help keep the drinks flowing and the stories coming. If you want to support the show, you can become a monthly supporter through Buzzsprout. And if you donate $10 or more, I'll give you a shoutout in the next episode as a thank-you for helping keep this thing alive.

Support $1 Is Not Enough

Because apparently, producing a podcast costs more than a dollar.

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review wherever you're listening. It's one of the fastest ways to help new people find us, and it genuinely makes a difference. Thanks for being here.

$1 Is Not Enough is a comedy and commentary podcast about life in the service industry. Listener discretion advised. Some stories ...

]]> Steve L 8ce9200b-ce91-4f16-b395-bbe292bca0cc Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:45:50 -0500 1370 1 3 full true