The tender: Gina David
The bar: The Rogue Bar (423 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-947-3580)
The pedigree: You may remember Gina David from a few months ago, when we wrote about her late-night scuffle at Riva's Mexican Food in Tempe that left her in intensive care with a skull fracture and prompted Rogue to throw a benefit concert to help her out. Doing just peachy now, David's been at Rogue for more than seven years and can also be found pouring drinks at the equally dive-y Palo Verde Lounge in Tempe.
What's kept you bartending for seven years?
I like not doing the same thing every single day and hanging out with different people. You have good days and you have bad days, but you never know exactly what you're in for. Here there's a great variety because of the musical acts. Sometimes it'll be a rock show; other nights it's a dance party. It's better than working in an office, you know?
You worked in an office?
I was an administrative assistant at a bank.
What's the worst part of your job?
You do deal with a lot of crap. I hate dealing with drunks. I've had to kick out way too many people. A lot of times they'll come around the next day, not even remembering what happened. Or we get flowers or something.
You're not exactly the burliest girl. Do you kick people out yourself?
There was a girl who used to work here, and when she and I were together there were times when we would fly over the bar to get at people. I don't really do that anymore, though. We have guys that work the door and are really good about kicking people out when they need it.
You work at Rogue and Palo Verde. Why do you prefer the dive bars?
I've never been into the Scottsdale scene, or the Mill Avenue scene. I work at the kinds of bars that I would like to drink at. Rogue, Time Out Lounge, Palo Verde. That's where all my friends hang out, so why wouldn't I want to be there?
What's your drink?
Right now, I'm into vodka. Just vodka and soda water, usually. But I also like the flavored vodkas -- there's a drink around right now made with orange juice and blueberry vodka that tastes like breakfast.
You guys have a lot of different bands and genres of music here. Is there any music style that you just hate?
Nah. One night we'll have indie bands, one night will be country western, one night will be techno. There are times when the music sort of grates on you, but whatever. Most of the time the problem is volume -- some of the local bands who play here are really, really loud. I like bands that frequent the bar and don't just come here to do a show.
If you weren't bartending, what would you be doing?
Oh, god. I don't know. That thought kind of scares me. I've been trying to get into sound -- like all the equipment we use for shows. I'm also going to be learning to be a tattoo artist, and I can kind of do hair. But I'm not really sure what I want to do. I just know I never want to work in an office again.
If you could have a drink with anybody in the world, who would it be?
I'd like to share a drink with Lemmy. We could talk about music and stuff. And I'm sure he'd be really fun to drink with.
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