Sourced from The Urban Setting Thesaurus
SIGHTS
Wooden stools butting up against a brass foot rail at a high counter, crowded tables and booths, patrons (laughing with friends, hitting on strangers, watching a TV affixed to the wall or staring into their drinks), a bartender with rolled-up sleeves freshening drinks and filling orders being delivered by wait staff, stacks of highball glasses in green-gray dishwasher racks, a sink with a sprayer, bags of ice in a tray or sink, draining trays, beer kegs being switched out, straws and stirrers, plastic skewers and straws, blenders whirring with colorful icy concoctions, several multi-button soda dispensers, a wall of alcohol bottles, upside-down stem glasses in racks above the bartender’s head, plastic tubs of lime and lemon wedges, fridges with juices, milk and cream under the counter, an automatic coffee maker, a small computer station for servers to process payments, draft beer dispensers with brand logos on each tap, a mirrored wall behind the bar throwing back reflections of neon beer signs, servers weaving through the room with trays held high to avoid collisions, a line of highball drinks placed on square napkins or cardboard beer coasters along the bar, green or brown glass beer bottles wet with condensation, dim lighting, water rings on tabletops, several cardboard menu stands with drink specials on them, a scattering of pretzel bowls, a dingy hallway leading to restrooms at the end, flashing gambling machines, tables covered in a collection of shot glasses, half-empty cocktails or wine glasses, a wall phone for calling a cab, ads and advertisements for special events, restrooms (overflowing garbage cans, paper towels on the floor, dented stall doors, condom and tampon dispensers, urine on the seats, graffiti, someone throwing up)
SOUNDS
Customers (talking, arguing over sports, complaining about work or spouses), laughter, the clink of ice in a highball glass as someone drinks from it, the murmur of low voices from people who don’t want to be overheard, a patron telling his story to the bartender, the scuff of barstools being dragged or moved, a game or fight on the TV, piped-in or live music, the glug of beer in a bottle, the rustle of dollar bills, the thump of a bottle or glass on the bar, the occasional sound of glass shattering, the squeak of door hinges opening and closing, rattling air in the tubes when a keg goes dry, the whir of a blender, inebriated patrons swearing or yelling, tables and chairs being knocked down in a bar fight
SMELLS
Beer, cloying perfume, salt, sweat, citrus, bar food (nachos, hot wings, dry ribs, sliders, poutine, hot dips, fried pickles)
TASTES
The burn of straight alcohol shots (tequila, whiskey, etc.), yeasty or bitter beer, fruity drink mixes, bubbly soda water or pop, the zing of sour lime or lemon wedges, salt or sugar from a rimmed glass, spicy tomato Caesars, the burst of sweetness from biting into a maraschino cherry, the sour taste from drinking too much and then throwing up
TEXTURES AND SENSATIONS
Slippery beer labels covered in condensation, hard bar stools, slowly spinning a highball glass between one’s hands while lost in thought, absently picking at a beer label, awkwardly trying to open doors or flush a toilet without touching handles, the wooden counter pressing against one’s elbows as one leans in to talk, papery napkins or sugar packets, knees touching another person at the bar as one shows interest, a bumpy lime wedge in one’s fingers, a stray squirt of lemon or lime that stings one’s eye, thin napkins being used to mop up a spill, a floaty or spinning sensation at drinking too much
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF CONFLICT
A bar fight
A drunken patron getting too friendly or acting aggressive with servers
A breakup
Not having enough money to pay the bill
Someone passing out
Getting carded as a minor
A drug bust
The cops shutting the bar down for serving minors
A bouncer gravely injuring or killing someone
A drunken customer who refuses to listen to reason and gets behind the wheel
PEOPLE COMMONLY FOUND HERE: Bartenders, bouncers, cab drivers, patrons, police, the bar owner, wait staff
RELATED SETTINGS THAT MAY TIE IN WITH THIS ONE
Rural Volume: Wine cellar, winery
Urban Volume: Nightclub, pub
SETTING NOTES AND TIPS
Bars can be dingy dives, sports hangouts, or upscale hot spots, any of which may leave your character feeling like he’s in his element or just the opposite. Some may have dance floors and bring in live bands on certain nights. Look at your character’s personality and experiences and think carefully about your goal for this scene. Which type of bar will set the mood and offer the best opportunity to create conflict and tension or to encourage your character to let loose?
SETTING DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE The businessman hunched at the end of the bar grunted for a refill. Russell obliged, staring at him like he was a tricky jigsaw puzzle. He’d tried already to pull the man into conversation and was met with silence, and while this place attracted its fair share of solo drinkers, his tailored suit and carefully knotted silk tie said he didn’t belong here. Throughout the night, the guy was indifferent to the people cramming in next to him to order, and he didn’t seem to notice the makeup-caked cougars who kept trying to hit on him. His mission seemed to be one that Russell had seen many times before: to dull the pain as quickly as possible. And that left one question that no barman worth his bourbon could turn away from: why?
Techniques and Devices Used: Multi-sensory descriptions, simile
Resulting Effects: Characterization, foreshadowing
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