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Modern-day butlers

Ask most people to imagine a butler, and they’ll probably envision a version of Carson from Downton Abbey; a character relegated to historical dramas, as opposed to here and now. Because of television, many people also believe that butling is a very British thing. Actually, the French invented the concept of a butler and the Americans invented the modern butler profession. Most butlers are employed in the USA and in the Middle East. The best butler school in the world is located in The Netherlands. The best service in the world can be found in the Far East. All around the world, butlers are the perfect embodiment of providing service.

Indeed, today, tens of thousands of butlers still work at private homes, resorts, and luxury hotels, roles that look little like those portrayed in period dramas. Instead of polishing silver or greeting guests, the butler may oversee installation of a new heating system or pay all the household bills. Or if a butler works in a hotel, he or she may fetch a favorite brand of beer or a pair of cufflinks, or pack suitcases. “Whatever it is, we can get it for them,” says Ike Podlesny, an American hotel butler. “As long as it’s not illegal or immoral, we’ll get it done.”

Butlering classes cover practical matters like getting red-wine stains out of a decanter and proper placement of the salad fork. There is also a list a butler should never do. For instance, a butler never offers his hand to be shaken. He or she never sits down in front of his or her boss, and never says “You’re welcome” to a guest. If they have to say anything at all, etiquette requires to say “My pleasure.” If a butler makes an error in front of a guest, apologies should be succinct – or not made at all – with more elaborate apologies to the employer in private.

To land a new assignment, many butlers work with placement firms. Many become butlers after they outgrow another job as a personal chef or a nanny. Some attend one of a handful of “schools” or institutes that offer training, or they may learn on the job. Salaries can range from $85,000 to $150,000, although some command more depending on the client’s needs including the number of homes they own. While butlers on television and in films are males, women are working in the field, as well. There is still demand for the traditional butler who will pack and unpack clothes, greet guests and make sure the household is running smoothly. That said, today’s butler must also be tech-savvy and prepared to travel at a moment’s notice.

The modern butler, for example, is less likely to be polishing silver than to be overseeing an interior design project or assisting with the purchase of a new yacht. Job duties have morphed over the years with some butlers now called estate managers or household managers and many serving as executive personal assistants. Multi-lingual and traveling butlers who can serve as concierges are in great demand. The travelling butler is the ultimate support tool when on the road for business or pleasure. They’re familiar with the culture and know how to get things done to make sure their employers have a smooth stay. Clients are also looking for tech-savvy butlers who stay abreast of the latest software and security systems. Butlers must have a strong knowledge of technology, whether they’re called upon to download pictures of the family or keep a smart home running seamlessly.

Discretion is, of course, a paramount job requirement. “A lot of it is common sense,” says Ike Podlesny. He points out that many families require staff to sign a confidentiality agreement. Butling obviously isn’t a career that one takes on lightly.

Based on information obtained from: The International Butler Academy – Interesting Facts