According to the International Guild of Professional Butlers, the number of butlers in the world has increased steadily over the past 30 years. This is perhaps not surprising considering that interest in the lives of the household staff has been on the rise, as we can see with developments such as tours offered at historic stately homes such as Blenheim Palace, where visitors learn about the routines daily life of the people who work there.
As the former butler who goes by the pseudonym “Stevens” told The Guardian, today’s butler bears little resemblance to those in history, or to the characters we see portrayed in period dramas. He says: “At that time, the butler had to embody the virtues that were required of the head of the family, in addition to polishing the silver, decanting the wine and taking care that the rest of the staff did their duty, looking impeccable and following the protocols of their range.” Now, says Alan Miller, a 25-year-old butler, “the job of a butler is much more intense in terms of multitasking and smart technologies.”
What do butlers do today?
Stevens likens his role in the 21st century to being an actor in a multipurpose play: “I wear a mask (metaphorically, of course) that helps me navigate the line between obsequiousness and submission, while attending to all the whims of my master and request, however bizarre (providing pet dog Evian with ice cream), ridiculous (filling a library with books chosen to match the color scheme of the room), or impossible (24 hours to find tickets to the final of a world-famous sporting event).
Today, many butlers prefer to use the title “household manager” or “estate manager,” in keeping with the recent surge in demand for private domestics working in mansions and homes around the world.
The qualities of a good modern butler
Of course, any professional butler must be well versed in the proper etiquette for their client’s station and conduct themselves professionally at all times. However, as Stevens points out, they must also adapt to the culture of their client.
Stevens explains that one of the most difficult aspects of his role is getting to know his “master” well enough to predict how he will react to his plans and services. However, he stresses that loyalty and discretion are the most important qualities a good butler can possess. A butler must be a dependable and subtle confidant, as well as help customers with their daily lives.
However, the days of butlers acting like servants are long gone. Problem and conflict resolution skills are a must: “A good butler should offer a diplomatic solution to any uncomfortable moment, and never be afraid to take on a scary boss,” says Stevens. As Fortune.com explains, “butlers handle all the unpredictable needs of the home, while housekeepers handle the predictable ones, like cleaning rooms.”
New job opportunities for butlers
These days, butlers are not exclusive to stately homes or estates. Many butlers and housekeepers now work in hotels and luxury establishments that serve a multitude of clients every day. Ike Podlesny, a butler at The Lodge hotel in Georgia, tells Fortune.com that a butler working at a hotel may be responsible for running errands like fetching a favorite brand of beer or a pair of cufflinks, getting bags or hanging celebration decorations. However, wherever a butler works, the overriding message is that “as long as it’s not illegal or immoral, we’ll do it.”
These days, people can find themselves working as butlers following a variety of career paths, from attending elite training schools to progressing from jobs as a private chef or nanny. Whether acting as a personal assistant to an individual or a concierge to a business, every butler is required to anticipate the needs of their clients.
What is the modern butler like?
Far from the ways of the past, where almost all butlers were men and older, the face of home management is not much more diverse. Today, women work in the fields, as well as young people. According to Gary Williams of the British Institute of Butlers, “In general, women who have trained as butlers tend to go into ‘managing superyachts or private jets’ rather than property management.
The world of private service is constantly evolving and becoming more diverse and welcoming. Lord Somerleyton recently hired butlers Matthew Hardy, who is also a concert pianist, and his partner, Peter Thompson, to work for his family, The Telegraph reports. We can imagine the world of butlers as obsolete, but the reality is much more progressive: above all, butlers must be able to become part of the family.