Im thinking of taking up bartending....

[ackid]

Whats up guys,

Im thinking of going to bartending school. Anyone else have experence with this and/or bartending in general? What should I expect? How easy is it to find a job after completing the course?

ac.

[samsonite2100]

Hey ackid--I'm a bartender, and have worked in the restaurant/bar industry for years. Heres my opinion, take it for what it's worth...

Those bartending school classes are a bit of a joke with most people I know and work with. As in, having gone to one won't really help you get a job bartending. Or maybe it would help you get a job bartending at a TGIFridays, but not at restaurants or bars you'd want to work at.

Having said that, it might be worth going just to learn how to make drinks. Especially if you've never made drinks and have no idea what you're doing.

My advice, broadly, would be to pick a good restaurant wherever you live, start working there doing whatever they need, do a good job, and try to transition to bartending by getting in their good graces. Or pick a bar and apply to bar-back (helping the bartender on busy nights). This is an easy way to pick up on what a bartender does and how to make drinks.

But yeah, good luck. I personally really enjoy the job, and it's a good trade to learn--the world will always need bartenders.

[Golden_Rhino]

You wanna be this guy??

[samsonite2100]

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You wanna be this guy??



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I would love to be that guy.


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Aren't the best bartending jobs at big clubs etc?

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No, the best bartending jobs are at high-end bars and restaurants.

[Dyenimator]

I've done it for the past 2 years and I'm ready to get out. 20 years old and heading back to school like I should.

I imagine it would be easier working at a high end place. Only having 5-10 customers at a time, making expensive drinks. But when your bar is 60 feet long and you have to worry about your whole bar plus making drinks for the floor, it gets pretty stressful.

[bcbaseball]

Hey OP. I have been bartending for two years and the money is good. I like the job for more reasons than though. Those courses are absolutely worthless. You can get behind a bar and learn as you go. Good luck.

[Thremp]

Aren't the best bartending jobs at big clubs etc?

[bcbaseball]

The best jobs are not necessarily at the biggest clubs. The best jobs are where the best clientel hang out. Generally, the more people you serve, the better the job. Some club jobs can be so big that you end up not providing good service, everyone gets pissed, and you don't get tipped.

The money at any job improves over time as you get to know the regulars of any particular spot.

[Thremp]

[ QUOTE ]
The best jobs are not necessarily at the biggest clubs. The best jobs are where the best clientel hang out. Generally, the more people you serve, the better the job. Some club jobs can be so big that you end up not providing good service, everyone gets pissed, and you don't get tipped.

The money at any job improves over time as you get to know the regulars of any particular spot.

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I have a friend who works at a music hall on mostly the biggests shows. 200-800 is the pay a night, only tips. I just assumed it was a matter of drinks served per hour which is directly dependent on people there.

[bcbaseball]

Yes, the more you serve, the more you will generally make. The people you are serving will matter though.