Anyone a bartender? I want to be.

[Gord_oh]

I have been collecting unemployment for about a month now. Im fed up. I want to get back into something, but I dont just want another job. I want something I can stick with. Im 20 years old and will 21 in a month. I've worked in retail, cleaned kitchens, fixed guitars, all sorts of stuff. My ultimate goal is to open a guitar shop, but with that being a ways away, I want something to get me along until then.

Ive been looking into getting into bartending. Good money, a good way to network, it seems like it could be a good idea. Does anyone do this? Any tips to get into something like that? I found a bartending school in Detroit, about an hour drive from me, and several online certifications. The online ones scare me, Id rather gets hands on and know I am actually getting somewhere.

Anyone able to give me some advice?

[Auzzie-Phoenix]

The 2 biggest skills needed that can't be learned are a good memory and friendly demeanor. If you have both of these, I could see bartending as a good fit for you. Other than that, it's measurement accuracy with your mixes and the ability to keep up with a fast pace. I've had friends go to bartending school, but never found out if they got jobs in the field. But I'd say you're taking a step in the right direction.

[sloasdaylight]

When you're working a bar, after you get hired they'll be coaching and training you up, so you'll get plenty of hands on.

[Phalex]

There's one bartender at a place we play that is a real joy to watch in action. I've never seen anyone with the amount of hustle this guy has. I think he's been tending bar for something like 30 years, and he just flies behind the bar. I get a kick out of watching him work when the line to the bar is five deep and he's just buried.

[coolrunner989]

The bartenders I know all just applied to get a job. Some of them went to bartending school, said it didn't do much for them that they didn't get in the job training.

[MJ5150]

Experience cleaning kitchens, eh? Did you go to school for that?

Harvard University School of Kitchen Cleaning?

-Mike

[Deluge Of Sound]

Try to get a job as a bar back.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Try to get a job as a bar back.

Or get started at a restaurant. Usually, you can make the move from server to bartender after a little while if you display some hustle and a good memory. Once you have some bar tending experience on your resume then you can look for more profitable opportunities.

I did this for a few years after college until my engineering career got going. It's hard work and long hours on your feet, but the pay is pretty good.

[Yerf Dog]

Bartending School always seems kind of scammy to me.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

Bartending School always seems kind of scammy to me.

I know several people who have gone and I don't know anyone who got a bartending job out of it.

[EricF]

My only bartender experience has been at home parties, but these are some things that would make sense to me if I was going down that road...
- Get familiar with a lot of the classic drinks and how to make them properly (ingredients, rations, techniques). Pouring a beer or making a gin and tonic is easy, but I find it irritating when a bartender has to look up in a book - or worse, ask the customer - how to make a failrly common cocktail.
- Have a specialty or some in-depth knowledge about something - martinis, wine, beer, scotch, bourbon...
- Nothing is worse than a bartender with a bad attitude. Even if you feel like crap, fake it.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by EricF

My only bartender experience has been at home parties, but these are some things that would make sense to if I was going down that road...
- Get familiar with a lot of the classic drinks and how to make them properly (ingredients, rations, techniques). Pouring a beer or making a gin and tonic is easy, but I find it irritating when a bartender has to look up in a book - or worse, ask the customer - how to make a failrly common cocktail.
- Have a specialty or some in-depth knowledge about something - martinis, wine, beer, scotch, bourbon...

Good advice. You're going to need to do a good bit of drinking . . . as research . . . once you turn 21.

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

Bartending School always seems kind of scammy to me.

My wife went to one; after going out for a bit looking for work, she found they didn't give a poo about the bartender class. They all wanted experience as a waitress and/or a barback. She said the class was only good for fun, but not worth the money as it won't help much as far as getting a job is concerned.

[louieeadg]

I've bartended, managed, cooked, dishwashed, prepped in the kitchen, and lived in a zoo one summer for some extra cash.

Do not waste your money with bartending school unless you have extra money, already have a job and feel like driving an hour to detroit to learn something you could learn by either going to a bar and drinking or reading in a book.

I never hired people who went to bartending school. Learning drinks is the easy part. Knowing how to work in the service industry is a whole nother animal that does not live in a zoo you can pay money to see.

Best way-go to the library, its the weird brick building with no cars parked in the parking lot. Check out a book on drinks, buy the booze, make drinks and have your friends taste them. Do this on your nights off as a bar back. 6 months to a year or so of bar backing( i say six months b/c i don't know you) you should get promoted. If you don't, return the book and come back to TB for another job selection.

Any other questions I'll be happy to answer.

cheers

[EricF]

Originally Posted by louieeadg

I've bartended, managed, cooked, dishwashed, prepped in the kitchen, and lived in a zoo one summer for some extra cash.

Do not waste your money with bartending school unless you have extra money, already have a job and feel like driving an hour to detroit to learn something you could learn by either going to a bar and drinking or reading in a book.

I never hired people who went to bartending school. Learning drinks is the easy part. Knowing how to work in the service industry is a whole nother animal that does not live in a zoo you can pay money to see.

Best way-go to the library, its the weird brick building with no cars parked in the parking lot. Check out a book on drinks, buy the booze, make drinks and have your friends taste them. Do this on your nights off as a bar back. 6 months to a year or so of bar backing( i say six months b/c i don't know you) you should get promoted. If you don't, return the book and come back to TB for another job selection.

Any other questions I'll be happy to answer.

cheers

Hard to argue with experienced advice.

[louieeadg]

Originally Posted by EricF

Hard to argue with experienced advice.

I disagree.

[EricF]

Originally Posted by louieeadg

I disagree.

No, you don't.

[louieeadg]

Originally Posted by EricF

No, you don't.

Hmmm...

After exstensive research into the matter, yes, I don't. I always argue with myself.

[sloasdaylight]

Originally Posted by louieeadg

I've bartended, managed, cooked, dishwashed, prepped in the kitchen, and lived in a zoo one summer for some extra cash.

Do not waste your money with bartending school unless you have extra money, already have a job and feel like driving an hour to detroit to learn something you could learn by either going to a bar and drinking or reading in a book.

I never hired people who went to bartending school. Learning drinks is the easy part. Knowing how to work in the service industry is a whole nother animal that does not live in a zoo you can pay money to see.

Best way-go to the library, its the weird brick building with no cars parked in the parking lot. Check out a book on drinks, buy the booze, make drinks and have your friends taste them. Do this on your nights off as a bar back. 6 months to a year or so of bar backing( i say six months b/c i don't know you) you should get promoted. If you don't, return the book and come back to TB for another job selection.

Any other questions I'll be happy to answer.

cheers

OP this post is full of lies.

No one goes to the library.

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by louieeadg

I've bartended, managed, cooked, dishwashed, prepped in the kitchen, and lived in a zoo one summer for some extra cash.

Do not waste your money with bartending school unless you have extra money, already have a job and feel like driving an hour to detroit to learn something you could learn by either going to a bar and drinking or reading in a book.

I never hired people who went to bartending school. Learning drinks is the easy part. Knowing how to work in the service industry is a whole nother animal that does not live in a zoo you can pay money to see.

Best way-go to the library, its the weird brick building with no cars parked in the parking lot. Check out a book on drinks, buy the booze, make drinks and have your friends taste them. Do this on your nights off as a bar back. 6 months to a year or so of bar backing( i say six months b/c i don't know you) you should get promoted. If you don't, return the book and come back to TB for another job selection.

Any other questions I'll be happy to answer.

cheers