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Is it fun? Worth paying the price for bartending school? Any experiences?
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So I should just waltz into a bar with no experience, and no training, and ask for a job?Originally Posted by PJ and Bompton
don't go to bartending school
NikeAirsNCrispyTees wrote:
DO NOT GO TO BARTENDING SCHOOL.
YOU DO NOT NEED IT.
If you're trying to get a job at SOME country clubs, or some high roller club in Las Vegas, they might require it.
You HAVE to be humble, personable, likable, and a bit of a smart %@#.
Couple ways to get the job with no experience:
A) Apply for job as bartender (at a restaurant). Turn in the application to a MANAGER ONLY. Tell the manager that you realize that they may not be able to hire you right on as a bartender, but that you'd be willing to prove yourself as a barback or server for the time being.
B) Apply at a Mom and Pop restaurant that doesn't have a ton of business and get hired right away.
C) Apply as a bar back. You'll HAVE to learn to pour when it gets hella busy. Those times are your proving ground.
A few tips:
• Buy a book or two and learn the essentials, their measures, and go get yourself some spouts and learn to clean them, change them swiftly and gracefully, and pour accurately.
• Nothing will get you fired faster than being heavy handed with the bottle unless you're told to do so.
• Being able to toss the bottles around and pour from multiple bottles at a time is NOT necessary.
• Leave the attitude and pride at home. Be ready to learn and clean some less-than-marvelous things.
• Know how to use a speed opener (a piece of metal with a hole; for beer, naturally), present and open a bottle of wine and/or champagne
• Know how to please angry customers, but also be assertive. Once you're a bartender, there is no handholding.
• OWN YOUR BAR. If you work in a bar/lounge, what you say goes. If a customer is unhappy (in this case) tell them sorry and continue to pour. There will be more customers. Not everyone will like you.
• Learn a few crappy jokes. It never hurts.
• "Yes/No, ma'am," and "Yes/No, sir," go a LONG way.
• #**! happens. A bottle breaks, write it on your spill sheet, clean it, let the manager know, and keep pouring.
• Work as a team with anyone behind the bar. This isn't the place to flex your nuts to your coworkers. You'll need them.
Bartending is not as easy as many bartenders make it look. You have no one to blame but yourself when something goes wrong sometimes.
Overall, I loved it throughout college. You make friends, get some regulars, and learn a lot.
Like rayray said, there's money to be made, but it's not always there. Be willing to work the weekdays.
May the force be with you.
EDIT: I don't hate bartending school, and if you have no experience and there's a $100 or less class in your area then it's a good investment.
It's the $500 5 day classes that are advertised so much that get me. Bartending cannot be TAUGHT, per se. You learn through experience.
^All good advice.
Originally Posted by MPLSdunk
Waltz into one and apply for bar back. It is an entry level job that requires no experience. Better than getting scammed at school.Originally Posted by PJ and Bompton
don't go to bartending schoolThey won't care, bars will always hire the right kind of generally likeable person without experience. If they want you, they'll in train you. It's how you carry yourself as much as anything. Be relaxed and friendly but try and be genuine and assertive too. Smile and look comfortable, it helps keep everyone at ease. Also you're gonna have to be able to handle the pressure of extremely busy nights.Originally Posted by eddiehouse5
So I should just waltz into a bar with no experience, and no training, and ask for a job?Originally Posted by PJ and Bompton
don't go to bartending school
95% of how much you like it is gonna come down to your co-workers. It's the kind of job that just isn't worth having if you're not around good people, but is hard to leave if you're around great people.
absolutely wrong. there's not a bar in San Diego that will hire a male without any type of security or barbacking experience.Originally Posted by HelloHipHop4000
Originally Posted by MPLSdunk
Waltz into one and apply for bar back. It is an entry level job that requires no experience. Better than getting scammed at school.Originally Posted by PJ and Bompton
don't go to bartending schoolThey won't care, bars will always hire the right kind of generally likeable person without experience. If they want you, they'll in train you. It's how you carry yourself as much as anything. Be relaxed and friendly but try and be genuine and assertive too. Smile and look comfortable, it helps keep everyone at ease. Also you're gonna have to be able to handle the pressure of extremely busy nights.Originally Posted by eddiehouse5
So I should just waltz into a bar with no experience, and no training, and ask for a job?Originally Posted by PJ and Bompton
don't go to bartending school
95% of how much you like it is gonna come down to your co-workers. It's the kind of job that just isn't worth having if you're not around good people, but is hard to leave if you're around great people.
I was referring to bartending schools and courses, not work experience.Originally Posted by PJ and Bompton
absolutely wrong. there's not a bar in San Diego that will hire a male without any type of security or barbacking experience.
Females get by because looks sell, but if you are a male, you will need to start as a door guy or Barback.
Bay Ridge? Hmm, check your PM.Originally Posted by BRaTZ DoS
BTW im working friday night at a bar in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. PM me if interested. NTers welcome