bartending

[Aurah]

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anyone here bartend? if so how'd you get your job, and is bartending school a waste of time and money?

 

[nick_carraway]

I had a friend who bartended. She never went to school for it and as she tells the story, she was just asked if she wanted to work at the bar by the manager at a restaurant that she was eating at. Ever since then, she had it on her resume so it wasn't an issue.

She was hot though. Very. So your mileage may vary.

 

[notdeadyet]

anyone here bartend? if so how'd you get your job, and is bartending school a waste of time and money?

Personally, I think bartending schools don't do much other than demonstrate an interest.

The way lots of folks start out is by barbacking. You collect glasses, move kegs, clean taps, etc. From there, you can usually start with a shfit or two behind the bar here and there.

I'm sure you can probably walk into bartending jobs at total dives or some college mills where all you do is pull draft. And if you're an extremely good looking woman, saying it helps is an understatement.

btw, it's good to know the bar you're looking to work at, but for most managers, if you're a die hard customer, you're not a good guy to hire.

 

[doublejab]

I went to bartending school to learn the basics. It was a real help b/c most establishments want someone who is certified and trained.....

 

[liftingpro]

I just walked up and asked for my first bartending job. It was in a pretty nice club right on Ocean Ave in Miami Beach, FL. Tips were spectacular and I just kind of made it up as I went.

I guess I fell into that female advantage category though...

 

[notdeadyet]

Yeah, I think with most bars it works this way:

Attractive female >>>>>> Experienced guy >>> 2 week night class grad > Off the street.

 

[Decicco]

If you want to work at a classy place, either go to bartending school, be a hot girl, or work at a not-so-nice place first for your resume.

 

[ph8]

Yeah, I think with most bars it works this way:

Attractive female >>>>>> Experienced guy >>> 2 week night class grad > Off the street.

Yep. You hit the nail on the head.

 

[UVABranch]

I went to school...I definitely think it's overpriced, but worth it because the places I was interested gave me the benefit of the doubt w/o experience. I am a girl though so you never know. I didn't want to be a bar back so I wasn't found of that option. My school has "short courses," one of which was bartending, (only for those 21 and up). The theory is that you learn how to bartend for $60...in actuality a bartender "showed" us how he made drinks, and we drank them thus negating anything we learned that evening. :-D

Ideally work in a busy place. Tips are usually better and once you've been thrown into the fire a few times you figure it all out (unless you work at a martini bar in which case you'll need to memorize 30-60 new drinks). "When" I get into school I want to try to do it 2-3 times a month just to offset loans if possible.

 

[shantster]

I believe that in some states it might be required to go to a school if you are under 21, but over the minimum age. Don't quote me on that though.