Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Bartending School

Hey guys, I decided to make a short update. Basically I am thinking about pursing a career as a bartender o_O. I've been doing some research on the topic and I've found out a few different things:
1. Bartender school - expensive, but seems to be worth it in terms of the amount of material you learn, as well as immersing yourself in the bar/club experience and using real materials etc.
2. Online course - much cheaper, but lacking the hands on experience/expertise you will have from an in-person course.
3. Neither? - I've read that some establishments take on inexperienced  prospects and train them themselves.
I haven't found anything that specifically states I would need some kind of credentials, and that's basically what I'm trying to figure out now..

Do any of my readers bar tend? How did you get into the field? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks guys :)

23 comments:

  1. I have a friend who was a bartender. He didn't have any experience because he got the job from a friend. He didn't like it because he doesn't like to drink alcohol so he quit lol.

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  2. Good luck. I'd just go to a slow bar and ask the bartender what he/she did to get into the biz after a few drinks.

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  3. How much do bartenders make thouh?

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  4. I know a friend who was a bartender for a while, I'll see if I can ask him for some info

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  5. Did it briefly for a while and got in by asking at a pub/bar.

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  6. well it depends on where you live. some states like texas require state certification, in texas it's called a TABC license, but when i lived in florida no license or anything like that was required.

    As for actually learning, taking a class at a real school is good training if you can afford it.

    Don't pay for an online class, there are plenty of free courses online that teach the same material every bit as well, and some are as good as a real school but without the hands on practice you'd get at a real school.

    Regarding the option of just getting a job and learning as you go; most places won't hire you as a batender and train you but you can sometimes find a job as a barback and then learn to bartend while you work that job and then they may eventually promote you. it's a great way to go about getting started if you can find that kind of an opportunity.

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  7. I did a bit of bartending last year, although it wasn't in a busy club (it was in a cinema), and you're right- most establishments prefer to train people up. That way you're still earning money whilst learning new skills on the job. Also if you really wanted to take any courses, the employer may fund you to do so. Good luck with it all!

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  8. Unless the state you are in requires a number of certifications for bartending, the school is a waste of time. You get the position off of experience rather than knowledge of drinks. I found this out the hard way. :/

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  9. Good luck... everyone loves a good bartender!

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  10. TRICK bartenders make WAY more money in tips, and you can't learn that online. Better to do the RL class.

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  11. Agreed 100% with what "life's a carnival" said.

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  12. why do you want to bratend in firstplace?

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  13. First of all thanks for the comments guys!

    @Rachel Neilson
    Depends mainly on the night, location, and the tender himself.. but a few hundred a night isn't uncommon, and I've heard reports of upwards of a thousand dollars (from very few people of course, and it's not an 'every-night' thing.

    @Lost.in.Idaho
    Gonna have to look that up.. hmmm.

    @meandmythinkingcap
    It looks like a fun sociable job, and it's apparently really good money. Plus no real schooling :D, and I can easily work there part-time, make a decent amount, and still have time for classes.

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  14. Only rule is I always get to drink free. Remember that and you're all set.

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  15. good luck with that man
    It's always good to follow your dreams

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  16. I knew a bartender once, he was underage,ex-military, wounded whilst skiing (which was why he wasn't deployed overseas), professional violinist who played for the national Irish orchestra and he did construction...all during the summer before coming to his second year of university. Dave Murray, the story of a God. Prepare to consider that everything he told is true.

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  17. So is it the 'hands on' aspect that draws you to it, or the social aspect? I think community colleges offer certification courses for not too much money if you're interested in that route.

    I worked in restaurants for years but never got out of the back of the house. There's more money to be made in the front of the house, that's for sure. But still, being in a restaurant working long, late hours will get old the more you grow. Imagine yourself years from now with a girlfriend who's not big into the bar scene. Maybe she'll stop by but you're still going home after she's asleep!

    If it's what you love then go get it but if it is just an interest maybe you can look for other 'hands on' jobs? The medical field has a lot and you'll never be jobless with those. Hours are long but they are more professional jobs. Community colleges offer many courses leading to jobs at hospitals--radiology and stuff like that. Just an idea. Go get 'em, Tiger!

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  18. I've thought about this as well for a summer part-time job but who knows...

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  19. I hear it's good money and you can meet a lot of really interesting people . But other than that, I don't know too much about bar tending. Just do your research and figure out what works for you. Good luck with everything! :)

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  20. I've known bartenders that make really good money. It depends on the location, but you can certainly make loads of money from it. Be prepared for annoying customers and loads of stress.

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  21. regarding the comment about trick bartenders earning more and not being able to learn it online...

    I bought a few unbreakable practice bottles and some dvds online and got started learning flair bartending. So you can learn it yourself, it just takes practice and dedication. some of the more basic tricks arent that hard to pick up and then it's just a matter of stringing them together into a routine.

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  22. You'll make decent money, until you get older and young people don't want to look at you anymore.

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