How can i find a bartending job?!
How can i find a bartending job?
i just went through two weeks of bartending school and i'm now coming to realize that it may have been a waste of money. i'm finding out i may have just wasted time and energy trying to learn about 100 drinks when i'll probably only have to ever make 25 or so of them.
does anyone have any tips of what kinds of places i should start to look for a job, how i should present myself, and what drinks i should be studying the most?
also, should i make copies of my little bartending school diploma and make cards with my information on them to leave at places even when they are not currently looking to hire?
thanks.
Answers:
I would never suggest anybody go to bartending school as I feel it's a waste of money unless you own the school in which case you clean up. Most of these places will teach you certain things like how to mix a drink, how to garnish and their version of popular drinks. Problem is, a lot of drinks out there are made differently depending on where the bartender learned to make them.
In my travels and my time behind the bar, I've seen a Long Island Ice Tea made 3 different ways, a B-52 shaken and served over ice and a Cocaine served as a shooter. In the end it's less about the drink and how they expect you to make the drink.
Now, I hate to be the one to break it to you but your chances of getting into a bartending job with no experience is low. It's not impossible if you can show you know your way around the bar and are adaptable. But unless you're some kind of superstar, or they use an "autobar" system (which means any monkey can push a button to "make" the drink) you're going to have to work at it or start working a service bar first.
A service bar is where the customers don't contact you directly and only the waitstaff deal with you. The pressure can be high, but you normally don't have 15 people trying to flag you down.
Your other option is to get a job as a barback and work your way up. You'll be cleaning glasses, fetching ice and making sure the bar is properly stocked for the bartender to do his or her thing. It's a thankless job but if you shine they might let you pull some draughts or line up some splits when it gets busy.
Well, nearly every restaurant has a bar... the trouble is, often trustworthy waitstaff get promoted to bartender, b/c the bar is where you can make or break a restaurant on it's profit and food (liquor) cost.
Off the top of my head, I'm thinking:
Chili's
Outback
TGIF's
Bennigan's
any chain steak house or Mexican chain
privately-owned bars/clubs
You may also try working for catering companies, that provide a bar and bartender for private parties. if a customer at one of these ask for a card, discreetly give one, tell them you work "freelance" too.
Keep the bar-tending school to yourself. Check the want ads each week. It's easier, and less pressured, to get a job if you already have a job so you may just take anything at first. You will also get valuable experience. Or if you're out at a nice spot strike up a conversation with the manager to inquire if they are hiring.
Obviously you want to work somewhere that gets really busy since you work on tips.
Unless you have prior experience don't expect to become a bartender right away. It takes a lot more than just knowledge of drinks for a establishment to hire you.
I suggest looking for a barback job first. Basically it's a bartender's assistant who helps make drinks. You're more likely to get that kind of position with just going to bartending school.
Keep practicing and good luck!
You may consider Bartending School a waste of your time and money.... at first. It wont really help you get any bartending jobs right away. However, it did give you the basics of being a bartender but it wont open doors for you just by itself.
ALL RESTAURANTS want experienced bartenders who already have been in the thick of it. Since you have yet to be employeed as a bartender it will be very difficult to get a job initially as one.
I would not even mention that you took the course on the applications or interviews it will probably hinder you more than it would help.
It would be along the lines of applying to an airliner as a captain since you flew flight simulators on your PC at home. Knowing how to make a drink is important but knowing how to prioritize, and handle situations, smoothly, effectively, and efficiently is what really makes a bartender. This cant be taught at a bartending school.
I've seen bartenders buried with 35-65 service bar tickets at one time. FYI 20 tickets is usually too much for one person to handle. So be prepared to grab your ankles if your in a high volume bar/restaurant.
Where you can get a bartending job is a slower "local" bar that isnt over the top busy that is privately owned. Franchised bars and restuarants will only hire within or form peaple that have mad experience behind thier ears.
If you really dont want to work at a local bar then apply as a bar back at a busier restaurant/bar. Buy a back brace you''ll need it. Work hard and fast and you can be a bartender in a few months and dont complain. Let them know your taking the bar back position to show that you are a "GREAT" worker and that your serious about becoming thier bartender.
If you dont want to bust your *** a few months and work long and hard dont become a bar back.
So for a quick recap:
Small slower bars will higher ppl with less experience as bartenders.
99% of Corporate bars/restaurants promote thiers best employees to bartenders from within. Seek a bartender postioin first. When they say "no" seek a barback postion and work your butt off. After your hired for a few months and they "love" you as an employee remind them your here to be a bartender. A good time for this is roughly 2-3 months in.
And the only other way to get a bartender job is to be incredibly hot. Pretty much this factor only works for females.
They may have no bar skils at all and couldnt tell you whats in a rum and coke but they will bring in the boys which will bring thier wallets.
Take care of your regulars. Extend your hand to guests shake thier hands intro duce your slef and ask for thier names. Write thier names on thier check in no time flat you'll know what they like to drink and be calling them by name. They love that.
Every regular loves their fav drink waiting for them on the bar while they are walking in the door and a "Hey
Mosts love nicknames as well. At a bar use to regularly frequent, a supremely hot bartender use to write "Cutie" on my bar tab. I'd tip her insanely!!! Did I mention how hot she was? My other buddie was know as Johnny Bomber but thats another story.
So thats just a few insites from a guy whos been in this industry for 15 years. I've been everything from a dishwasher from age 15 to a Food and Beverage manager/Dept Head by the age of 20 for Marriott. Also have been expo, food runner, bartender, and server. Currently I'm 30 and still in the thick of our industry.