Are you ready to learn to be a bartender? Bar tending is an enjoyable and profitable career. To see some of the possibilities, take a peek at A Career as a Bartender: What to Expect from Wages to Advancement Opportunities.
I learned early that it's more than just mixology. Anyone can learn to mix a drink. A bartender makes the bar buzz, keeps the party going, and maintains control.
Breaking into the Bar Business: Become a Trainee
Do you have an outgoing personality? Are you a fast learner? How are you at memorizing? Are you driven to succeed? Are you willing to start at the bottom and work your way up?
I taught many bartenders how to bar tend from the ground up. Why? Because they asked. They wanted to work at my bar. They were familiar with the clientele. They were hungry for a job. They needed a supplemental income. The list of reasons goes on and on.
Before training a perspective bartender, I reviewed past employment, checked references, and interviewed the applicant to ensure they were up to the challenge. One major hitch for applicants was that Texas requires servers be at least 18 years of age. If everything checked out on the application, the interview went well, and the age requirement was met, then training began.
To train a bartender I literally put them to work behind the bar. I would sit at the bar and direct them as orders came in. Regulars would assist me by ordering different cocktails to acclimate them and give them some variety.
Granted, situations would arise where I would have to take over the bar. I never knew when the bar would get slammed. During heavy traffic I had my trainee waitress and observe me as I made drinks.
For three shifts we would work this way. At the end of those shifts I would send the trainee home with a list of drink recipes to memorize.
There was a time or two that an additional training shift was necessary. Frankly I did not mind. It allowed me one on one time with regulars and gave me more time to give the trainee pointers.
I learned early that it's more than just mixology. Anyone can learn to mix a drink. A bartender makes the bar buzz, keeps the party going, and maintains control.
Breaking into the Bar Business: Become a Trainee
Do you have an outgoing personality? Are you a fast learner? How are you at memorizing? Are you driven to succeed? Are you willing to start at the bottom and work your way up?
I taught many bartenders how to bar tend from the ground up. Why? Because they asked. They wanted to work at my bar. They were familiar with the clientele. They were hungry for a job. They needed a supplemental income. The list of reasons goes on and on.
Before training a perspective bartender, I reviewed past employment, checked references, and interviewed the applicant to ensure they were up to the challenge. One major hitch for applicants was that Texas requires servers be at least 18 years of age. If everything checked out on the application, the interview went well, and the age requirement was met, then training began.
To train a bartender I literally put them to work behind the bar. I would sit at the bar and direct them as orders came in. Regulars would assist me by ordering different cocktails to acclimate them and give them some variety.
Granted, situations would arise where I would have to take over the bar. I never knew when the bar would get slammed. During heavy traffic I had my trainee waitress and observe me as I made drinks.
For three shifts we would work this way. At the end of those shifts I would send the trainee home with a list of drink recipes to memorize.
There was a time or two that an additional training shift was necessary. Frankly I did not mind. It allowed me one on one time with regulars and gave me more time to give the trainee pointers.
Comments
Hello Sara! The best thing to do is be confident in yourself. I suggest you start with a small bar and gain some experience dealing with customers, serving and mixing drinks, and gathering a following. Scout bars and find places that have a mixture of day and night business. Apply at several places. Speak with the manager/owner directly. If you start with a day shift and prove yourself, you can easily move to a busier shift. You could also start at a nightclub as a waitress, beer bin girl, or shot girl; if you really like that environment, then move up to bartender. The business has a lot of great opportunities. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You can moonlight to experience different avenues. I hired a lot of girls/guys without experience or certification. You've got one up here: certification! Managers are willing to train, if you express true desire. Let me know how you do!
Sara
(Guest)
(Guest)
12/10/2008
I'm in the middle of getting my bartending certificate online. But I am worried that prospective employees wont hire me cause I just got it online and will start out as a trainee. Wont they want an experienced bartender instead??
A great overview! It sounds like a very fast paced job.
Sounds like a fun job to have. :-)
yes it was lots of fun, but quick learning you needed!!!!!!!!! awesome read
sounds like fun!!
I think I'm a bit old for the job but I would probably enjoy it.
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