| Everyone likes to imagine they can do it. | | | | hard day's work no one wants to see a |
| Bartending looks simple. Mix a few cocktails, chat | | | | bartender juggle with the bottles. A well mixed |
| to people. What could be easier? But in fact | | | | drink and some conversation is preferable. |
| bartending is a skill that takes time to learn. | | | | The champagne swilling hedge fund managers will |
| The bartender who can stand chatting to | | | | entertain themselves when business is good. |
| customers while he or she polishes a glass is a | | | | When it's bad they just want a shoulder to cry |
| bartender who has got a well organized bar and is | | | | on. Being a cross between a psychiatrist and a |
| on top of the business of bartending. So if you | | | | mother is the role of the bartender. |
| plan to go into bartending take the thing seriously | | | | The bartender who has every cork screw, |
| and learn how to do it properly. | | | | shaker and bottle in its place and knows the |
| You may be able to study bartending at college | | | | drinks is a profitable bartender. An efficient |
| or take an online course. This should give the | | | | bartender can serve the customers quickly and |
| beginning bartender a lot of valuable know how. If | | | | politely even when the bar is busy. What is more |
| you want to make a career out of bartending | | | | they have an eye on profit margins. There is no |
| and especially if you want to open your own bar | | | | wastage. A couple of smashed bottles of spirits |
| then you should think about taking a course. A | | | | will make a serious dent in the establishment's |
| good course in bartending will steer you round a | | | | profits. |
| lot of pitfalls. | | | | The mark up on drinks may be high but so are |
| Your first step is to know your drinks. If you are | | | | the rents on prime real estate in a good business |
| serving wines then learn where they come from. | | | | area. The bartender must be aware of best |
| Get to know your beers. If you need to serve | | | | business practice. There is always an element of |
| beers from the cask then learn to draw them | | | | theatre in a bar but that should never override |
| properly. If your bar serves cocktails then learn | | | | the primary aim which is to make a profit. |
| their names and the recipes of the most popular | | | | A good bartender will increase the profitability of |
| ones. | | | | a bar. This is important whether you are setting |
| The customer does not want to see the | | | | up your own place and hiring bartenders or you |
| bartender reading the ingredients as they mix the | | | | are a bartender looking for a job. As a skilled |
| drink. A good bartender knows these off by | | | | bartender you are a marketable commodity. |
| heart. As your experience develops you must be | | | | Some people start out in bartending as a way to |
| constantly expanding your repertoire. The bigger | | | | pay their way through college and then find that it |
| the bartender's repertoire the classier the bar | | | | becomes their career. They get to like the work |
| they can work in and the better the pay will be. | | | | and as a graduate they have the intellectual ability |
| Knowing your drinks is more important that the | | | | to make a go of what is a very competitive |
| juggling tricks that some bartenders go in for. | | | | business. One last word to the beginning |
| These are all very well in some bars but they are | | | | bartender: never drink. That has been the downfall |
| as irritating as waiters that dance on the tables. A | | | | of many a bartender. |
| customer might find it amusing once but after a | | | | |