| You've decided that becoming a bartender is your | | | | way to make a living for the right person. So now |
| calling. It looks fun and the easy money will make | | | | you need some experience. While difficult, it is |
| all your dreams come true! OK, well, let's back up | | | | possible to get a job bartending without |
| just a bit. If you want to take a stab at tending | | | | experience. I would suggest places like a bowling |
| bar then that's fine. It can be very lucrative and | | | | alley in the summer. They will often hire you and |
| it's actually a very stable job for the right person. | | | | train you if you start in the summer when it's |
| True, you can make a lot of money bartending. | | | | very slow. You won't make much but when fall |
| Even at a small establishment you can make a | | | | hits you will do real good and you'll have your |
| living. I don't know about the easy money though. | | | | experience. |
| What may appear to be easy is actually a highly | | | | Some small taverns may also give you a chance |
| skilled bartender making it look easy, and likely the | | | | if you show enthusiasm about wanting to learn. A |
| same goes for the fun part too! | | | | lot of these places serve mostly beer and just a |
| Bartending is much more than pouring and mixing | | | | few of the common mixed drinks. But remember, |
| drinks. Ok, I figured you knew that already but it | | | | this isn't about learning drinks! This is about learning |
| had to be said. Now bear with me here. This is | | | | what it's all about. If you can do it on a small |
| why most establishments require experience. If | | | | scale, then you will likely be able to do it on a |
| you want to become a bartender then first | | | | larger scale and the bar owners and managers |
| understand what the job really is, not just what | | | | know this better than you do! So swallow your |
| you see as a customer. You must first like being | | | | pride if you want to become a professional |
| around people and comfortable with that. Can you | | | | bartender and try landing a bartending job at one |
| small talk about almost anything? Good, that's a | | | | of these places. |
| requirement. Can you handle a lot of pressure and | | | | If you are a woman, cocktail waitressing can be a |
| even if you start to lose your train of thought, | | | | big help as it will show you are experienced in |
| can you hide it? Great because you will need to | | | | dealing with people and familiarizing yourself with |
| do so quite often. You'll also need a pretty good | | | | some of the drinks. And being a waiter or |
| memory and basic math skills is a must. You'll be | | | | waitress in any restaurant is a huge help! Even if |
| on your feet for hours and even if you're hurting | | | | it's just a family restaurant with no alcohol being |
| you must be able to maintain a cool, happy | | | | served you will have a huge advantage of being |
| attitude and ignore the pain and any mental stress | | | | hired over someone with no experience. This IS |
| you may be going through. | | | | experience. All that's missing is the alcohol aspect. |
| Are you truly dependable and trustworthy? You | | | | In this case, if you walk into a slow tavern |
| need to be. You also must be a leader. Other | | | | needing help or possibly the bowling alley situation, |
| employees will look up to you and you must | | | | you will have a decent chance of being hired. |
| always be willing to help them out when you can. | | | | If you have a lot of experience serving food, I'd |
| When you are a bartender, you are holding a | | | | suggest an inexpensive bartenders book or guide |
| position that demands leadership, responsibility and | | | | just to familiarize yourself with some of the tools, |
| trustworthiness. People look up to bartenders, | | | | lingo, drinks etc. Just knowing a little bit about the |
| customers and fellow employees alike, and you | | | | business and sounding intelligent at the interview, |
| must respect the position you hold. The bar | | | | along with your food serving experience, will get |
| owner puts a LOT of trust in you. That is why | | | | the attention of the interviewer in a positive way. |
| you make the "big bucks" and if you can't meet | | | | Don't forget to smile! |
| these qualifications and maintain them day in and | | | | Next time we meet you will have become a |
| day out, you won't last. | | | | bartender. I'll be ordering a White Russian from |
| Ok, so are you still in? Great! This is a fantastic | | | | you, please, and keep the change! |