| If you're considering becoming a bartender as | | | | With the busy environment in most bars and |
| either a full or part time job, it's best to know | | | | clubs, training bartenders has become a difficult |
| going in that you've got a lot to learn going in to | | | | task with many bartenders being under-trained |
| this area. While many bars or restaurants will have | | | | and ultimately quitting or getting fired because |
| a "cheat sheet" available to you when you're not | | | | they fail to perform up to par. Enter bartending |
| sure about how to make a particular drink or | | | | school. |
| when you're first learning, they expect you to | | | | At these specialized schools, you'll get to learn all |
| know many of them, especially the most popular | | | | the finer points of bartending, from customer |
| ones, by memory very quickly. Whether | | | | service to bar tricks. You will learn to mix all the |
| someone's asking for a Jaeger-bomb or one of | | | | most popular drinks, as well as the correct ways |
| your establishment's signature martinis, you better | | | | to pour a beer from a tap or pour wine from a |
| know exactly how to make it. | | | | bottle. (Believe it or not, there are proper ways |
| You'll also need to know proper sanitation | | | | to do both.) Without the crowded club or bar |
| processes, personal hygiene requirements, | | | | environment, you're free to learn at a pace that |
| customer service, etc. Many people think that | | | | isn't hectic and will help guarantee you'll remember |
| learning to bartend is as simple as learning how to | | | | what you did. In a club at midnight, it's really hard |
| mix a few drinks - some even think there's | | | | to remember which liquors went into that layered |
| nothing to know, just how to pour bottles into a | | | | shot in what order and at what measurement, |
| glass with ice when someone orders a Jack | | | | but at 2 PM in a well lit classroom, it's easy to see |
| & cola. | | | | an instructor do it, repeat the process, and |
| A few skills you'll need | | | | practice as much as you need until it's done |
| First and foremost, as a bartender you'll need to | | | | reflexively. |
| be a natural people person, or be really good and | | | | Bar schools generally don't use real liquor - that |
| faking it. You'll be talking to people all night, and | | | | would make tuition entirely too expensive and, |
| you'll need to be enjoying yourself the entire time | | | | let's face it, many of the students would be drunk |
| (or at least look like you are). Not knowing what | | | | by the end of class. They use colored mixtures |
| you're doing will translate as bad customer service | | | | to represent the liquors, but they do use the |
| when you get frustrated or take too long to mix | | | | actual liquor bottles you'll find in a bar. |
| a drink. | | | | A classroom in a good bar school will be designed |
| You'll need confidence that you can do the job, as | | | | to look just like a bar or cocktail lounge. You'll |
| all night you'll be lifting potentially heavy and | | | | learn at a real bar, complete with stainless steel |
| slippery glass bottles. Some place will even expect | | | | sinks, soda guns, liquor bottles and professional |
| bar tricks - such as bottle flipping or the ability to | | | | glassware. You'll pour using the same bottles, soda |
| artistically pour more than one drink at a time. | | | | guns and glassware you can expect to use in a |
| You'll also need a working knowledge of the drinks | | | | real bar environment and the instructors are |
| you'll be pouring - you'll need to know about liquor, | | | | professional bartenders and mixologists. |
| beer, and wines and have the ability to suggest a | | | | Many schools also have a job placement service |
| drink based on sometimes sketchy descriptions: "I | | | | you can use during your attendance and after |
| want something fruity" or "I've had a long day, I | | | | your graduation. |
| need something strong and smooth". These | | | | With one of these programs behind you when |
| guests don't know what they want, and probably | | | | you're looking for a job, you'll be able to say you |
| don't care how expensive it is, as long as it | | | | have the knowledge and much of the experience |
| satisfies their needs. | | | | needed to do the job. The fact that the |
| What to expect from the school | | | | classroom setting is set up like a bar will translate |
| With the rising popularity of bars and clubs as a | | | | to the job very easily, almost as if it were |
| way to unwind after a hard day or week, | | | | actually on the job training. |
| bartender's schools have become increasingly | | | | Once you've graduated, you'll have the skills, |
| popular ways to train for jobs catering to urban | | | | confidence and knowledge required to succeed in |
| nightlife. | | | | this demanding job. |