| So you've decided that you want to be a | | | | Every bar will have one, and your classroom |
| bartender, and you're looking for your options as | | | | should include one in its bar setup. |
| far as getting into the industry while minimizing | | | | Speed racks - Normally located on or near |
| your stress and maximizing your income from the | | | | the ice bin, the speed rack consists of the house's |
| first shift. A friend told you about attending a | | | | "well liquors" as well as commonly used mixers. |
| bartender's school, or your web searches have | | | | Designed to aid the bartender by having the most |
| led you to consider the idea of attending a bar | | | | commonly used liquors and mixers all in one place, |
| school - and you've ended up here, wondering | | | | and always in the same place, the speed rack is |
| how you're going to choose a quality school to | | | | arranged in a specific order so that you can learn |
| teach you the ropes. | | | | to grab what you want without really looking. |
| So, what should you look for in a bartender's | | | | Again, every bar will have at least one, and your |
| school? What, exactly are the telltale signs of a | | | | classroom should have them too. |
| good institution of mixology? | | | | Professional barware - Glasses, shakers, |
| Before you choose your school, make sure you | | | | strainers, stirrers, etc. Your classroom should |
| actually physically visit the school and speak to | | | | include all the tools you'll be using behind a bar, and |
| the staff. Check to be sure their text materials | | | | they should be professional grade tools much like |
| are fairly recent and that you'll be getting up to | | | | the ones you're going to be using to work with |
| date information. Also, ask to see their | | | | and not something you'd see in any kitchen. |
| classrooms. Walking into the classroom should be | | | | Blenders, etc. - In a bar, you're going to be |
| like walking into a real bar - if you wouldn't order | | | | using blenders and other machines for a variety |
| a drink in there, then don't learn to mix drinks | | | | of drinks. These should be available in your |
| there. If there's an instructor available, ask him or | | | | classroom. |
| her about her professional background. What bars | | | | Real liquor bottles - Though you won't be |
| have they worked in? If the instructor's | | | | working with real liquor (it's a liquid designed to |
| unavailable, ask the other staff about the | | | | look, pour and act like the liquor you're pouring; |
| instructors' qualifications so you know you're | | | | except much cheaper because real liquor would |
| learning from someone who knows what they're | | | | add a lot of money to your tuition), you should be |
| talking about. | | | | working with real liquor bottles so you can get a |
| When you walk into the classroom, you're looking | | | | feel for the weight and the different types of |
| for much more than the "appearance" of a bar, | | | | bottles. |
| you're looking for the functionality of a bar too. | | | | Garnish trays and other miscellany - If you'd |
| Step behind the bar and see if it looks like what | | | | see it at your favorite bar or club, you should see |
| you've seen when you've looked behind the bar in | | | | it here. That includes garnish trays, soda guns and |
| your favorite restaurant or watering hole. It | | | | anything else you expect to see in a real bar. If |
| should have everything that your usual hangout | | | | you're learning to work with it, you need to have |
| has, or at least a good amount of it. | | | | it to learn with. |
| A few of the many things that you should expect | | | | Now that you know how to choose a bartenders |
| to find behind the bar: | | | | school you're well prepared to find your way |
| Three compartment steel sink - Every bar | | | | around the landscape. With the knowledge you've |
| needs this. While in some restaurants you can | | | | acquired, you can make an educated decision and |
| expect a dishwasher on staff, there are many | | | | get a quality education and a good start in the |
| pieces of equipment, glasses and other things that | | | | world of bartending. Enjoy your new vocation, and |
| a bartender will have to wash for him or herself. | | | | get out there and make some new friends and |
| Per federal regulation, there's a correct way to do | | | | good money! |
| this, and that requires a 3 compartment sink. | | | | |