So, uh, any bartenders on BG?

[Kiro]

Planning on taking a 2 week "course" to get my Class 12 license. I've been making drinks for a while for friends already, so I know a decent amount of 'em myself.

What exactly should I expect taking these classes/tests? Obviously there will be taste, speed, cleanliness, how to use "equipment", customer service (lolfun), and.. that's all I can really think of.

I'm not really all that interested in learning about wine & champagne and all that shit because I mainly want to end up in a pub slinging stout and spending a minimal amount of time making mixed drinks, but I'll learn what I need to increase chances of getting a job.

So I basically just want to know what I should be expecting for the classes, advice on the work environment when I actually get there (dumbass angry drunk bitches, fights, etc) and what some of the "YOU MUST KNOW THIS AND DO IT WELL OR ELSE" skills are.

[Azkarin2]

Of course we have bartenders here. We have lawyers, doctors, politicians, consultants, etc. But sadly I am not a bartender. Where are you planning on bartending though? I imagine it makes a huge difference if you are in a college town, city, or country bar.

[Sythe]

No NO NOOOOO. Do NOT waste your money on these. (unless its too late) If you really wanna be a bartender make connections at bars and resurants and start from there.

Any perspective employer does not give a shit about some course you took. Why? Cause every place has different ways of making drinks anyway.

[Colenzo]

No NO NOOOOO. Do NOT waste your money on these. (unless its too late) If you really wanna be a bartender make connections at bars and resurants and start from there.

Any perspective employer does not give a shit about some course you took. Why? Cause every place has different ways of making drinks anyway.

A lot of bartending schools help you get jobs, its not like you walk out of there with a certificate in your hand and they say "good luck."

[Dakota]

I wasn't required to take any kind of bartending class here in TN, but then again I'm sure it is different in other states. All I had to do is take a 5hr class required for anyone who will be serving alcohol (servers and bartenders both). Other than that I kinda just got behind the bar by chance and learned as I went. Been doing it about three years now. Unless you are going to be working in a bar that serves only beer expect to spend a good amount of time mixing drinks and learning the recipes.

[Sythe]

No alot of them do. Well ok they dont just say bye but, alot of places just you a list of places that are now hiring. You can find that kinda stuff in the paper/craigslist. They won't call for you and vouch for you or anything. I'm just speaking from experience and friends who have gone through it.

[tommygunnz]

I did midwest bartending school in my freetime which is a 2 week course because extra night money is always good and some of my buds make serious cash even on weeknights in the smallest of bars. 100-200 bucks in cash on a Tuesday just serving beers and the occasiaonal Crown and Coke? Sign me the hell up.

To my suprise though when i put it down on my app a few of the managers told me alot of bars/bartenders hold a grudge to taking classes like this because it doesn't give you the real "Experience" of being slammed by customers. Made no sense to me either. I learned alot and I am sure the day i actually do get a part time bartending job ill forget many drinks and have to look shit up like a jackass but you have to learn somehow.

Lie lie lie on your app, say you have bartended somewhere before in Florida or some random state as they rarely do background checks, and let your schooling and past experience with friends do the rest.

[Ishido]

minimal amount of time making mixed drinks

This is extremely unlikely to happen in Seattle or around here, even Irish bar/pubs serve a lot of mixed drinks from what I've seen.

I'll talk to my friend who was a bartender on the eastside for about 5 years though, and get his opinion.

[Jotaru]

I'm also looking at a bartending job here in upstate Illinois, but I have like.. no experience doing it. I know maybe 5-6 drinks from dicking around with friends, but nothing major. The job is posted as no experience required, but I absolutely hate looking like a retarded dope in front of masses of people...

how fast can you pick up on making drinks / not suck totally and completely? How hard is it to pick up, whats the best / worst part? I've always done sales / went to school for engineering / all sorts of random shit, and a friend recommended bartending to me... I thought he was being ignorant and ignoring my previous experience, until he laid it out to me, and just said i needed something new and exciting in my life, and to give it a try. I might!

[Kiro]

I'm not taking classes to use it as some bonus on my resume, I just need my license to handle/serve alcohol. I'll learn how to make a bunch of drinks and basic bartending junk on top of that. I've been a "bartender" at ridiculous amounts of parties, but I've never had to deal with crazy ass idiot drunk females or arrogant faggot males looking for fights & shit.

Friends I know who have bartended before always tell me to have a good relationship with the bouncers. This "flair" shit sounds lame, because I just want to tend at irish pubs & shit. Not into the froofroo high class shitholes, but I bet the tips there would rock.

[fantasticdan]

I'm not taking classes to use it as some bonus on my resume, I just need my license to handle/serve alcohol. I'll learn how to make a bunch of drinks and basic bartending junk on top of that. I've been a "bartender" at ridiculous amounts of parties, but I've never had to deal with crazy ass idiot drunk females or arrogant faggot males looking for fights & shit.

Friends I know who have bartended before always tell me to have a good relationship with the bouncers. This "flair" shit sounds lame, because I just want to tend at irish pubs & shit. Not into the froofroo high class shitholes, but I bet the tips there would rock.

You don't need a license to bartend.

[Boyiee]

You don't need a license to bartend.

In some states, you do.

[Lbelle]

Funny you make this thread, cause I was just talking to my older brother about this earlier today. He's a bartender for some big club in Tampa and said that I'd have no chance at getting a job as one. I'm really interested in the job though, I feel like where I live (a college town, University of FL to be precise) some of the clubs bartenders must net a huge amount of cash per night. I've waitressed before, but not sure if that will help my cause.

Any advice for someone with literally NO experience, and just looking to get into the job from scratch?

[Khamsin]

This is extremely unlikely to happen in Seattle or around here, even Irish bar/pubs serve a lot of mixed drinks from what I've seen.

I'll talk to my friend who was a bartender on the eastside for about 5 years though, and get his opinion.

Yeah, I've been to a lot of bars in the area, from dives to upscale joints, and not a single place didn't serve cocktails. So know your drinks.

You don't need a license to bartend.

Well, Washington has this: MAST Permit - WA State Liquor Control Board

So if this is what you're doing, then go for it. But a bartender at once place mentioned how some bars will overlook people who have taken "bartender courses" like you see on TV and such, and recommends you don't put anything like that on your resume.

[Gregorio]

I've never heard of any states that require a bar tending degree or class. There are areas that require a certain percentage of the staff to be certified under programs though. For example PA has a RAMP (Responsible Alcohol Management somethingorother) program that some restaurants/bars are required to have people certified in.

If the school doesn't give you the certification needed to handle alcohol (if your state requires it) bar tending school is pretty much a waste of money. You learn best by memorization and repetition anyway...at least that's how I learned. You don't need to go to school to get a "Bar tending for Dummies" book and learn the major drinks in it and how to make them.

[Khamsin]

In WA:

If you serve alcohol or supervise the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption in the State of Washington: Everyone who serves or sells alcohol is required to get the appropriate permit within 60 days of hire.

Permits are issued by the trainer or program provider upon successful completion of a private, certified alcohol server training program. The method of delivery of the permit is up to the trainer.

Class 12 Mixologist Permit - For managers, bartenders and anyone who draws alcohol from a tap, mixes drinks with alcohol and is at least 21 years old. Class 12 permit holders are also authorized to perform duties included in the Class 13 permit.

Class 13 Servers Permit - For servers and ID checkers who are at least 18 years old that carry alcohol to the customer or open beer or wine and pour it into a customers glass at the customers table. Class 13 permit holders cannot mix drinks or draw beer or wine from a tap.

http://www.liq.wa.gov/images/MAST-Mixologist-permit.jpg
http://www.liq.wa.gov/images/Mast-class13-permit.jpg

However, the State does not offer these training programs. You have to find an independent course or training program that offers/qualifies for giving you this permit.

[Tsuko_Asura]

Bartender, sup.

The best advice I can give you depends on the situation. If you're wanting to 'tend at a restaurant, you have two real options, but if you want to start at an actual bar, you're pretty much down to one. If the former is the case, either start off serving, show management that you're damn good at it, and learn the most common drinks of the establishment. If you're awesome at serving in general, and express interest in bar tending, they'll likely bump you up in no time. Alternatively, and the sole option if the latter is the case, lie about your experience, and don't fuck up when they give you a shot. Make sure you know that shit inside and out, because I've seen first-hand how obvious it is when people don't know what the fuck they're doing.

Good luck.

EDIT: I did the former, because I really knew dick about drinks at the time, and I'm a horrible liar. >: But like I've said, I've seen the latter work perfectly(I actually helped a friend learn before he went and lied to my boss to get his job ), and I've seen it crash and burn.

EDIT2.0: Can't believe I forgot this.. While I'm sure you'll think this is silly, are you even remotely attractive? Unfortunately, as far as the food/drink service industry goes, most places can be pretty strict about physical appearance. I know that at my work, if someone comes in looking to apply and asks to see someone about their application, our managers have a 7+ standard to even give them a chance. If we come back their telling them its some flat-chested troll or some ugly guy, they tell us to let them know we'll call them if we're interested, and then.. Don't. It sucks, but apparently pretty people sell more than not-so-pretties.

[Alvinho]

I started working as a barback @ a local club in Ft. Lauderdale (FL) when I was 18. One beautiful night, two weeks after I started, the bartender quit right before opening, and it was all on me. I handled myself well, and got the job at the end of the night. By then I had already figured out what most customers were used to drinking (not individually, but the most popular drinks consumed there), and had learned how to make the mixed drinks from watching/asking other people. It helped that my best friend at the time was taking a course @ ABC (some bartending school in Miami), and my brother was a bartender as well.

As far as handling yourself at the work environment, as a bartender, you are everyone's best friend, specially since you're looking to work at ‘‘Irish pubs & shit’’. Customers will come to you with their problems, will want to talk about the game, politics, etc. Some will simply want to unwind, and some will want to party. Whatever the case, be prepared to make them feel welcome and comfortable. As you ask them what they want, or as they tell you what they want, place a napkin in front of them; it'll make them feel like you're giving them attention (and you are). You want to be as likeable as possible, specially to your customers, since they're the ones tipping you. Be nice to your bouncers and be nice to your barbacks (you want them on your side). Just be friendly and outgoing, without going overboard. Be polite, specially to women. Don't flirt with them unless they flirt with you first (it looks bad otherwise), and if a gay guy hits on you, and you're not gay, don't go all homophobe; just brush it off, and let him know that's not what you're into. Laugh if necessary, it always worked for me.

Different areas calls for different things, I suppose. I've tended at restaurants that were big hits w/ tourists, so information about local spots like clubs, restaurants, tourist attractions, places to avoid, fastest/best way from point a to point b, (that kind of thing), will make customers happy, and make them feel more at ease (read: generous). Also, I always had something to recommend if a customer wanted to try something different. More often than not, this can be crucial into winning yourself a regular.

Dealing with drunk people is always a bad experience, seeing as ther are many different types of drunks. Keep track of how many drinks you're serving each customer in the amount of time they're there (very easy to do with most of the software restaurant/pubs use), and you if you feel a particular customer has had too many drinks (let your manager know this, to cover your ass), and he asks you for another, p-o-l-i-t-e-l-y tell him you're not allowed to serve him any more alcohol that night (also discuss this with your manager beforehand, he should be the one intervening). Most of the time, this will make the customer feel offended, and will make you lose your tip, but you can be liable for stuff if you serve him too much alcohol, so you're better off losing the tip. Also, I wouldn't reccomend offering him a non-alcoholic drink (like soda, or juice), unless he asks you what you can serve him first. Still, depending where you live, he may, and will, come back tomorrow/next week, and do the same shit again, and you just have to smile and deal with it. If he gets frisky, he's no longer your problem, and should be handled by security staff.

All of this of course, is opinion, based on my own experiences.

[AoE]

I took a bartending class recently and I plan on applying to places once school starts again. I can't speak for other people because I don't know what their school offered but I learned a shit load of drinks in a short amount of time, a little history about where beers, rum, and such come from, and do's and don'ts of becoming a bartender from having an instructor who had 11 years of experience who wasn't afraid to share that experience with us.

After passing our tests (we pretty much did speed drills the last 3 days to get in the habit of atleast making 20 drinks in the span of 6 mins which is hard to do if you don't know what's in your drinks or where your shit is supposed to be), we get offered job placement help, every Tuesday and Thursday we get offered a training bar type deal where the school collaborates with a real bar to train their "alumni" and we get to take a refresher course to brush up on what you may have forgotten free of charge.

Personally speaking, I'm sure some of this I coulda picked up on my own but from what I was offered, I'd rather be prepared for something I want to use to make money instead of going cold turkey and hoping that I'm good enough to pick it up.

Anyway, a lot of it really is just repetition and memory. Once you make something enough times, it becomes second nature pretty much. Once you start, I'd say biggest thing to do is learn where all your drinks are so you're not stumbling around looking retarded. Find out which are the big drinks of that establishment, like people have said. One of the things I was told was that bringing your g/f or b/f is looked down upon because they probably have the most potential to get you fired especially if they're the jealous type.

I have a lot more I can say and I'll have even a lot more once I find a job but if you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

[volcanicweather]

Funny you make this thread, cause I was just talking to my older brother about this earlier today. He's a bartender for some big club in Tampa and said that I'd have no chance at getting a job as one. I'm really interested in the job though, I feel like where I live (a college town, University of FL to be precise) some of the clubs bartenders must net a huge amount of cash per night. I've waitressed before, but not sure if that will help my cause.

Any advice for someone with literally NO experience, and just looking to get into the job from scratch?

Did you do any bartending when you were a waitress? Even pouring beer/soda? Alvinho hit the nail on the head - being friendly / outgoing is very important. If they see this in you during the interviewing process, they might give you a shot, even with little / no experience. It might not hurt to start as wait staff either at a high-end place, then take a bartending course and tell your manager, and they might give you a shot on a slow night or when someone is off. I've seen bartenders get jobs like this.

I was never a full "out and out" bartender, but I did help from time to time at the restaurant I worked at in college when we were straight-up swamped or understaffed

My tips would be:

- ID anyone and everyone who even looks questionable at being under 21, if you get caught serving to minors you're in serious trouble

- Understand the tipping process at your establishment - do you keep all of your own tips? do you pool with the bartenders and split? do you pool with the bartenders/wait staff/bar backs and split? Where I worked all bar tips were pooled with all employees at the end of the night (wait staff / backs / bartenders) and split, although some shady wait staff would pocket some of theirs. If I knew the bar was slammed all night, I'd usually give the bartenders a portion (if not all) of my tips, because I worked at a high-end country club and was paid $12/hr anyways, but I was definitely in the minority here. But the bartenders really appreciated it and they'd usually make my drinks first when they would receive multiple orders, or let me go first cut whenever I wanted to.

- Cater to your clientele and don't be afraid to ask questions. Like I said earlier, I worked in a high-end country club where everyone knew everyone. If I didn't know how to make a drink (rich people come up with crazy stuff sometimes) on a slow day and I knew the member was cool, I'd just ask him... usually they're more than happy to do so because then they get the drink exactly how they want it and they tip better in result. But if you don't know how to make a Bloody Mary or a Greyhound, you're in trouble honestly.