If you bartend, waiter or waitress long enough you will eventually be faced with the choice of crossing the line between being personable or getting personal with a customer. If you want to make some serious money in this profession then you must learn where that line is and how to avoid it gracefully.
It is easier for a bartender to escape these situations than it is for a waitress. First, the bar will be much faster paced. You don't spend a lot of time with one person when serving a drink. No silverware, extra napkins, drinks, ketchup etc. Just serve the drink and your customer has what they ordered. There is also a constant flow of other customers who you must attend to so you move out of a sticky situation a lot faster. Lastly, people drinking at the bar are much more inclined to keep the conversation one way, that being on them! Not all, but alcohol can do that so bartenders really do have an advantage there. You can often just listen to their problems and they won't ask you anything. They often just want your ear!
For whatever reason, waitresses and waiters are much more susceptible to a barrage of personal questions from patrons than bartenders. This is especially true of regular patrons after a few months of you "getting to know them" (which really means after a few months of waiting on them!) These types of customers are generally bored or lonely and they most certainly do exist! Now don't get me wrong, they aren't bad people. Just that they don't stop to think that you are working and that it's not a social event for you as it may be for them. These folks often want to feel like "family" and have a distorted prospective as to what they are actually doing there. (eating!) It is your job to know when and how to cut it off!
When I say your job, I don't mean you'll read this in your employee manual. This is just an unspoken part of being a good server or bartender. If you want to become one of the "Good ones", a true professional and make the big tips, you'll learn when and how to cut it off, where to draw the line. And you won't offend anybody in doing so.
The easiest way to do this is to not start. If what I'm about to say is common sense to you, then you have the makings for being a good server or bartender! I thought a quick basic list here would be appropriate:
Kids-Husband-Wife: If you have kids, it's natural that a regular customer will get around to a few questions about them. And it's fine to be personable about your kids once in a while. But you don't need to tell them who they're dating, what trouble they got into, your birthing pains with your 2nd child, any medical conditions they may have or any of a number of "personal" details about your life. Keep the spouse or boyfriend out too! These are all personal things. It's certainly fine to talk a little about your spouse, but you just have to really clam up after the basics. It's nobody's business and these aren't your true and tested friends, they are complete strangers really! Think about it.
Finance: Don't get into your problems with money. Don't get into their problems with money. If they mention things are tight this month and they are losing hours at work or their house isn't selling then just smile, say your sorry to hear that and things will get better and "can I get you a refill on your water?" Just get out of there! You don't have to be mean, just make a quick exit and if they try it one more time do it again. They'll get the hint. Continue to be as personable as ever but keep the conversation limited to small talk or news topics, nothing personal!
Co Workers: Do not discuss co-workers with customers, EVER. It's unprofessional and gossipy. Just smile and say you don't know. Come on, you know that's just low. You shouldn't do it no matter what. You could easily find yourself in a mess with so many webs around you that you'll never get out. If you stay away from this one you will go so much further in this (or any) profession! Don't let a customer pull you into that trap. Co-workers, including bosses and owners, are OFF LIMITS for conversation to customers unless it's positively just small talk.
Problems: This just means anything that's bugging you. Don't be telling your customers about your late fees on your CC or your mother in law's rude comments, your doctors visits or how your neighbors are keeping you up at night. These are all personal and to most customers, these topics would be boring. If they aren't boring to the customer, you're setting yourself up big time because they are going to get into your head and life as much as possible. It will affect your work and your tips. Keep your problems to yourself.
This isn't to say that you will never ever get personal with a regular customer. There are of course some instances where the customer crosses the line of being "customer" to being "friend" too! But these are rare cases, certainly not the norm. The bottom line is if you want to be making the best tips, have the least amount of stress and be viewed upon by your fellow employees and customers as a leader and a professional, you'll keep the personal stuff off limits with customers.
As you learn to be aware of this, you'll see it often happens quite subtly and almost exclusively with very regular customers. Learning how to stop it before it gains any momentum is what separates the professional from the mediocre in this business of serving people. When you can balance being personable without being personal, you have put yourself above the pack and you will be rewarded for it in bigger tips, better employment opportunities and great respect from everyone around you. This is just one aspect of earning bigger tips, but it's an important one!
Showing posts with label bartender. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bartender. Show all posts
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Bartender-Waitress No Experience Needed-Now Hiring
Are you looking for a bartending position but have no experience? How about waitressing? Bowling alley's are hiring right NOW (August) for these positions and you can quite possibly get hired, even as a bartender, without experience! But you've got to act quickly.
Most towns have a local bowling alley. This is such a great starting place if you are truly wanting to get into bartending. (or waitressing) The leagues are the bread and butter for these establishments and it is basically a winter sport. Leagues start right after Labor day, but it takes a few weeks for them to get into the groove and for all of them to get going smoothly and fill up.
During that slower 2-4 weeks is where you get your training. A lot of the bartending duties at these alley's is pouring beer and mixing a dozen or so different drinks, the basics. If you show the desire to want to learn this trade many manager will give you a shot if they need the position filled. They figure there's a good month left for training before it gets super busy and might give you a try.
Waitressing at these places is a great place to get aquainted with alcoholic beverages as you will be serving a lot of them. A great way to get some experience if you want to get into bartending later on. This is an even easier position (without experience) to land than bartending.
If you are serious about bartending as a main income, or you just want to be a little "picky" about where you bartend in the future, you need experience! Your first bartending job at a bowling alley will put you miles ahead of anyone else with no experience when applying to a nicer place. Even those who have completed a "bartending school." The best schooling for this job is "The school of experience" and that's what you'll get if you can start at your local bowling alley!
And don't think this job is a cake walk! You'll be busy, which is what you want, and best of all, you'll actually make some decent money. It's like being paid to go to school! You may even want to stay another year or two or keep a part time position!
Still want to get into bartending? Get to your local bowling alley NOW and talk to a manager. Let them know you are very interested in learning the trade, are a fast learner and would love the opportunity to learn the trade and work at their fine establishment!
Read more about getting hired as a bartender at the bowling alley in your area, with no experience!
Most towns have a local bowling alley. This is such a great starting place if you are truly wanting to get into bartending. (or waitressing) The leagues are the bread and butter for these establishments and it is basically a winter sport. Leagues start right after Labor day, but it takes a few weeks for them to get into the groove and for all of them to get going smoothly and fill up.
During that slower 2-4 weeks is where you get your training. A lot of the bartending duties at these alley's is pouring beer and mixing a dozen or so different drinks, the basics. If you show the desire to want to learn this trade many manager will give you a shot if they need the position filled. They figure there's a good month left for training before it gets super busy and might give you a try.
Waitressing at these places is a great place to get aquainted with alcoholic beverages as you will be serving a lot of them. A great way to get some experience if you want to get into bartending later on. This is an even easier position (without experience) to land than bartending.
If you are serious about bartending as a main income, or you just want to be a little "picky" about where you bartend in the future, you need experience! Your first bartending job at a bowling alley will put you miles ahead of anyone else with no experience when applying to a nicer place. Even those who have completed a "bartending school." The best schooling for this job is "The school of experience" and that's what you'll get if you can start at your local bowling alley!
And don't think this job is a cake walk! You'll be busy, which is what you want, and best of all, you'll actually make some decent money. It's like being paid to go to school! You may even want to stay another year or two or keep a part time position!
Still want to get into bartending? Get to your local bowling alley NOW and talk to a manager. Let them know you are very interested in learning the trade, are a fast learner and would love the opportunity to learn the trade and work at their fine establishment!
Read more about getting hired as a bartender at the bowling alley in your area, with no experience!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Where Do I Need A Bartending License?
One of the first and most asked questions to people looking to get a bartending job is "Do I need A License?" The answer is probably not. Not in most states but there are I believe 2 as of 2009 that require a license, Utah and Wisconsin and the license is very easy to obtain. This wild myth about needing a bartenders license is everywhere and it amazes me how prevelant it is on the web. I believe it started with the bartending schools. I think they made it sound like a certificate is some sort of license and from there it just spread.
Another possibility is TIPS. This stands for "Training for Intervention Procedures" and is a popular course that teaches responsibility basics for bartenders. It is not a license although these days it's becoming very popular for establishments to require the course to work as a bartender in their establishment. This is because their liability insurance is decreased by having you take the course. It's not a bad idea to take it as it's very short and having a certificate of completion certainly won't hurt. Cost is about $40. It can be taken online in most states. This course will no doubt be mandatory in the coming years.
So unless you live in Utah or Wisconsin, you won't need a bartending license. I would like to add that having a bartending license, a TIPS certificate or a bartending school certificate will have no effect on your competence as a bartender to a prospective employer. There is only one thing that qualifies you in the eyes of the owner or manager. Experience. Any certificates or licenses are just pieces of paper that are forced upon you or the owner by the state, or given to you by a bartending school.
So don't get hung up on this. If you want to bartend, get looking for a bartending job pouring beer in a dive if you have to. Even that type of experience is better than any piece of paper. From there you will rapidly move up the ladder if you find you like the bar business.
Another possibility is TIPS. This stands for "Training for Intervention Procedures" and is a popular course that teaches responsibility basics for bartenders. It is not a license although these days it's becoming very popular for establishments to require the course to work as a bartender in their establishment. This is because their liability insurance is decreased by having you take the course. It's not a bad idea to take it as it's very short and having a certificate of completion certainly won't hurt. Cost is about $40. It can be taken online in most states. This course will no doubt be mandatory in the coming years.
So unless you live in Utah or Wisconsin, you won't need a bartending license. I would like to add that having a bartending license, a TIPS certificate or a bartending school certificate will have no effect on your competence as a bartender to a prospective employer. There is only one thing that qualifies you in the eyes of the owner or manager. Experience. Any certificates or licenses are just pieces of paper that are forced upon you or the owner by the state, or given to you by a bartending school.
So don't get hung up on this. If you want to bartend, get looking for a bartending job pouring beer in a dive if you have to. Even that type of experience is better than any piece of paper. From there you will rapidly move up the ladder if you find you like the bar business.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Bartending at the Bowling Alley
The idea of bartending at your local bowling alley may not sound like the best job a bartender can get but it has many good points you might be overlooking. For one, bowling alleys can be a great place to get hired with no experience because they are very slow in the summer and you can learn during this off season. But let's suppose you are experienced.
Maybe you are already bartending but looking for a new establishment. (This is one of nicest things about bartending, you can find work anywhere once you have the experience) Perhps you've considered applying at your local bowling alley but figured it's just a bunch of old men into their weird game and you wouldn't make much. Well, that's not usually the case. As long as there are at least 12 lanes you can do pretty good. You likely don't want less than that unless it's an opportunity to learn without any experience.
The bowling season is long. Approximately 30 weeks. Each night of the week has leagues and these leagues consist of committed men and women who are there week after week. For many it's their night out and they will drink. Unlike golf, it's easy to drink and bowl. After their turn they sit down and wait for 3-5 other guys to bowl before they have to get up again. So they drink! Bowlers like to be ready to go when it's their turn. Nothing is more irritating than hunting down someone when it's their turn. So when these guys come to the bar for a drink, they just want their drink fast and then they are off to the lanes again. No chit chat. Often they wil say "just keep the change". It's usually not a whole lot, maybe .25cents -.75cents. But the flow is almost non-stop for 2 or 3 hours. That really adds up and it's quite an easy task for you. In a very short time you start to know what everyone drinks because it's the same people on the same night week after week. There could be an empty bar at a bowling alley but you will keep very busy with these guys!
Once the games end, get ready for round two! Usually the bar will fill up as these guys come in to talk about their games. Some of them will want food. Many eat before the game starts but a lot of them prefer to wait until after. At any rate, you will usually have your hands full for the start of this rush until you get situated. Most of them won't stay too long, maybe just one or two more beers but there's always about 8-10 who will stay a lot longer. At this time you should be getting a few non-bowler regulars too so you could very well end up with a full bar even on a weekday. Bowlers are not needy. They have each other when at the bar and they want to talk about their games (often over and over!) so as long as you are keeping a constant eye open for refills they are quite happy. Once this crowd leaves you should have ammassed a nice little chunk of change in tips in the past 4 or 5 hours. And oh yes, look at the clock. It's only 11:00 pm. You might have time to clean up and make it out to where your friends are for a few!
If the bar area is roomy, there may be entertainment such as karaoke or a dj on weekends. In addition to your regular bowlers, this will bring in more tips for you when the non-bowlers start coming in for a little night life. Another profitable element to bartending at a bowling alley is "Open Bowling." That is the term used to describe people who are not on a league. Most bowling alleys have deals on bowling after 9pm on weekends because the leagues are finished up at that time. Open bowling can be very lucrative for the bar! This is where you will serve more mixed drinks, especially on college weekends such as Christmas break, spring break etc. Typically what you see is groups of couples with the guys drinking beer and the girls drinking pretty mixed drinks. Open bowlers on the weekends are a welcome change from the same routine. They tend to spend more too since they don't go bowling evey week!
Some bowling centers also have several tournaments through out the season. These tournaments attract a lot of people and most of them will visit the bar. If there is a fun tournament such as a couples "no tap" or "best ball" there is usually a lot of drinking because it's not a serious tournament. When these events take place and there is a band or DJ in your bar, the place can really get hopping! And even the serious tournaments can bring in a lot of spectators who will drink. Friends, family and just other bowlers who are interested in the sport.
So don't just pass over the thought of your local bowling center when considering a bartending job. The money might not be quite as good as other venues, but it's still decent, low pressure and it's very predictable for the most part. The clientel is generally friendly and you will often get to go home much earlier than at a regular bar that is open until 2am. The biggest downfall is the fact that summer time is practically dead unless the bar has a lot going on even without bowling.
Maybe you are already bartending but looking for a new establishment. (This is one of nicest things about bartending, you can find work anywhere once you have the experience) Perhps you've considered applying at your local bowling alley but figured it's just a bunch of old men into their weird game and you wouldn't make much. Well, that's not usually the case. As long as there are at least 12 lanes you can do pretty good. You likely don't want less than that unless it's an opportunity to learn without any experience.
The bowling season is long. Approximately 30 weeks. Each night of the week has leagues and these leagues consist of committed men and women who are there week after week. For many it's their night out and they will drink. Unlike golf, it's easy to drink and bowl. After their turn they sit down and wait for 3-5 other guys to bowl before they have to get up again. So they drink! Bowlers like to be ready to go when it's their turn. Nothing is more irritating than hunting down someone when it's their turn. So when these guys come to the bar for a drink, they just want their drink fast and then they are off to the lanes again. No chit chat. Often they wil say "just keep the change". It's usually not a whole lot, maybe .25cents -.75cents. But the flow is almost non-stop for 2 or 3 hours. That really adds up and it's quite an easy task for you. In a very short time you start to know what everyone drinks because it's the same people on the same night week after week. There could be an empty bar at a bowling alley but you will keep very busy with these guys!
Once the games end, get ready for round two! Usually the bar will fill up as these guys come in to talk about their games. Some of them will want food. Many eat before the game starts but a lot of them prefer to wait until after. At any rate, you will usually have your hands full for the start of this rush until you get situated. Most of them won't stay too long, maybe just one or two more beers but there's always about 8-10 who will stay a lot longer. At this time you should be getting a few non-bowler regulars too so you could very well end up with a full bar even on a weekday. Bowlers are not needy. They have each other when at the bar and they want to talk about their games (often over and over!) so as long as you are keeping a constant eye open for refills they are quite happy. Once this crowd leaves you should have ammassed a nice little chunk of change in tips in the past 4 or 5 hours. And oh yes, look at the clock. It's only 11:00 pm. You might have time to clean up and make it out to where your friends are for a few!
If the bar area is roomy, there may be entertainment such as karaoke or a dj on weekends. In addition to your regular bowlers, this will bring in more tips for you when the non-bowlers start coming in for a little night life. Another profitable element to bartending at a bowling alley is "Open Bowling." That is the term used to describe people who are not on a league. Most bowling alleys have deals on bowling after 9pm on weekends because the leagues are finished up at that time. Open bowling can be very lucrative for the bar! This is where you will serve more mixed drinks, especially on college weekends such as Christmas break, spring break etc. Typically what you see is groups of couples with the guys drinking beer and the girls drinking pretty mixed drinks. Open bowlers on the weekends are a welcome change from the same routine. They tend to spend more too since they don't go bowling evey week!
Some bowling centers also have several tournaments through out the season. These tournaments attract a lot of people and most of them will visit the bar. If there is a fun tournament such as a couples "no tap" or "best ball" there is usually a lot of drinking because it's not a serious tournament. When these events take place and there is a band or DJ in your bar, the place can really get hopping! And even the serious tournaments can bring in a lot of spectators who will drink. Friends, family and just other bowlers who are interested in the sport.
So don't just pass over the thought of your local bowling center when considering a bartending job. The money might not be quite as good as other venues, but it's still decent, low pressure and it's very predictable for the most part. The clientel is generally friendly and you will often get to go home much earlier than at a regular bar that is open until 2am. The biggest downfall is the fact that summer time is practically dead unless the bar has a lot going on even without bowling.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Bartending School, Experience and Getting Hired
Being hired as a bartender at a busy, profitable establishment requires schooling, experience or both! More young folks than ever before seem to be trying to gain entrance into this lucrative job market these days. The problem is that in order to be hired you must have experience and in order to get experienced, you must be hired! That doesn't even make sense but it's usually true!
With that said, you basically have 2 choices if you are serious about bartending. You must take on a job with no experience in a very small local watering hole for a few months of experience so you can then move up the ladder or you can attend a bartending school, take an internet course or purchase a bartender book or guide and learn that way. So which direction should you take? Let's examine it a little bit.
Do I need a License? Until a few years ago no special certificate or license is required to tend bar by most of the 50 states but there is a fast growing movement to require a completed class called TIPS. In some states it is mandatory. This is really just a 2 day briefing on how to prevent common alcohol related problems and deal with shutting folks off who've had too much to drink and legal issues concerning alcohol and liability. It's a good class but most of it is just common sense. It will likely be mandatory in the coming years. It certainly won't hurt your resume and it is sometimes required by employers because it reduces liability for them (and you!) and reduces their insurance costs. It can be taken online in lots of states. Cost is minimal, I think around $40. It's worth checking into if you are serious about becoming a bartender.
Bartending School:
When you attend a bartending school you will learn a lot of technical skills. You will learn the basic liquors and the brands. Common drinks and off-shoots of those drinks with particular liquors or spirits. You'll learn how to make them and how to remember them. You will learn names of tools, how to use them and maintain them. There are words and phrases that you will encounter with customers who are ordering and you'll learn those.
You'll gain a wealth of knowledge concerning mixology and how certain beers are brewed, what the difference between rum and whiskey is and what garnishes go with what liquor based drinks. There are industry standard glasses you need to serve particular beverages in and you'll learn their names and purpose too. You will actually mix the drinks yourself, learning to free pour and properly draw a draft beer from the keg. What to wear, what to say and how to be sanitary up to state code. How to deal with intoxicated patrons, fights, spills or anything imaginable that occurs when bartending.
Basically, you will go over just about everything you'd ever need to know about tending bar. There are many types of these schools or classes ranging from a nightly 6 week course or just 2 or 3 days a week for a few hours a night for a week or two. This route is usually the most expensive but you certainly will benefit from it if you are serious about bartending and it will give you a great advantage over anyone with no experience. You will likely learn a bit more of the technical side of things than a lot of experienced bar tenders know. Most of these schools will give you a certificate of some sort and there's a good chance your TIPS course will be included.
Bartending Internet course: These courses can be taken in similar fashion to online college courses. You study and actually take tests and are graded. You will likely receive a certificate of sorts but it won't hold a lot of weight in your prospective employers decision to hire you. But it can help! If you are enthusiastic at the interview and can convince him that you really studied and truly desire to learn bartending he might realize your learning curve will be much less than someone who has no idea where to start. The plus side of these too is that it will be far less expensive than a physical class. You can study more or less at your own pace without too much pressure from time restraints.
Bartending Book or DVD:
This is the least expensive route to go, especially with the books. You can learn the basic liquors, glasses, common drinks, tools and a slew of other necessary rules and guidelines for tending bar from these methods without spending nearly as much money as you would in a school or an online course. While you can't exactly tell your interviewer that you feel qualified because you "read a bartender book" you can gain knowledge that might very well come in handy if you are asked a few basic questions about the trade. In this situation, even without experience but knowing just the basics could make the difference between him hiring you or moving on to the next applicant.
Experience:
I've saved the best for last! You cannot beat experience for getting hired in this profession. Now it seems we've come full circle from the beginning of this article but listen up. If you want to have the best chance of getting hired at a good establishment where you make oodles of money, you need experience, even if it's at the smelly old run down 8 stool bar on the outskirts of town! That's right. In most situations, if you have experience simply pouring beer and maybe mixing just 4 or 5 drinks, you will almost always get hired before someone with no experience even if they have straight A's from a bartending school.
The reason for this is the bartending schools and internet courses lack the most important part of the bartending learning curve. Real live customers! A lot of people think that bartending is memorizing a bunch of drinks but it's far more than that. Actually, that's the easy part! How you handle stress and patrons is the most important part. That cannot be taught at school or on the internet. You are in direct contact with the bar owners livelihood in every sense of the word. You are handling his money and even more important you are interacting with his customers who spend that money on a regular basis. The owner knows the importance of this and he knows that ANY experience bartending, even if just pouring beer, is far better than any school can give.
Recommendation:
I think a great solution is this: Buy a book or DVD on learning bartending. Study it real good. Then go to some of those "8 stool bars" I spoke about earlier and express your sincere interest in wanting to work behind the bar at their establishment. Show genuine interest. You shouldn't have to fake it if you are sincere about becoming a highly paid bartender because you are going to be learning a good trade for your future. The more you work the more you'll find yourself wanting to study that book because things will make more sense. In a few months you will be ready to walk into a much better place with confidence and start making serious money!
Final Thoughts:
I think bartending schools are fine and they will help you but they are expensive and they often give you the illusion of being able to just "walk into the bar of your choice" and get hired. It won't happen that way. If you have the time and money to go to one of these places, you certainly can. But consider the time you'd be spending could be spent with on the job training! Not only that, you'd be making money at the same time instead of paying it out. If you desire to be a bartender, you can attain that goal! However, I cannot stress enough that in order to work where the money is you must have some experience and if you truly want it, you will find a way to get it! Cheers!
With that said, you basically have 2 choices if you are serious about bartending. You must take on a job with no experience in a very small local watering hole for a few months of experience so you can then move up the ladder or you can attend a bartending school, take an internet course or purchase a bartender book or guide and learn that way. So which direction should you take? Let's examine it a little bit.
Do I need a License? Until a few years ago no special certificate or license is required to tend bar by most of the 50 states but there is a fast growing movement to require a completed class called TIPS. In some states it is mandatory. This is really just a 2 day briefing on how to prevent common alcohol related problems and deal with shutting folks off who've had too much to drink and legal issues concerning alcohol and liability. It's a good class but most of it is just common sense. It will likely be mandatory in the coming years. It certainly won't hurt your resume and it is sometimes required by employers because it reduces liability for them (and you!) and reduces their insurance costs. It can be taken online in lots of states. Cost is minimal, I think around $40. It's worth checking into if you are serious about becoming a bartender.
Bartending School:
When you attend a bartending school you will learn a lot of technical skills. You will learn the basic liquors and the brands. Common drinks and off-shoots of those drinks with particular liquors or spirits. You'll learn how to make them and how to remember them. You will learn names of tools, how to use them and maintain them. There are words and phrases that you will encounter with customers who are ordering and you'll learn those.
You'll gain a wealth of knowledge concerning mixology and how certain beers are brewed, what the difference between rum and whiskey is and what garnishes go with what liquor based drinks. There are industry standard glasses you need to serve particular beverages in and you'll learn their names and purpose too. You will actually mix the drinks yourself, learning to free pour and properly draw a draft beer from the keg. What to wear, what to say and how to be sanitary up to state code. How to deal with intoxicated patrons, fights, spills or anything imaginable that occurs when bartending.
Basically, you will go over just about everything you'd ever need to know about tending bar. There are many types of these schools or classes ranging from a nightly 6 week course or just 2 or 3 days a week for a few hours a night for a week or two. This route is usually the most expensive but you certainly will benefit from it if you are serious about bartending and it will give you a great advantage over anyone with no experience. You will likely learn a bit more of the technical side of things than a lot of experienced bar tenders know. Most of these schools will give you a certificate of some sort and there's a good chance your TIPS course will be included.
Bartending Internet course: These courses can be taken in similar fashion to online college courses. You study and actually take tests and are graded. You will likely receive a certificate of sorts but it won't hold a lot of weight in your prospective employers decision to hire you. But it can help! If you are enthusiastic at the interview and can convince him that you really studied and truly desire to learn bartending he might realize your learning curve will be much less than someone who has no idea where to start. The plus side of these too is that it will be far less expensive than a physical class. You can study more or less at your own pace without too much pressure from time restraints.
Bartending Book or DVD:
This is the least expensive route to go, especially with the books. You can learn the basic liquors, glasses, common drinks, tools and a slew of other necessary rules and guidelines for tending bar from these methods without spending nearly as much money as you would in a school or an online course. While you can't exactly tell your interviewer that you feel qualified because you "read a bartender book" you can gain knowledge that might very well come in handy if you are asked a few basic questions about the trade. In this situation, even without experience but knowing just the basics could make the difference between him hiring you or moving on to the next applicant.
Experience:
I've saved the best for last! You cannot beat experience for getting hired in this profession. Now it seems we've come full circle from the beginning of this article but listen up. If you want to have the best chance of getting hired at a good establishment where you make oodles of money, you need experience, even if it's at the smelly old run down 8 stool bar on the outskirts of town! That's right. In most situations, if you have experience simply pouring beer and maybe mixing just 4 or 5 drinks, you will almost always get hired before someone with no experience even if they have straight A's from a bartending school.
The reason for this is the bartending schools and internet courses lack the most important part of the bartending learning curve. Real live customers! A lot of people think that bartending is memorizing a bunch of drinks but it's far more than that. Actually, that's the easy part! How you handle stress and patrons is the most important part. That cannot be taught at school or on the internet. You are in direct contact with the bar owners livelihood in every sense of the word. You are handling his money and even more important you are interacting with his customers who spend that money on a regular basis. The owner knows the importance of this and he knows that ANY experience bartending, even if just pouring beer, is far better than any school can give.
Recommendation:
I think a great solution is this: Buy a book or DVD on learning bartending. Study it real good. Then go to some of those "8 stool bars" I spoke about earlier and express your sincere interest in wanting to work behind the bar at their establishment. Show genuine interest. You shouldn't have to fake it if you are sincere about becoming a highly paid bartender because you are going to be learning a good trade for your future. The more you work the more you'll find yourself wanting to study that book because things will make more sense. In a few months you will be ready to walk into a much better place with confidence and start making serious money!
Final Thoughts:
I think bartending schools are fine and they will help you but they are expensive and they often give you the illusion of being able to just "walk into the bar of your choice" and get hired. It won't happen that way. If you have the time and money to go to one of these places, you certainly can. But consider the time you'd be spending could be spent with on the job training! Not only that, you'd be making money at the same time instead of paying it out. If you desire to be a bartender, you can attain that goal! However, I cannot stress enough that in order to work where the money is you must have some experience and if you truly want it, you will find a way to get it! Cheers!
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