You may be wondering if you should go to Bartending school or get a bartending license in order to be a professional bartender. The answer is “yes” and “no.” However, if you are considering bartending as a possible new job or career, you will have to start somewhere. The question is where to start and how.
It is possible to get a job bartending with little to no experience.
If this is your situation and you have the chutzpah to apply for the job, we will have to assume that you have a natural “flair” for bartending. Your skills are so impressive, you could easily get past the initial line-up of the wildly popular TV show America’s Got Talent!
Jokes aside, you have to know your stuff, even if you have experience; nevertheless, we will assume that you’ve “got it going on” and all you need is a break. This means that you know your drinks, you are familiar with the bar area, and bartending comes easily to you.
You do have to know your stuff.
You know about alcohols and a whiz at customer service, including how to lay on the charm to receive those much-desired tips. You know how to deal with drunks, higher-ups, and how the information processing system functions such as data processors, the cash register, and so on. If you are not acquainted with these things, learn them.
This is a no-brainer. If you don’t have experience and want the job, you will have to be confident about your skills. This means knowing how to present your acquisitions and how to convince your potential employer that you are the best thing to walk through the door since their latest software update, which allows customers to order drinks electronically from their iPhone. You have to be tech-savvy these days. Assuming that you have all the above under your belt and you’re ready to roll, here is a bit of basic info to help ease any leftover anxieties.
Do You Need Bartending Certification?
To the uninitiated, getting into bartending may seem like a call to join some type of exclusive training operation. Let’s be clear, alcohol is no joke! In the wrong hands, or body, it can awaken the most docile personality and ignite untold difficulties. Imagine yourself, the barkeeper of a lady’s night out or the latest rap video, either one could easily get out of hand. Therefore, it would be best to have some type of certification that will backup your skills and give you “props,” so to speak. Many people commonly think that you must attend bartending school in order to earn certification; however, credentials required to work as a bartender are few, and those you do need can be acquired at very little cost.
License To Serve Alcohol
The most important certification you may need is a license to serve alcohol, and this is a “big” might. Alcohol certification laws vary from location to location. The primary rule they all have in common is that you should be certified within one, two, or three months of being hired as a bartender. In some areas, a license is not required at all. You simply have to do your homework as the variations are broad. Some districts won’t allow you an alcohol license if you are under the age of 21, others feel that the age 18 is enough as long as the individual is properly supervised by a manager. You can find all the information you need with a good Internet search.
If certification is required, you will have to take a class of one to six hours, where you will learn all about serving alcohol in the area you will be employed. Your course will include information such as drink limits, prices, and a concoction of additional information from someone that know-the-ropes, which will usually be another bartender. You can also often take these classes online.
What About Bartending School?
The question whether to attend bartending school or not should not bother you too much. In fact, there is no state in the United States that requires you to attend an educational institution in order to tend bar. Schools specifically designed around bartending are independently owned and basically cater to individuals who hope to “catch a break” in the bartending trade.
The cost is approximately several hundred dollars, last up to two-weeks, and instructs hopefuls on the fundamentals of bartending. Mixing drinks, the various tools used to mix them, and an assortment of other information will be included in the course. Overall, the importance of bartending school is a personal decision and not so much due to pressure from the industry.
Swinging It Without Experience
The world has become much smaller thanks to the Internet; however, there’s nothing like person-to-person contact. Though you can go online and find information about every bar in your area or the world, if you are looking for work in the field, you will have to do your “field work.” Many professional bartenders from various websites offer profound and helpful advice whether you have experience in the trade or not. Here is some of what they have to say about the business.Don’t Believe Everything Bartender Schools Tell YouDon’t Believe Everything Bartender Schools Tell You
1. Don’t Believe Everything Bartender Schools Tell You
Take it with a “grain of salt” when people, especially bartending schools, tell you they have the 411 on all bartending jobs in town or they known precisely who is hiring. If they are directly associated with the bar, brush it off and keep it moving. According to the pros; bars, especially the most popular ones, have individuals literally dropping by every day asking for bartending work. Most managers of these bars/restaurants have no interests in staying in contact with learning centers in order to keep a “good supply” of potential employees waiting in the wings. Keep in mind, they have prospects dropping by consistently and applications are filled out on a daily basis!
2. It’s Easier Once You Have a Foot in the Door
Most bars prefer to promote from within the establishment. It’s a noble gesture and it’s obvious that people trust those they know more than they do strangers. In addition, it helps to keep staff trustworthy and motivated. Even if there is no one within the business to carry the torch, there are plenty to choose from those walking in on a daily basis. Therefore, don’t depend on schools or others to find bartending work for you.
3. Networking is the Best Thing You Can Do
So, what’s the best way to land a bartending job? The old fashioned way of course, word of mouth, meeting people, and acquainting yourself with those in the business within the district you wish to work. Now you should be ready for the next stage, which is how to get into the good graces of the bar managers.
Start Befriending Bar Managers
There are a few ways to achieve this:
1. Make Friends
Let it be known that you are available by “hanging out.” Yep, you will have to pay your dues by being consistent, but not arty. Just be a laid-back, comfortable-in-your-own-skin type of person. Though you want a job at a certain establishment, don’t make it seem as if that’s all you are there for. People will pick this up and you will be viewed as a groupie! This will give the manager an opportunity to get to know you a bit, and observe how you interact with others. Bar managers want to feel that you “get-it” when it comes to their business, which to them, is all that matters at the end of the day.
2. Ask for an Introduction
After you’ve appeared on the scene and done your homework, don’t let the opportunity pass you by. If the staff takes a liking to you, they will introduce you to the hiring manager/managers. Word-of-mouth is still important. If they put in a good word for you, don’t forget to check from time-to-time if anything is available. You won’t be forgotten and you may be the first person that comes to mind when an opening does materialize. This is because few people ever follow up, so you will be a few steps ahead of the game.
3. Be Persistent
Remember to “stay on the case,” especially if you found a place that you would love to bartend. Follow up, hit the pavement, knock on doors, and get yourself acquainted. Become part of the scene. Who knows? You could get hired at the first place you walk into. However, in most instances, you will have to do a bit of footwork before getting your break. In any case, you have nothing to lose by being persistent.
You’ve Got The Job
Great! Everything has paid off and you got your dream bartending job. Just a bit of advice:
1. Keep in mind that you are working for someone else. Sure, you have every right to feel good about yourself. You got your dream job with little to no experience, but don’t let it go through your head. As the saying goes; be cool, calm, and collected. Remain approachable!
2. Be “in-the-know” about your work. If you work at a wine bar, stay up-to-date about the best wines, the latest wines, the oldest wines, what foods they work best with, the whole-nine-yards. You gain respect and possibly great tips too!
3. Dress to complement your job and the establishment. Don’t wear sportswear unless you’re working at a sports bar!
4. Stay on top of your environment. Your customers want to feel comfortable. If the music is too loud, turn it down. Is the bar-top kept clean on a regular basis after each customer leaves? What about the temperature, is it too hot or too cold? Make sure you keep your bar tidy. Bottles should be turned face-forward, keep the bar-top wiped, and so on.
5. Be exceptional at what you do. People will pay for their drinks, but they tip for good service.
So, what are you waiting for? Go out there and show them what you’ve got!
The post How to Become a Bartender (Even if You Don’t Have Experience) appeared first on Soda Sherpa.
