Bartending

Becoming a Bartender
By Ray Sherman

You've decided that becoming a bartender is your calling. It looks fun and the easy money will make all your dreams come true! OK, well, let's back up just a bit. If you want to take a stab at tending bar then that's fine. It can be very lucrative and it's actually a very stable job for the right person. True, you can make a lot of money bartending. Even at a small establishment you can make a living. I don't know about the easy money though. What may appear to be easy is actually a highly skilled bartender making it look easy, and likely the same goes for the fun part too!

Bartending is much more than pouring and mixing drinks. Ok, I figured you knew that already but it had to be said. Now bear with me here. This is why most establishments require experience. If you want to become a bartender then first understand what the job really is, not just what you see as a customer. You must first like being around people and comfortable with that. Can you small talk about almost anything? Good, that's a requirement. Can you handle a lot of pressure and even if you start to lose your train of thought, can you hide it? Great because you will need to do so quite often. You'll also need a pretty good memory and basic math skills is a must. You'll be on your feet for hours and even if you're hurting you must be able to maintain a cool, happy attitude and ignore the pain and any mental stress you may be going through.

Are you truly dependable and trustworthy? You need to be. You also must be a leader. Other employees will look up to you and you must always be willing to help them out when you can. When you are a bartender, you are holding a position that demands leadership, responsibility and trustworthiness. People look up to bartenders, customers and fellow employees alike, and you must respect the position you hold. The bar owner puts a LOT of trust in you. That is why you make the "big bucks" and if you can't meet these qualifications and maintain them day in and day out, you won't last.

Ok, so are you still in? Great! This is a fantastic way to make a living for the right person. So now you need some experience. While difficult, it is possible to get a job bartending without experience. I would suggest places like a bowling alley in the summer. They will often hire you and train you if you start in the summer when it's very slow. You won't make much but when fall hits you will do real good and you'll have your experience.

Some small taverns may also give you a chance if you show enthusiasm about wanting to learn. A lot of these places serve mostly beer and just a few of the common mixed drinks. But remember, this isn't about learning drinks! This is about learning what it's all about. If you can do it on a small scale, then you will likely be able to do it on a larger scale and the bar owners and managers know this better than you do! So swallow your pride if you want to become a professional bartender and try landing a bartending job at one of these places.

If you are a woman, cocktail waitressing can be a big help as it will show you are experienced in dealing with people and familiarizing yourself with some of the drinks. And being a waiter or waitress in any restaurant is a huge help! Even if it's just a family restaurant with no alcohol being served you will have a huge advantage of being hired over someone with no experience. This IS experience. All that's missing is the alcohol aspect. In this case, if you walk into a slow tavern needing help or possibly the bowling alley situation, you will have a decent chance of being hired.

If you have a lot of experience serving food, I'd suggest an inexpensive bartenders book or guide just to familiarize yourself with some of the tools, lingo, drinks etc. Just knowing a little bit about the business and sounding intelligent at the interview, along with your food serving experience, will get the attention of the interviewer in a positive way. Don't forget to smile!

Next time we meet you will have become a bartender. I'll be ordering a White Russian from you, please, and keep the change!

Are you ready to get started in your new career as a bartender? Are you ready to take action with that first step? Hello, my name is Ray Sherman and I've been in and around this business for almost 30 years. It can be a very rewarding profession if you are cut out for it. Are you serious about this? Then let's go! Learn more about getting that first bartending job and you will be on your way to a respectable, well paying career in bartending.
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