Bartending Advice?

Question

Currently I am unemployed and was thinking about becoming a bartender. Of course I have no bartending experience so please if anyone can give some advice on what to do it would be much appreciated. Thanks people.

Answer 1

start in a restaurant that has a bar...usually with no experience you will end up a host or server...then, learn the drinks and express interest in bartending...turnover is high in restaurants so good people make their way up quickly!  good luck!

Answer 2

I know that TGIFridays hires bartenders with no experience.  A friend of mine did that in college.  She said that you sort of apprentice (do back bar work) for a couple weeks while you memorize their book of over a 1000 drink recipes.  Then they test you by sitting at the bar and they order some of the more obscure drinks along with the popular ones.  If you pass, you're a bartender.  They're also looking for personality and smiles.  So don't waste money on a 2 month course when you can get paid for being trained for 2 weeks.

Answer 3

Most of the time, you need a license for serving alcohol. So go and get a course done, in Sydney they are about $250-350, it takes 1+ days. Also perhaps learn to spin the bottles. And do cool tricks with them. Just fill up an old spirit long neck bottle with water and put te cap of very tightly, stand on a soft surface such as carpet or pillows incase you drop it. And just practise!

Answer 4

You could attend bartending classes, but if you have a particular place in mind that you might like to work talk to the manager.  Some places actually prefer to train their bartenders themselves and will not hire anyone who has taken a class because they can have them mix the drinks their way to save money.  I know that there are CD-ROM programs out there that will teach you how to mix drinks as well.

Answer 5

They do have those quick courses that teach you how to mix drinks in say 2 months. But the most important thing when working in the service industry is being good with people. Acknowledging all of your customers and being friendly and approachable will get you just as far. If you think oyu are the type of person who can be all those things in a fast paced environment and while under pressure then by all means start applying to some local places, but please be sure to read up on how to make at least the more popular drinks that you know will be ordered if you are ont going to be professionally trained.