Bartending For a Living
Making money as a bartender can be complicated. If you know how to mix all the drinks and work with customers in a friendly manner, you have a good chance of earning a living through this position as long as you know where the highest paying bars and restaurants are. There are always bartenders who got into the business with no knowledge or skill and who struggle to make a living. If you are careful and find out where the best paying jobs are, then you could be one who actually makes a good living off of bartending.
The starting point for acquiring bartender skills is to learn how a variety of different drinks are made. The more drinks you know and the faster you can mix them, the more in demand you may find yourself as a bartender. Some people do get their start by obtaining a low paying position and learning on the job, but this is a slow way to get to the top and you will earn very little money while picking up the skills. Luckily, there are books and websites out there that make it possible to learn drinks on your own.
If you spend some time searching online you will find some schools and training courses which will teach you everything that is needed to be a successful bartender. Some will even help you find the best paying jobs once you finish the training! Just make sure to find an affordable resource that will not take too much time or money investment.
Do you even know how to look for a higher paying bartender job? Most beginners in the field don’t, but a good training course online will teach you valuable tips in this area as well. For instance, you may learn about opportunities for paid training positions or jobs which accept online applications. You will even be told why job ads are just a waste of time and you should be applying directly to establishments that pay the higher wages and bring in the highest tippers.
While finding open bartending positions can be difficult in some regions, it is even more difficult in most cases to get someone to hire you right out of school or fresh from online training. This is where a good training program becomes invaluable. They will teach you everything you need to know to secure that first job, starting with how to prepare your resume and find the best open positions right down to how to get through an interview successfully.
If you want to make a living and draw consistent money to pay the bills, you will have to focus on landing a higher class job in a reputable establishment. Many bartenders find that hotel bars and high class restaurants naturally attract higher tipping customers. If you are willing to get out and travel a bit, you may also want to look into cruise line positions.
Finally, you have to learn how to gain confidence when working behind the bar. Those who are confident carry themselves differently and are able to secure more high tips than those who are not confident. You will also be more efficient behind the bar which means you spend less time working and earn more for that time. Without this confidence in your skills, making a living bartending will be much harder.
With a lot of ambition and determination to gain skill and become a success, you can make your dream of earning a living behind the bar come true. Learn the required skills and gain that confidence, and you will find yourself living the bartender life before you know it!
Brian has been a bartender and in beverage management for almost 16 years. He has helped hundreds of people to get bartending jobs and learn how to become a bartender.
