Become a Bartender and Make Some Extra Money
If you’re looking for a great way to earn some extra money, most people think bartending is a fun option and a very cool job. They’re right, but most people don’t realize that becoming a great (or even good) bartender is not as easy as it may look. This doesn’t mean it’s difficult to get into bartending, but you do have to be knowledgeable about the field’s ins and outs, perfect your bartending skills, and sometimes even know people who can help you.
Bartending is not just for college students; anyone can be a bartender. Serving drinks is very profitable because depending on the establishment and your experience you can make anywhere between $100 -$500 a night. You can make more money than your average college educated individual. But how does one get started?
Well if you have experience, it will be easy for you to land a job. And by experience I mean you have worked in clubs, bars, restaurants, ect. Through your expertise you are armed with knowledge of how to mix drinks and can make a vast amount of drinks with skill and speed. Also you are familiar with the hospitality field, you probably have a good idea of whose hiring, how much money one can make at a particular establishment and it’s pretty safe to say that you have friends who know people who can get you the job you want.
It will be a bit harder to get your foot in the door if you don’t have any bartending experience. You should first make sure your personality is suited to bartending. The more personable and outgoing you are, the better your chance of succeeding, because bartenders work for tips.
The next thing to do is decide the type of place you would like to work at. Are you a fan of wild crowds and loud music? If so, you would probably like working at a nightclub or bar. If you would like a more subdued atmosphere, you might prefer working at a restaurant or lounge. Consider working on a cruise ship if you love to travel. There are many options for places to work, so try to apply for a job at the types of establishments you will probably succeed in.
Once your choices are narrowed down, it’s time for the next step. I don’t mean that you should go out and apply for that perfect job quite yet. After all, you need to keep in mind that you don’t have any bartending experience. And before you bring up all those bartending schools that are out there, my best advice is to just ignore them. They are way too expensive, for one thing. The other problem with these schools is that a lot of managers look down on people who “graduate” from bartending schools. It might be hard to believe, but that’s the way it is.
Next, you will need to practice mixing drinks before you apply for a job. It’s best if you know how to make several. You can find free drink recipes on the Internet, and if you want to you can watch some videos about mixing drinks. Your local library might have a bartender’s handbook you can check out. Flash cards can also be a big help. Make sure you know all the popular drinks, but don’t skip over the obscure ones.
After you get some experience, feel free to apply for bartending jobs as much as you want. If any of your friends are in the hospitality industry, find out if they might be able to get you an interview where they work. Smile and be outgoing during your interview (you should do that even when you see people who are not part of your interview), and try to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Always be honest and tell the interviewer that although you don’t have any bartending work experience, you know how to mix drinks. When you are given the opportunity to mix some drinks, make sure you use it well and show the interviewer everything you’ve taught yourself.
Brian has over 15 years behind the bar and in bar management. If you want to learn the quickest ways how to become a bartender and get bartending jobs check out his free newsletter and Seven Secrets to Breaking into the Bartending Business.
