Is bartending school worth it?

I'm 20, and I'm not that knowledgeable when it comes to alcohol. I know the basics, but not enough to get me anywhere. I'm relatively outgoing, and pretty good looking, not to sound full of myself, but most bars around me are dives so they don't need a barback and wont hire me with my lack of expeirence. So is bartending school the way to go?Is bartending school worth it?
Actually about 99% of the people that i know that went to bartending school ended up waiting tables after school was over. Some of those stuck it out and worked up the food chain to become a bartender.

So as a former bartender who worked my way up... the school is not worth it. Get a job working the floor someplace and work your way up! If you show that you are serious about wanting to get behind the bar they will more then likely be more then happy to train you...and that means you make money learning how to do it, not pay money to learn how to do it.Is bartending school worth it?
I was a bartender/barback/porter/etc for a little over 5 years. In that time I knew a few people that graduated from bartending school, but not many. Maybe 1 out of 10 bartenders and 1 out of 50 barbacks.

If you cannot get in the game at any level in your area I would suggest moving before bartending school, it is much cheaper.



In this area (Dallas) the bartending schools are expensive and from what I have seen their job placement leans heavily to hotel bars. Hotel bars are generally not percieved as a great bartending gig because you have a hard time establishing regulars and business is dependant on the economic conditions of where each guest is from instead of just the local economy. Believe it or not that is a big factor in your tips.



Try visiting some surrounding areas and filling out applications. When you are there ask the bartenders and managers what they think of bartending schools. Maybe the perception varies city by city, but in the Dallas area bartending school grads are not getting all the hot jobs.



Good luckIs bartending school worth it?
Find yourself a bartending job at a neighborhood bar first...they will usually train you...I have bar tended for about 12 years and I never had any formal training.....and I make big bucks ..the main thing is to be friendly and talk to EVERYONE and treat all people the same..even if you don't like them...trust me..I make an average of 40$ an hour at a little bitty bar. OH and don't forget to flirt with the old men !!Is bartending school worth it?
i went to bartending school and thought it was a joke. Big waste of money...they said they would help find a job...but never did.