By the way, I live in the burbs so there's no "neighborhood bar," otherwise I'd try that route.Bartending School -- Good idea or lame?
DON"T go to bartending school, a total and complete waste of time and money, and all it really does is give you a worthless piece of paper that FALSELY proclaims that you're now a qualified bartender, which these graduates are anything but. And I am endlessly stunned by the haughtiness and holier-than-thou attitude displayed by your average bartending school graduate. HELLO!!! It's not like you've earned a college degree here! It's not like you're now intellectually on par with a rocket scientist. I can't count the number of times I've watched a "graduate" get behind the bar for the first time, and wind up getting totally smoked and snuffed by the patrons and onslaught of a moderate sized crowd, all while begging me for answers to "how do you make this drink" or "how do you make that drink"?. Stop wasting my time dammit.
First, get a job as a barback and look, listen, and learn. Or, for a female, cocktail waitressing is another easy way to gain experience, especially if your bartender is willing to teach you a bit, plus, as a barback or cocktail waitress, instead of wasting your money on a completely worthless certificate whose value is only one grade up from toilet paper, you'll be earning a decent income as you learn. While on the job, absorb as much information as you can from the bartenders you are working for, and ask questions, as time allows. Get a few good bartending books, read and try to memorize the more commonly requested cocktails in your area, and also the classic types. Beware--for lots of drinks, 10 different bartending books will give you 10 different cocktail recipes (try looking up Mai Tai in a few and you'll see what I mean)--so don't freak out. Another weird thing, I was bartending in the FL Keys for 20 years, and I dealt with a lot of international tourists and tourists from all over the U.S., and (don't freak out here either) the same drink with the same name will be made completely differently where they (the tourist) is coming from. For instance, a european martini is far different than an american martini, so if I was asked for a martini by someone with a european accent, I'd have to stop and clarify it with them (60 to 100 years ago, the american and eurpoean martinis were exactly the same, not so anymore). A hick coming outta South Dakota will insist that his Tom Collins is red and has grenadine in it, and yes, that is in fact what you get when you order a Tom Collins in SD. I now call that one a Sven %26amp; Ole Collins (because a Tom Collins it surely isn't). And that's just the tip of that iceberg. Bartending is far and away more art than science, there are very few 'right' answers--some right answers, but not a lot. Get used to that.
Bartending school will try to teach you the science, little of the art. And bartending school graduates will of course tell you how great the experiance was for them, and how much better of a bartender they are versus the non-schooled bartender (that holier-than-thou thing I mentioned earlier, simply because they cannot intellectually digest the fact that they have flushed $500 to $1000 of their money down the toilet. And you'd better be a people person, someone that people want to talk too, and you HAVE to talk to them, whether you want to or not. And patience--you MUST have a well of patience 100 feet deep or more.
In summary, artending schools are a waste. Get yourself a job as a barback or cocktail waitress, buy a coupla good bartending books (yes, they same drink will have different ingredients in different books--don't freak out), learn the standard drinks, learn your regional favorites (they vary greatly), and do it yourself. It ain't rocket science. Here's a little secret: real bartenders snicker and laugh behind the backs of bartending school graduates. I mean puh-leeze, get a life. .
Also, don't just learn at work. DO YOUR HOMEWORK, which of course happens at HOME.Bartending School -- Good idea or lame?
Not a bad idea if you have no experience. I've never worked at a hotel or restaurant where they didn't expect you to have experience or knowledge. I would always check out the school though, and see if they have satisfied customers and in general what the feedback is. Being a good bartender means being focused, mature, hardworking and trustworthy that's what they're going to look for in addition to general bartending knowledge. There are the "cheers" type bartenders who shoot the breeze with everyone and need to extroverted and confident, then there are "production" bartenders. Both can make a good living, but if you are working at a chain restaurant or hotel you are going to likely be a production bartender, or one who deals mainly with servers and less directly with customers. You will always learn from every place where you work, but getting your foot in the door is the first step. I think the other advantage of bartending school is learning about the hospitality business. Not a bad idea; just do your homework about the program you want to do.
i wouldnt recommend bartending school to most people, but some do offer job placement.
if youre attractive and charming, you'll be able to get a job at a place that will train you....possibly at hotel, restaurant, or themed (hooters) business.
as an owner, if i feel a person can draw a good crowd, i am willing to offer them a slow shift and training.Bartending School -- Good idea or lame?
On the job training is best. When you make a little money you can go to a bar tending school to polish your skills. Bar tending isn't rocket science. most bars have a computer where you type in the name of the drink and it shows you the recipe.
Bad idea, Go to a bar hang out, hang out some more, let them know you need a job...They will teach you how.
Dont go to school to learn to bartend. Please, you mix drinks together. Unless you want to drain money into retarded lessons dont.Bartending School -- Good idea or lame?
Prob worth it since you can make very good tips as a bartender and find a job anywhere. Most bartenders I know make $20 hour even on a slow night. Some places will ask for exp but the school will help a lot.
If u are a loser with no real future, then that is definitely the way to go. You will be able to afford to move out of your mom's basement in a couple years and get a trailer of your own.
I'd def take the class. Its fun. Your learn how to make really good drinks and if you get a job the money is pretty good depending on the bar and the location.
get an education!
the only way to live is to seek pleasure and knowledge.
go to the bar tending school and live your dream!
eh? all bartenders i know just got a job at the local
No comments:
Post a Comment