Do you HAVE to go to bartending school to be a bartender?

Bartending "school" is a scam to separate morons from their money. I've been hiring barstaff for 15 years (all at high-end places) and I intentionally don't hire bar school grads, and neither do my colleagues. Experience is the only thing that counts.



If you want to bartend, apply as a barback and work your way up.Do you HAVE to go to bartending school to be a bartender?
One way or another, you're going to have to put in time. Practise at home and make sure you know the basics. For instance, the most popular drink recipes, how to pour, cut fruit and open wine, etc... One option to getting your foot in the bar is to work as a barback or waiter and show keen interest in learning from the current bartender until you're able to be bumped up to the bar. The other way is practise hard at home, maybe host a few parties where you can 'play' bartender, and then offer to work a free shift. The owners would be able to resist the idea and you're now in a position to prove yourself. If you impress them, they will definitely hire you because good bartenders are hard to find. If you aren't good enough, you still take away from the experience; more knowledge and probably a few more bar tricks and skills from watching other bartenders.



Here's what I would do...



Ask your manager if you can come in and train on the bar on your own time. At the same time, start studying and practising bartending at home. You can learn all you need to know about bartending basics for free online at http://bars-and-bartending.com/all-b鈥?/a>



Do that for a month or so until you feel comfortable behind the bar, then ask for a position or start handing your resumes out in other places (while keeping your current job until you get a new one). You can also find information about how to write a professional bartender resume here: http://bars-and-bartending.com/barte鈥?/a>



Good luck on your bartending career!Do you HAVE to go to bartending school to be a bartender?
No, but its like asking a mechanic to fix your car, or a guy who knows alot about cars that isnt a mechanic to fix your car. both could probably do it, but you'd want the one who actually has experience and professional knowledge.Do you HAVE to go to bartending school to be a bartender?
nope.