Is bartending school worth it?

I would really like to get into bartending but every job I look at always wants a year or more of experience. Has anyone gone to bartending school and if so what are your thoughts on it. Would appreciate knowing your story and how you got into it.Is bartending school worth it?
Bartending school is a waste of money. In the hospitality industry, bartending schools are considered a scam and they are not well respected. The only thing these schools will provide is to swindle you out of your money.



The problem is that a bartender job is not an entry level position. Bar and restaurant managers will typically only hire experienced bartenders or they promote from within. Your best bet is to get a job as a server or a barback and work your way up.



Restaurant managers want to hire bartenders who have great customer service skills and who can multi-task. They are not interested in your drink making abilities.They can train qualified people to make drinks.... its not rocket science. The only way to learn these skills is to wait tables. They don't hire inexperienced people because these people are not able to handle the pressure of working behind a busy bar.



Bartending schools only teach you how to make drinks. A good drink dictionary could teach you the same thing and you could pick one up at a used bookstore for $2.50. Any trained chimp can be taught how to make drinks, but it takes someone good to be able to muli-task and to have customer service skills... and you can't learn these skills at a bartending school.... nor will anyone hire you after you graduate if you don't have any experience.



A lot of these schools also offer job placement after graduation. Don't listen to them. This is a crock of s***. These schools never fulfill their promises. What they do is just provide you with a list of bars in the city where you live and tell you that they are hiring.... which won't do you any good if you don't have any experience.



Get a job as a server. You don't need any experience, plus the tips pay well. Let your boss know that you are interested in a bartending position. If you do a good job, they may promote you.Is bartending school worth it?
Bartending school is SOOO worth it! Being a former bartender, I made back my money in the first week after I started to bartend. I bartended at a nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights. Bartending school teaches you the swagger of a bartender and how to become a mixologist.

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Is bartending school worth it?
It's a really big help for your addition of experience, there's no schooling that isn't worth.Is bartending school worth it?
If it's what you want or hobby/interest, go for it.