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MISS
CHARMING'S HOW TO BECOME A BARTENDER PAGE
| In
movies and TV, bartenders are typically
portrayed providing solace to the downtrodden, offering psychological
advice to the confused, supplying private detectives with info,
or puttin’ on a show. |
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In
real life, bar owners and managers see
a bartender as a salesperson whose job it is to sell as much
product (food and drink) any way they can. Owners and managers
love big numbers. Can’t blame ‘em. From a guests
perspective bartender’s only make drinks, flirt, and fill
up tip jars, but when you work behind the bar—for real—
you soon discover it shore is different from the way it looks
up there on that big ole’ wide screen. But isn’t
everything? |
Concepts to Ponder
Most
professions are
either mental or physical. Bartending is both. Here’s
the deal: In your area, there are many bars a guest can order
a Rum & Coke, right? So, why would someone
want to keep ordering a Rum & Coke from you? |
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Here’s
the big picture: Restaurants
and bars are built every single day for one purpose and one
purpose only; to make money. American bartenders work for tips.
A $1 tip per drink has been pretty standard since the 1970’s.
Guests that run tabs normally tip 15% or more. Your bottom line
is to sell as much as you can because the more you sell the
more money you make. |
Bars are like any other store.
They buy products and sell those products for a profit. As a
bartender you’re selling products just as a car salesman
sells his products. And both of you are making a commission
(bartender tips are kind of like tiny commissions that add up
to one big one). So, you sell your product anyway you can to
make money. If that way involves; attention, a smile, a good
handshake, remembering names, telling them a joke, making a
drink with style, or whatever! Then that’s what you do. |
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People
like bartenders. They like to be their
friend, they like to say that they know you, tell you lots of
secrets, ask your advice, hook you up with all kinds of big
ticket goodies…no doubt, it’s cool to be a bartender.
Bartenders are like mini-celebrities in towns everywhere. Which
is fitting because in order to make money you have to provide
an excellent guest experience so that they will tip you. Which
means that there’s a lot of acting going on in this line
of work. Why do you think so many actors wait tables and tend
bar before they become famous? |
BARTENDING
SCHOOL
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Some
bartender schools can be helpful, but
they’re not the only way to learn about bartending and
they cannot guarantee you a job. As a matter of fact, you
won’t even be able to put it on your resume or application
because managers and real bartenders will roll their eyes.
It’s sad for the good bartender schools because the
bad ones have given their business a bad name. Also, know
that you don’t have to learn the hundreds of drinks
they make you memorize, which is my biggest complaint about
bar schools. I’ve been making the same 30 drinks for
almost 3 decades! My second, and last, complaint is that most
don’t even employ people that actually work as a bartender.
Wouldn’t you rather listen to someone walking the talk?
I think that’s why students always liked me.
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HANDS
ON EXPERIENCE VS BARTENDING
SCHOOL
Here’s
my analogy on bartender schools;
I hurt my right hand (I'm right-handed) and was forced
to write a grocery list with my left hand. Now, my left hand
has seen the right hand write--it even knows the alphabet!
However, it doesn’t have the experience. The proof was
in my elementary looking letters on the grocery list.
My right hand represents the bartender that gets experience
by getting into the industry any way they can and my left
hand represents the book learning method at bar schools.
The truth is that you don’t need to know the history
of spirits to be a bartender. You can learn and absorb all
of that later. A skeleton bartender needs to know about standard
drinks, glassware, bar tools, mixers, garnishes, and the POS
system. That’s it. You build from there.
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I
highly recommend getting into the biz anyway
you can in order to become a really great bartender (server,
barback, cocktailer). This gives you a better sense and understanding
of what the F&B business is all about. It also teaches you
respect and gives you a foundation to build on. Combine this
with some training at a reputable bartending school to tweak
your knowledge further and you're on your way to becoming an
extraordinary bartender. And extraordinary bartenders make the
most money, get the best hook-ups, and are offered incredible
opportunities. Who wouldn't want this? |
THE COLD HARD TRUTH ABOUT BAR SCHOOL
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Here's
the deal. If
you decide to shell out $600 to a bartender school and think
that after 2 weeks you are now a bartender, well, you are
sadly mistaken. The most important thing to know is that bar
schools are a business. And all businesses need money to stay
open.
Now
let's say that someone
does give you a chance without you "paying your dues"
(it's possible!). Other employees get pissed off when someone
is not pulling their own weight, especially when they have
been waiting in line to move up. They will make your life
hell. No one wants to train a new guy without experience then
split tips with them when you are doing most of the work.
The only training that someone should have to do is on the
computer, showing you where stuff is and that's it. Any experienced
bartender should be able to walk behind ANY bar and take off.
Don't ever get the idea that bartending is just about knowing
1000 recipes.
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Of
all the years that I've tended bar,
I've made the same 30 drinks over and over and over. When
popular drinks are going around it's easy to just add them
to your memory bank. Learn the drinks all bartenders should
know
here.
Wait
'til you get to do the fun stuff that
you don't learn in a bartender school, like carrying cases
and cases of beer to stock, changing a keg when your slammed,
stay after closing
for an hour or more just cleaning, then going home smelling
like a brewery. Also, throughout the night be ready to remember
10 things at all times, count correct change, ID people, keep
tabs straight, wait on servers as well, and if you don't have
a barback you better get all those glasses washed, constantly
clean the bar top, open wine bottles, refill mixers as you
go, deal with many personality types, and on and on and on.
Oh, don't forget to smile during all this.
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Bartender License
You don’t need a license,
certificate, or any paper to tend bar. Nurses, Doctors, and
Architects need a license. Bartending is a blue-collar profession
and even uses the basic application you filled out when applying
for your first job at 16. However, some states and some establishments
say that you have to be certified before you can work as a
bartender. This is only about a food & beverage class
you and everyone else in the F&B business must take. In
these classes you learn basics like proper storage of food,
safety, accepted forms of ID's etc. The reason establishment’s
make you take the classes is because they get a break on insurance.
Sometimes you will have to pay for the class. The most popular
nationwide program is TIPS
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WHAT
QUALITIES DO YOU NEED TO BE A BARTENDER?
1.
Good personality
2. Good grooming and nice looks
3. Great memory
4. Knowledge of liquor, beer, wines, cocktails, and local
area
5. Good money handling skills and average math skills
6.
Responsible and dependable team player.
7. Something unique
8. Physical strength
9. A people person
10.
Fast and efficient
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Miss
Charming's Bar School Boot Camp
I propose
that you create your own Bar School Boot Camp. Here are
some things to consider.
1.
Before you can get your foot through the door,
ya gotta knock. Take a bartender book (mine that comes out in October
would be perfect) and go to a bar that has a nice bartender working
the day shift. Be there between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (between lunch
and dinner is a bar’s slowest time). Great places to try first
are chain restaurants or any restaurant with a bar. You’re
searching for a BarMentor (half bartender and half mentor).
You might have to check out a few of places until you feel a connection
with someone, but it’ll happen. Order something to eat and
have this book just lying there. While you’re waiting for
your food, start thumbing through the book. (Here’s a secret:
most bartenders like people with books. So often guests look to
bartenders to entertain them, but when you bring your own source
of entertainment the bartender will immediately like you.) Here’s
what I predict, the bartender will ask, “Whatcha reading?”
And the door opens.
This is your opportunity to make a real connection with a real bartender.
Tell them that you want to be a bartender one day and you’re
trying to learn everything there is about bartending. Then ask them
how they learned. Let them say as much as they want because bartenders
don’t get to talk about themselves too often; this will be
a refreshing change for them. Making a good connection like this
is one of the best things you can do. You’ll be able to return
and ask questions and get real information and instruction from
someone who is actually doing what you want to do.
2. Somehow,
someway, get several empty liquor bottles.
Frat house trashcans, your barmentor, end of the night at parties,
or dumpsters behind bars are excellent places to look. Clean them
inside and out, fill them with water, and put pourers on them then
label them. You can even get creative and add food coloring. (A
few drops of tea work well for the whiskeys.) Next, go to your local
thrift stores and get a small collection of bar glassware. You must
purchase some bar tools because every profession has tools of the
trade. You must know how to use them, and more important, get a
good feel for them. And after you own them, you have the bonus of
being ready to work any private party anytime, anywhere.
Don’t feel overwhelmed—I’ve made building your
own practice bar easy! Go to my Bar Store at www.charming.barstore.com
to help get you started. If you need a list of what to get then
email me. The only other thing you’ll need is a large gym
bag to store and tote your tools.
Teach yourself how to pour, strain, muddle, stir, build, rim, roll,
chill, flame, float, layer, shake, everything. If you don’t
have a counter that’s the height of a bar, use your ironing
board. Go to bars and watch bartenders. What do they have on tap?
Where is their wine kept? Where’s the trash can? Are they
running tabs? Are the beer glasses chilled? What kind of bottle
opener are they using? Just be aware of everything they do. If you
can find a bar where the bartender is slammed and you can hide in
the corner at the end of the bar, this is great—you don’t
want them seeing you stare. Eye contact with a bartender should
only be made if you need something or if they approach you.
3. Go
out and find a job anywhere in the food and beverage industry,
even if it’s part-time. It’s important that you understand
the inner workings. Also, if you’ve never worked a POS system
or cash register, I highly recommend that you pick up a shift somewhere
where you have to so you can get some real hands-on experience with
it.
4. Keep your eyes and ears open for any mention of any party of
any kind. When you hear of someone throwing a party, tell them you’d
like to bartend the party for free. If they say, “All we’re
serving is sangria,” reply, “Ok! I’ll serve the
sangria!” If they’re only serving beer and wine, it’s
a great chance for you to practice opening beer and wine bottles.
The whole idea is repetition. Stop and think of something you’re
good at. Now, why are you good at it? Most times it’s because
you’ve had lots of practice.
5. Try to learn something new everyday. Learn how to cut garnishes,
do bar tricks, spiral napkins, etc. Make flash cards, keep practicing,
learn from books or any other media, and visit bars. When you finally
apply at a bar, go there and hang out. Listen to the drink orders
and watch how they do things and you’ll be prepared for how
that bar operates.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns and,
of course, your success stories.
WHAT
KIND OF ESTABLISHMENTS NEED BARTENDERS?
When
I guest speak at bar schools the
number one thing that amazes me is that most the students have no
idea that there are so many different types of bars. In their minds,
they thought that there were only chain restaurants and dance clubs.
Every profession has an entry level. Here are some great bars
for a beginner bartender.
| Pub
or Tavern Beertender...At
pubs and taverns you generally just serve beer. You can polish
your people skills, memory, and many of the things on the bartender
quality list. Tips can be good, but these places are generally
local places, so you better get use to seeing the same ole'
faces. |
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Service
Bartender...A
service bartender can be found in restaurants that don’t
have an exposed bar, but offer alcohol on their menu. Servers
come to your small space to get drinks. The only tips you receive
are from the servers. Comedy Clubs, busy Asian restaurants,
restaurants that have two or more floors, and places that provide
entertainment normally have service bars. |
| Banquet
or Catering Bartender...Banquet
and caterer bartending jobs are perfect for a beginner. First
you have to get hired at a catering company, hotel, or a place
that hosts conventions and events. The company organizes the
events and you tend bar. The bars are portable so there’s
a little muscle involved in getting all of your supplies and
stock together. Now, each event is different, but most times
it’s just a basic bar set-up, which means that you won’t
be making any frozen or blended drinks (just highballs, juice
drinks, bottled beer, and wine), use a soda gun, and you don’t
have to deal with collecting cash, running tabs, or making change.
Sometimes it’s a cash bar, but it’s out of a simple
cash drawer. Payment is different all over. It can be a percentage
of the sales of the event or a flat fee, which is sometimes
put on your check. |
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Day-time
Bartenders...Many
restaurants that have bars are looking for daytime bartenders
because most of the money is made at night. Daytime bartenders
can get a small lunch rush but spend most of their day stocking
the bar for the nighttime bartender. Sometimes they get to overlap
into the happy hour helping out during that rush. This is a
great way to get your foot in the door, pay your dues, prove
yourself, build a clientele, and get paid to learn. Plus, there
will be many times when a nighttime bartender will want a shift
off here and there and you’ll be the first one asked.
Try Mexican restaurants, they seem to always need a daytime
bartender for some reason. |
| Hotel
Bars...Most
hotel bars are pretty boring. You are totally dependent on the
occupancy of the hotel. When it’s dead, it’s dead
and even when it’s full it can dead unless it’s
full of people that like to drink. Most times, locals don’t
visit hotel bars unless they are really nice bars. But for a
beginner bartender, this is a great stepping-stone to greater
opportunities. |
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Private Party Bartender...Tending
bar at private parties are great because you’re working
for yourself. Prices are settled on beforehand, you use what
the host provides, and guests are always in a happy mood. The
down side is that you almost have to be working at a bar already
to be able to advertise yourself. As a beginner bartender I
would ask for $100 for every three hours they need you. |
OTHER BARS TO WORK
| Restaurant/Bar
chain Bartender...Most
of these positions are hired from within. Most of the time people
are waiting in line to move up. Chain restaurants want you to
learn their menu and pay your dues before you get behind the
wood. But, here’s a secret, if you can find a place that’s
opening your chances are 99% better. You can make great money
and also get the opportunity to travel and transfer to other
stores around the planet. The downside is that chains have so
many corporate rules. But every job has its good and bad. |
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| High-volume
Bartender...These
are the busy nightclub bartenders that move to a non-stop heavy
beat. Most times they’re reading lips. Money can be huge
even after tipping out the bar backs and splitting tips. The
downside is that you almost always have to work holidays and
weekends, you come home smelling like an ashtray, and you’re
hearing begins to be affected. You can be hired from within,
or know somebody to get these jobs. |
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Pool & Beach Bars...These
bars can be tricky because they are seasonal unless you live
in a super warm climate year round. The bartenders are like
squirrels saving nuts for the winter because their whole livelihood
depends on the weather. Every pool & beach bartender is
addicted to the weather channel. They also usually stay put
for a long while because the money can be huge, so it can be
hard to make your way into the good ones. I love these bars
because of the constant connection with nature. |
Airport Bars...I’ve
never worked an airport bar, but I’ve talked with some
airport bartenders and they seem to do pretty good money wise.
Of course, not every airport bar is the same. The biggest
complaint seems to be the time it’s takes to get to
the bar because they have to park so far out in the parking
lot.
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Cruise Ships...If
you’re an American forget about it. I know, I know, you
see the ads in the paper all the time. Trust me, they’re
all a scam. I worked on a cruise ship for 6 years in the Caribbean,
but I was part of an experiment. See, I worked with 56 other
nationalities from around the world and the reason cruise ships
have all these people working for them is because of the currency
exchange in their country. For example, when I worked on the
ship the daily pay for a cocktail server was $10. Now, the cocktail
servers were from Thailand and one American dollar was equivalent
to $25 in Thailand. So they sent 95% of their money home. You’re
not going to get an American to work for $10 a day; it’s
cheaper to hire people from other countries. I knew people that
would work the cruise ships for 15-20 years and retire very
rich in their country. Now, there are two places you can try.
American Hawaii cruise line and the Delta Queen Riverboat that
goes up and down the Mississippi. These are American owned. |
Of
course there are more bars to list. Other bars
include Piano Lounges, Country Bars, Brew Pubs, Country Clubs, Jazz
Bars, Wine Bars, Strip Clubs, Karaoke Bars, VIP Bars, Flair Bars,
Sports Bars, French Bistros, Tapas Bars, Gay Bars, Neighborhood
Bars, Biker Bars, Poetry Reading Bars, Pool Halls, Street Bars,
Irish Pubs, British Pubs, Outdoor Bars, Cantinas, Salsa Bars, Ski
Resort Bars, Amtrak Bar Cars, Excursion Bars, Dive Bars, Tiki Bars,
and more.
As far as money goes, I have seen bartenders in hole-in-the-wall
places walking with $300 a night and bartenders from the fancy bars
walk with $50.
The Top 5 Ways To Get A Bartender Job
Know that--typically--the position of "bartender" is not
an entry level position.
1. Be in the industry. This means that you’re already
working as a host/hostess, server, busser, cook, cocktail server,
or bar back. Managers prefer to hire within because they know your
work habits, your dependability, and how you work with others. The
immediate positions right underneath a bartender are; bar back,
cocktail server, and server. Bartenders just like everyone else
get sick, go on vacation, have emergencies, or just want a day off.
This is your opportunity to prove yourself. Let management know
that your goal is to make it behind the bar and you’re willing
to pay your dues for it. At the same time, make friends with the
bartenders. Run errands for them, pick up their food, tip them well,
and have then quiz you on drinks. Trust me, it'll pay off.
2. Go get a job in the industry.
High volume nightclubs are so busy that they must have bar backs.
A bar back is a busy bartenders backbone. They keep the ice bin
filled, fill the juices, wash glasses, empty the trash, change the
kegs, run for backups and do anything else the bartender needs.
Oh, and they are masters of staying out of the bartenders way. Bartenders
will tip you out very well, if you’re good. The next best
foot in the door position is to be a cocktail server. Take these
positions, sponge everything and get paid to learn.
3. Apply at a place that that is opening. I have personally
done this five times. If you have a little experience with great
eye contact, grooming, presence, and a killer looking resume, then
your 99% guaranteed a bar position.
4. Know someone. Yep, some people
get bartender jobs just from knowing the right people and being
in the right place at the right time. Pick out a bar that you like
and get to know the manager. Work your magic and sell yourself.
That’s all we do anyway.
5. Learn all you can from books and other media, set up a practice
bar at home, talk friends into having parties so you can practice
tending bar, go to bars and absorb everything you can, then walk
to the edge and jump. Fake it ‘til you make it, baby.
I’ve seen it done many times. But don’t worry, I’m
going to give you lots of tips and hints to help you look like you
know what you’re doing.
Facts
The good bartender jobs are never advertised
in the classifieds. And by good I mean the ones where you make good
money. Most times jobs are filled through word of mouth and hiring
from within. What about those ads that say, Will train, Make $$$,
No experience necessary? They’re either a strip club or bartending
school. Lots of bartenders in the same area network, send each other
business, and borrow things from each other when they run out throughout
the night, so it’s like an underground system you have to
break into.
Know that even I have had to take many
server positions and then work my way up (yes! even with several
years of bartending experience). However, it’s always talked
about upfront with the manager at the interview about how I need
to be reassured that I will be able to move up to the bar in a certain
time frame. One time when working at Pleasure Island at Walt Disney
World, I dropped from bartender to cocktail server just so I could
watch all the fantastic live improv shows at the Comedy Warehouse.
People thought I was crazy.
Below are some threads from webtender.com that
I thought you might find interesting.
Back to Miss Charming's FAQ Page
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