In my book, Miss Charming's Guide for Hip Bartenders and Wayout Wannabes I tell you how to teach yourself everything a bartender should know.

In the book, I tell the inexperienced how to begin taking the steps of becoming a bartender and how to apply these tools from the kit. Here's what it says:

Bar School Boot Camp

1. Before you can get your foot through the door, ya gotta knock. Take this book and go to a bar that has a nice bartender working the day shift. Be there between 2pm-4pm (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 ( bar-MEN-toar, 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 in whatever form, 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 are excellent for this. You can also look behind bars and ask your Barmentor. Clean them inside and out, fill them with water, and put pourers on them. You can even get creative and add food coloring. ( tea works well for the whiskies.) Next, go to your local thrift stores and get a small collection of bar glassware. You must know how to use them, and more important, get a good feel for them.
Don’t feel overwhelmed-I’ve made building your own practice bar easy! Go to my Bar Store at www.charming.barstore.com and you’ll find a Miss Charming’s Hip Bartender and Wayout Wannabe Bartender Kit that I’ve put together for you to help get you started. You’ll also be able to mix and match styles and colors to really personalize your new, cool tools. 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 because-you don’t want the 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 tend bar 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.

Bartender License

You don’t need a license, certificate, or any other 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 just requires a food and beverage class you and everyone else in the business must take. In these classes you learn basics like proper storage of food, safety, accepted forms of ID, etc. Establishment’s make you take the classes because they get a break on insurance. The most popular nationwide program is TIPS (www.gettips.com).
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