Professional Bartending is a
great job, you can have lots of fun and make lots of money. Bartending jobs
can be found everywhere: professional careers, full-time, part-time or
short-term, seasonal jobs. No matter what it is that attracted you to
professional bartending you can ensure your success by understanding a few
simple facts.
The first thing that you need
to know is: Every
Bartending Job is Different. Think of the bartending job
that you want. Is it a Neighborhood Bar, a Pub, a Sports Bar, a
Restaurant, a Resort Hotel, a Nightclub... The list goes on and on. Each job
is different and the skills you need to get the job, and to do the job, will
depend on the bartending job that you want.
The next, and the most
important thing to know is: 'Making the Drinks'
is a small part of the job. Most people who are interested in
bartending think that you need to know how to make all sorts of drinks. It's not true
- Making Drinks is easy. It's more
important to have a strong understanding of what the job actually is, and
what a Professional Bartender actually does.
With this in mind you need to
identify the best bartending job for you. Remember, you will have the most
success working in a bar that you would enjoy going to as a customer.
No matter what type of
bartending job
you want there are 4 basic things every successful bartender needs to learn.
1 - Learn about the Job
and the Business
Give yourself a big advantage
by completely understanding what you are getting into. You know that every
bartending job is different. The basic skills of 'Making the Drinks'
is the same, but, different types of establishments will require different
skills. Bartending jobs will also include 'Side-Work' and other
cleaning and maintenance duties. This is usually determined by the size of
the establishment.
Example:
Bartenders at a large resort hotel may find
themselves serving 'Martini's and fine wines to business travelers and
tourists (and polishing brass). But, the bartender in a small
Pub is probably spending most of the time serving draft beer and cheese
burgers to the 'Regulars' (and has to clean the floors and take out the
trash).
You will need to know what
type of business you will be working for because the application and interview
process will also be different from job to job. The key difference is in the
Ownership and Management of the establishment. Large corporate
businesses, like national restaurant chains and resort hotels, will have a
more structured process than a small privately owned business.
Example:
A job at a large resort hotel will require a detailed
application and several formal interviews. But, the owner/manager of a small
Pub may hire you 'on-the-spot' (yes this does happen). Be prepared, learn
as much about the job and the establishment as you can.
2 - Learn about The Bar
A bartender is not just the one who
makes the drinks. A professional bartender must be able to 'Open', 'Close',
clean, and restock a professional bar. This includes being able to operate and
maintain equipment like draft beer systems, soda dispensing systems
and glass washing machines. A good bartender has a strong understanding of all of the
products, tools and equipment used to make and sell drinks.
3 - Learn to Make the Drinks
All bartenders
have the same basic skill - 'Making the Drinks', and learning
'how-to', is the easiest thing you will do as a bartender.
Making
Drinks is easy, there are
thousands of cocktail recipes, but, there are less than 10 basic types
and all others are simple variations of them. Don't waste time trying to
remember hundreds of cocktail recipes - it's not that important. Focus on
the basics and develop the coordination and skills needed for speed and
accuracy.
Note: An experienced bartender or
manager will be able to tell how good you are simply by seeing how you handle the
bottles, the glassware and the
mixing tools. There is a 'right' and 'wrong' way to
do this.
4 - Learn to Make the
Money
Once you get your bartending job you will find
that to be successful some jobs will require quality and others will require quantity (some
require both). The most useful skill to master and Make the Most Money you can as a Professional Bartender is
'customer service'. Your ability to deal with
your customers, and identify their needs, will keep them coming back and
increase your 'tips'. 'Customer Service' starts with your personality
and, like everything else, will be defined differently in each job.
Example:
Bartenders at a large resort hotel may find their
customers want them to recommend fine wines and 'after-dinner drinks' in a
very relaxed environment while
discussing the local attractions. But, the customer in a small
Pub wants their beer full 'right-away' , their food
'as-soon-as-possible' the score of the game, and the local gossip.
If you're serious about
professional bartending you need to be realistic, you can't make money if you don't
have a job. And, you can't get a job without an interview. The bottom line is:
You will have to talk someone into giving you a
bartending job. Take every advantage you can and, from this point
on, use every thing you learn to prepare for that interview. Get started
right now by learning more about the
bartenders job interview, a few
facts about looking for your bartending job and, more about professional
certification, training and schools.
