Bartending is widely regarded as one of the most lucrative and enjoyable of all of the different positions in the service industry. Because of this, it isn’t a surprise that many people every year set forth to enter the profession. From these bartender-hopefuls, the most common questions that I receive are about how to become a bartender. While this question is a broad one – there are countless types of bartending jobs ranging from working at service bars, private events, nightclubs and many others – there are a few common ways how to become a bartender for the beginner with little experience. Most new bartenders either begin at a service bar, working private events or attending a bartending school.
Before I discuss the three most common options to enter into the world of bartending, I want to preface by saying that while no real experience is needed, knowledge is absolutely crucial to your success in finding a job bartending. Before applying for employment or to bartending school, you would be very wise to spend a little time reading about the different basic liquors you’ll be dealing with, a little bit about mixology and the basic, classic cocktails that you’re sure to encounter during your career. On top of this, a bit of knowledge about dealing with customers will do you well – this is a service industry position after all.
One of the easiest, entry-level bartending positions that a new bartender can apply for would be at a service bar. These are most commonly located in restaurants but can also be found in hotels and resorts. Service bartenders generally prepare drinks for diners or guests that have been ordered through a server or room service attendant. In most situations, a service bartender does not actually interact with the customer – they simply prepare their drinks. Rather than being tipped directly from the customer, service bartenders are tipped by the servers or room service attendants. This is a great way for someone looking for how to become a bartender to get experience in making a wide variety of libations. While an inexperienced applicant may not be able to walk into a five-star restaurant and get hired as a service bartender, there are many smaller and chain restaurants that will eagerly train a promising employee.
Another route that many beginners to bartending take is by working at private parties. These can be anything from weddings to holiday parties to simply social gatherings. One of the biggest benefits of getting experience this way is that, most often, the different types of drinks you’ll be forced to make will be minimal. Most private events may have six different brands of liquor and an equal number of mixers due to limited budgets. This gives the new bartender the opportunity to brush up on their customer service skills rather than bartending knowledge, all while getting a basic education in the standard, classic cocktails.
Perhaps the most comprehensive way to learn how to become a bartender is by attending a bartending school. Nearly every medium-sized or larger city has at least one bartending school. Generally open for classes in the evenings, most schools provide insight on all aspects of bartending. You will learn all about each particular type of liquor, common and uncommon cocktail requests, efficient bartending procedures and even proper etiquette for a number of different situations. In addition to being the most efficient way to absorb the large amount of knowledge that you will need as a bartender, most schools have working relationships with a number of different bars, restaurants, and private event companies. These partnerships often makes the search for a job much easier for the new bartender as these different employers often first turn to the school to fill any open positions.
In general, bartending is a very rewarding career, both financially and emotionally. If you enjoy working in a fast-paced, very social environment where people are intent on having a good time, bartending may be the perfect career for you.
