How do I become a bartender?
I want to become a bartender but I don't know how to land my first gig. Every bartending job wants experience but where do I get that experience? Are bartending classes or training worth it?
I think getting experience is more worth it than spending money on bartending school. You can try getting your foot in the door as a barback or try to land a non-bartender position at a bar doing serving or something. When the bar is short-staffed they may tap you in to work behind the bar and you can gain experience that way.
Bartending is people. Depending on the bar you work at, 60% to 80% of your job is people. You can learn how to make cocktails, but dealing with people or understanding people is a skill that you can't teach anyone. And that's the hard thing to do because you need a lot of patience. You need to be able to not think about yourself and instead think about the person sitting in front of you. I think that's the hard part that makes this job so much more difficult, because every person is different.
You want the person to be attentive and understand and hear you. And, of course, you'll have a bad day, but if you're not even looking the person that you're taking orders from in the eye or not making them feel welcome, you're not excelling at what you're doing. There's a difference between delivering someone a drink or making them a drink or creating an experience that's going to make them go, "This was awesome.” And that is the tricky part. Some people are born with it and they're just naturally so good with people that it doesn't even matter what you do. They will love you and come back. Some people are in between. So if you want to become a bartender, make an effort to work on your people skills.
You want the person to be attentive and understand and hear you. And, of course, you'll have a bad day, but if you're not even looking the person that you're taking orders from in the eye or not making them feel welcome, you're not excelling at what you're doing. There's a difference between delivering someone a drink or making them a drink or creating an experience that's going to make them go, "This was awesome.” And that is the tricky part. Some people are born with it and they're just naturally so good with people that it doesn't even matter what you do. They will love you and come back. Some people are in between. So if you want to become a bartender, make an effort to work on your people skills.
I'm more familiar with mobile bartending, but I agree that people skills and building a relationship with the client is the most important thing—creating a rapport, really hearing them out, and seeing what it is that they want to do for their event, considering everything, making sure that you take in all the details and then you deliver that the day of the event because they're investing in you. You don't want to just have them pay for a service and then it's mediocre. You want to make sure that it's an experience that they remember you for. Going above and beyond. It's your brand, it's your business, you want to stand out.
I believe what helps me stand out is giving exceptional service, delicious cocktails, creating themed cocktails that go with the theme of the event, and even playing with different colors, textures, different flavors… People notice the small things. Even if you have a printed bar menu that has the color of the centerpieces on it, they notice that. So, it's in the small details that you'll stand out and that's what we try to do so that people remember that. It's a sensory experience from the moment that they approach the bar and they're looking at the ice and then they see the cocktails. So, it's like first as they look, they taste, they enjoy everything about it, even the decorations of the bar. So, it's just crafting an experience that they're going to remember.
I believe what helps me stand out is giving exceptional service, delicious cocktails, creating themed cocktails that go with the theme of the event, and even playing with different colors, textures, different flavors… People notice the small things. Even if you have a printed bar menu that has the color of the centerpieces on it, they notice that. So, it's in the small details that you'll stand out and that's what we try to do so that people remember that. It's a sensory experience from the moment that they approach the bar and they're looking at the ice and then they see the cocktails. So, it's like first as they look, they taste, they enjoy everything about it, even the decorations of the bar. So, it's just crafting an experience that they're going to remember.
One thing you can do is practice at home. Build up your confidence and skills by learning how to make a bunch of classic drinks at home so that if and when you do get considered for a bartending job, you look right at home behind the bar. You can get familiar with free pouring, using a shaker, and other bartending skills that will help you succeed when you finally land a job.
Have you considered trying to get a position at a chain restaurant? A lot of chain restaurants have really good training programs for bartenders, so they can be great places to get some experience and kick off your bartending career.
Working at some chains will give you specific knowledge and experience with their unique cocktails instead of general cocktails, but the skills you develop are still valuable and transferrable to general bartending!
Working at some chains will give you specific knowledge and experience with their unique cocktails instead of general cocktails, but the skills you develop are still valuable and transferrable to general bartending!
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Reader Tips from How to Become a Bartender
If you're young and new to the service industry, you'll likely start out as a barback, busser, or server. If you do, it's really important to get to know the bartenders. Hang out with them after shifts, ask them questions, and get to know them. When it's time to hire a new bartender or find someone to cover a shift when the bar is short, you'll be first in line!
Every bartender needs to know how to make the popular cocktails out there, so practice by making drinks for your friends. You could have a "bourbon night" where you practice old fashioneds and whiskey sours, for example.
Reader Tips from How to Make a Cocktail
If you want a simple drink with complex flavors, try a Negroni. Add 1 oz of dry gin, 1 oz of sweet vermouth, and 1 ounce of Campari to a glass with ice and mix it well. Serve the drink over ice with an orange peel garnish.
When you make a margarita, rub the rim of the glass with a lime wedge and dip it in salt. The sweet, sour, and salty flavor when you take a sip is delicious.
Master the classic drinks with mixers, like a whiskey and Coke, gin and tonic, or a vodka soda.
Reader Tips from How to Start a Bartending Service Business
Try networking with people from catering companies or event planners to help find small events for you bartend.
Make sure that you charge enough for your services to cover all the costs of your supplies and make a profit.
