Just contemplating job possibilities for the next couple of years of my life.

Is bartending school worth the money?

How good does the pay end up being with tips?

Is it at all fun?

i was a "MIXOLOGIST" when i was 18 in detroit back in the day

worked at my best friends dad's bar on 8 mile... didnt need no schooling just learned hands on


good luck

Mach said:

You're from Detroit!!!??? I've lived here all my life!

I've heard that newbie bartenders have a tendecy to make their drinks too strong...

So if you need a test-guinea pig while you're working out the kinks, holla!

Well, you're gonna have to grow out your mustache...

2teh9s said:

Yeah, the whole org is invited to my first night.

tackam said:

You do know we're crap tippers?

2teh9s said:

What?

Never mind.

2teh9s said:

and we have odious pesonalities

and we belch alot

2teh9s said:

speak for yourself.

bkw said:

Oh, that's fine. As long as you tip well.

tackam said:

We give lots of good tips....

like....look both ways when you cross the road, never eat with the hand you just used to wipe your butt with, ummm.....

bkw said:

One more to take off of the invite list. . .

I am certified in bartending and the classes that I took were fun, so, either way, it's worth it. But, you don't really need schooling to become one, it all really depends on what type of establishment you plan on bartending in.

Some bars don't care how much alcohol you put in a drink or allow you to use a guide, while others want you pretty much dead on for each pour, pouring free-handed while adding flair to each pour. The last place I bartended at would do daily freehand pour tests which we had to have no less than a 98% pour test otherwise we were sent home.

You can learn it on your own, but one of the great things about the classes I attended are the courses on flair. Performing great flair brings in loads more tips, at least at the place I bartended at. A lot of the guests would tip simply because you performed a great trick behind the bar, and because you're entertaining to watch it increases your tips as well.

I don't know how much bartending classes are, mine were provided for free in order to get hired, but really, for more money in your pocket at the end of your shift if the class teaches flair, it'd be worth it. It really isn't all about knowing how much of what goes into each drink, that you can learn as you go.

I used to work the lunch shift, 5-6 days a week and I'd bring home roughly $400 in tips. When I switched to nights, working two weekdays and Friday and Saturday, I'd bring home anywhere between $800 to, my best ever week, of $1,200 in tips. On the weekend nights though, I had to split the tips between myself and another bartender, we couldn't keep our own, during the day shift it was only me and I kept all that I made. Also, I started off making $5.50 for an hourly wage and before I left I was paid $6.95 an hour on top of my tips. So, there really can be good money in it.

Good luck and make sure to learn the flair! It really pays off!!





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[Edited 12/30/04 5:11am]

I say watch the movie "Cocktail" & have at it

At most of the restaurants I worked at, the Bartenders were only hired from within. In other words, they really only promoted servers to bartenders, they didn't hire bartenders off the street. And once promoted to it, they put you through paid training anyhow.

I remember at TGI Fridays, the servers had to tip out the Bartenders at the end of their shifts. It was like a certain percentage of their sales as a minimum, but they could tip the bartender even more if they wanted to. So they got those tips in addition to the tips from the people sitting around the bar.

AzureStarr said:

It is well known that Azure was the star bartender at Coyote Ugly for many years and the "flair" she refers to is shaking your caboose in patrons faces.

My tips for becoming a successful bartender? (a) Look hot and (b) Look hot.

Interesting stuff. Thanks Azure, thanks Tom!

We'll see. I actually have an aquaintance who has a restaurant and is thinking of opening a bar, and it sounded like he'd be willing to hire me, so that might be a way in. Otherwise, from talking to a few people who concur with Tom, it does sound like it's a pretty hard job to get.

But should I get it, I'm all about the flair.

tackam said:

15 minimuim pieces of flair

andykeen said:

What a coincidence! I cut glass with my nipples at a club!

tackam said:

I'm underage.

But I'll tip good.

Kohl said:

Ace said:

Hey, if it brings in more tips!

Ace said:

What a coincidense! I suck nipples at a club!

Heavenly said:

That is so five-minutes-ago.

Ace said:

I'm in no hurry, are you?

Heavenly said:

Yes. I've got some glass-cutting to do with my nipples!

Ace said:

Then don't expect me to suck them afterwards

Heavenly said:

Deal!