Bartending

Question: Why is it that people say bartending school is a waste of time and money?

(Posted by: JC on 2008-11-10 00:49:00)

I am a professional bartender and I love it! It was one of the best decisions I have ever made ...learning mixology the way it was intended working only the busiest nights not serving or barbacking walking straight in and making my money only on the busiest nights. I just hear of many young great minds that want to bartend that they deprive themselves of all the drinks that blow people away by not learning professionally. Awww bourbon and cokes ...vodka and cranberrys wow how is that bartending I just told you what was in it. Let me get a Mai Tai or a Zombie or a Russian Qualude drinks that most people have never tried or given a chance that are great! So lets keep depriving the US of all the great drinks a bartender could make and say aww hell just work your way up be a barback settle for less or serve food ....ok We just turned our best server into our worst bartender... Also consider how much money each week you lose doing that! I just think people should learn customer service and professional bartending the right way in a controlled environment make all your mistakes at the school so when you get out in the real world there is no room for mistakes! This is the type of business where the players play or we could be just another POS average bartender that deprives me or you of all the drinks alchol has to offer!

Posted by: Mark F on 2008-11-10, 14:05:22

The best thing about bar tending school is the placement afterwords. Myself I stared by hanging around a dive bar and getting to know everyone, after a while i asked the owner if i could work there and since I gained the trust of every one in the bar from bartenders to costumers he let me try it out since 1984 I have been bar tending

Posted by: Mia on 2008-11-10, 00:58:56

I bar tended for many years and loved it

Posted by: JohnnyBlazE on 2008-11-10, 02:13:30

I've been talking to a mate this week who has a friend making very good money bartending; he learnt off two great bartenders, and whilst he's not excellent himself, he knows a lot and can still prepare a mean drink, so working those busy nights in London does him well... Equiv. of appx. $65k USD a year just by working busy nights; no small time stuff. I think it's a skill that serves well. Erm, no pun intended...