Read below for 10 quick tips on how to become a bartender.
Don't just take my word for it though. Get busy and do some research, roam the web, go to Amazon and read reviews from real people. Make an informed decision on your best chance to become a bartender. You can even email me any questions you might have ([email protected]). Then it's time to be decisive and take action to make something good happen in your life. Don't spend a month researching and then do nothing. That's what everyone else does. Stop being like everyone else! Anyone can become a bartender, they just need a plan.
MY EXPERIENCEI have been in the bar & restaurant industry for more than 20 years now. I have managed many bars and hired (and fired) dozens of people. I know EXACTLY what bar owners & managers are looking for when it comes time to hire a new bartender, from the time you walk in to the resume you hand them, to the interview questions you'll hear. I GUARANTEE you won't find any information out there that lays out a detailed plan like this book does. Landing a bartending job is more than learning drink recipes. You have to actually be hired before you're allowed to make all those drinks you've memorized, and you can't do that without a plan.
"All I can say is WOW! If you really want to become a bartender, do yourself a favor and buy Dave's book. It's only $9.99 when he should be selling it for $50. The book is well-written and goes behind the scenes of what it takes to work in a bar. Nothing else like it. Thanks Dave." -Shannon C. A WORD ABOUT BARTENDING SCHOOLSSince its release, several hundred copies of the book have been sold and the more that sell, the more I am overwhelmed with emails I receive from people asking advice on how to get a bartending job, so even though I will continue to email people individually, here is some no-nonsense advice for everyone on what you need to do if you want to become a bartender. Please, DON'T waste your money on bartending school. Trust me, buy the book. It's ten bucks and it has a pretty picture of some guy I don't know on the cover pouring a shot of something that looks like motor oil. If you don't like it, return it for a full refund. I don't want anyone dissatisfied or feel like they got ripped off.
WHY SHOULD YOU BECOME A BARTENDER?
First of all, you should know that there are more than 50,000 bars in the United States alone. Second, bartending is recession-proof and has been for decades, even centuries. People drink when they celebrate, they drink when they're depressed, and they drink when they're lonely and downright horny. People will always come up with money for booze because it's an addiction, and I don't just mean the alcohol itself. They CRAVE the social scene.
With that said, if you REALLY want to become a bartender, here are the 10 steps you'll need to follow:
1. Get some balls! I'm serious. This might sound crude, and it wouldn't have come to mind before I wrote the book, but you should see some of the meek, wishy-washy people that email me: "I really want to bartend but I don't really interview well," or "I'm kind of shy and I'm not sure I can talk with people." Seriously, if you want something, get clear, get decisive, make a plan and take action. Stop making excuses. If you don't have balls (girls), grow some or go ahead and continue on your path of mediocrity. Just leave me out of it.
2. Make a plan. Randomly wandering out to bars to look for a job without a detailed plan is about as effective as cutting someone's hair while blindfolded. Both end in ugly results. This is why bartending schools are such a joke. They teach you bartending skills you can learn from a book and then they claim to assist in "job placement" but they have no plan for you. They hand you a list of bars in the area and show you the door. Gee thanks. So glad I spent $700 for that bit of "job placement" magic. I don't have the time or space to cover the plan here. The book covers it in great detail.
3. Set goals. Yeah, I know you probably don't want to hear a bunch of Tony Robbins crap right now, but if you want to get a bartending job, you need to make a great plan and part of that plan is setting goals. Did you know that only 3% of people set long term goals? And did you know that those 3% make more money than the other 97% combined? Yeah, I bet you're sharpening your pencils right now, aren't you?
4. Create a dynamic resume and cover letter. This is where 90% of aspiring bartenders fail. You can put yourself way ahead of the game by creating a resume with some creativity and pizazz. You aren't applying for a job as a floor manager on the New York Stock Exchange. You want to create something memorable, and as a bartender, your resume should reflect your personality (assuming you have one). Which leads us into #5:
5. Have a personality. If I only had one word to describe what it takes to be a bartender, it would be "Sexy". Just kidding (kind of). Personality and good cocktails are why people come to see you. If you don't have a personality, refer back to rule number 1. *Side note: If you are extremely attractive, you still need a personality but not as much. It's like being a basketball player with a 48 inch vertical jump. He may not be able to shoot worth a shit, but you want him on the court just for the pure showmanship.
6. Find your inner-Buddah. You will need mucho patience to be a bartender night in and night out. Just look up all the server and bartender blogs on the Internet right now and report back to me the percentage of those blogs that are used for ranting, raving and bitching. I estimate it at around 96.4%. People can be assholes when they go out to eat and drink, and you are the dirt they shit on.
7. Have a passion for it. But not the preachy kind of passion that bores the shit out of people because you're trying to educate them on the history of Scotch and the entire fermentation and distillation process (it's important to know that stuff as a bartender, I'm just not sure why yet). Still, you should love creating cocktails, discussing it with the people who are interested, and always looking to learn more. I know I write a lot of cynical, sarcastic stuff, but I do love what I do and it shows when I spend time with my guests. If you have a passion for cocktails, wine and beer, it will be obvious, especially during an interview with a bar manager or owner.
8. Know your shit. This is sort of a sub-category to #7. If you know nothing about liquor, beer or wine, it's ok, but you need to study up on it before you go looking for a job. Do not think because you have little knowledge or experience that you can't get a bartending job. That is an untruth and a myth. You just need to be properly trained and you need a plan (that plan does NOT include going to bartending school, by the way).
9. Build a following. This is akin to creating a network of contacts in the business world. The bigger following you create, the bigger legend you become, the more the manager and owner love you, which in turn means you will make more money. Use your personality, your patience and your passion to do this. And your balls. Don't forget your balls, Sally.
10. Be reliable. The best bartenders I ever worked with did more than go through the motions and try to look cool. This isn't a movie, you aren't Tom Cruise. If you go above and beyond to take care of your guests and work your ass off behind the bar, you will be noticed and you will be VALUABLE to your bar. Value = Get whatever shifts you want.
HERE'S WHAT ELSE YOU'LL GET WHEN YOU BUY THE BOOK*How to set specific goals that get you a job as quickly as possible
*How to choose the best bars to work at based on your personality
*How to get the owner, manager and bar staff to love you before you ever interview
*How to create a cover letter and resume that outperforms 95% of the competition
*The exact questions you will be asked in the interview - it's like getting a copy of the test before the exam
*Questions YOU should ask in the interview that will blow the manager away
*The myths of bartending - It's not as hard as they'd like you to believe
*Interview Do's and Don'ts - 20 tips that will propel you ahead of the competition
*Comprehensive guide to liquor, beer, wine, glassware, bar tools, techniques and terminology
*100 Most Popular Cocktails Made Today
*The 20 Shots you MUST know to bartend
*All the skills you'll ever need to become an expert bartender
*Why bartending schools are for suckers!
*Guest service and what real life is like behind the bar
WHERE TO BUY IT
If you do decide to buy the book, it's a Kindle edition copy that can be purchased on any computer or smartphone by downloading the free Kindle app. I tell people this because they think they need to own a Kindle or a Nook. You don't.
Get a copy at Amazon and check out reviews too.
You can also pick up a copy at: Barnes & Noble
I don't mean to come across as brash, but becoming a bartender is about getting in a kick-ass state of mind and going for it. Despite what you may have heard, ANYONE can become a bartender and land a job, even with little or no experience. You are not applying to become an advisor to the President of the United States. Study your drinks, make a plan, set goals, take action. It's that simple. Best of luck and send me an email when you land your job. I love a good success story.
Cheers until next time,
The RB
Buy my book on Amazon for a more detailed plan on becoming a bartender:Also grab a copy at: Barnes & Noble
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