2006-08-17 04:59:09 · 12 answers · asked by lawsonmc11 3 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
If you lack experience, be prepared to demonstrate that you are proficient at making a wide variety of drinks in quick succession without need for reference materials. If you don't have the prerequisite skills, develop them first.
There are plenty of unexperienced people out there looking for a start -- you have to prove that you already have something to offer.
Oh, unless the bar in question is into flashy pouring, DON'T try to wow anyone with fancy moves. Those bars tend to be covering up the fact that their drinks are low-quality vodka-infused kool-ade. Demonstrate that you know how to make quality cocktails.
If it's a serious bar, be ready to answer some technical questions as well. For example, a customer looks behind the bar and says, What's that? Make me a drink with THAT! as he points to a bottle of Creme de Cassis. Can you tell him what it is, make him a drink, and tell him about that drink?
Do you know which glassware is the accepted correct glassware for particular drinks? Do you know all the terminology you need? For example, what how do you serve Amaretto neat?
Can you answer the dreaded question: How do you make the perfect martini?
If you don't have expertise with cocktails, find a restaurant that will hire you as a waiter that is willing to give you the opportunity to learn bartending, but know that you are going to really need to do your homework. They are NOT paying you to learn on work time! Learn on your time and get the opportunity to demonstrate it on the job. Be warned, though, most restaurant chains have lousy bars with sugar syrup drinks. You won't learn too much there, and you won't get a big resume boost if you want to be a serious bartender.
2006-08-17 08:46:20 · answer #1 · answered by kevinngunn 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's hard.
The best way to get experience is to work at a restaurant with a bar, and do all you can to get promoted to be a bartender.
Don't think that bartending school is going to help you. If you don't already have a job that will hire you, the school will not be able to place you. They say they will when you write them a check, but once it clears, they're out of there, and you're screwed.
2006-08-17 12:10:05 · answer #2 · answered by Pete 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on where you work.
If you apply at an upscale bar you need good experience. Period. Some even require a Bartender's License.
If you wouldn't mind working at a "dive" bar you could probably get a job no problem. But, you would probably have to be willing to work nights and weekends. If you were willing, since most people don't like to work that shift, you could get good experience rather quickly if you are a quick study.
Good luck.
2006-08-17 12:06:36 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends.
I started as a waiter and worked my way to the bar.
This is a great way to learn "recipes" Skills come with more experience. Start off at a slower bar to hone your skills. Don't go to Bartending school! You will be laughed out of any respectable
bar. If you have gone to one I don't recommend putting it on the application. Good Luck!
2006-08-17 22:59:22 · answer #4 · answered by screw_foot 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm a bar manager and depends on the type of bar. i have been in the bar business for 16yrs.(started off as a barback) and i can see right through a rookie, they are usually slow and cant make a drink ,so i wouldn't hire a person with no experience due to high volume. on the other hand if your a chic and look good try a titty bar or a hotel.
2006-08-17 15:18:06 · answer #5 · answered by The Purple Jesus 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My advice would be to go for an interview wether or not they
require experience or not .
W hen asked if you have any say politely how am I able to
gain experience if I am not given a chance to prove that I could be an asset to the job .
2006-08-17 12:13:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
start as a runner at a bar/restaurant and tell them you want to move up to bartender
2006-08-17 12:10:32 · answer #7 · answered by Seven S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
start with the waitstaff... no one hires bartenders off the street w/o experience...go to the chain restaurants... they usually have high turnover...opening up new positions
2006-08-17 12:36:52 · answer #8 · answered by dude 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pretty hard at first...Try a dive or a Bar that tends to be more Beer & Wine...They will usually give ya a chance as it is hard to mess up those. And they will have measured shots..etc.
2006-08-17 12:53:34 · answer #9 · answered by MindinChaos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to a small local bar and talk to the manager and explain to him or her you are looking for experience.
2006-08-20 23:11:25 · answer #10 · answered by mgiltz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋