bartending?

Question

I want to start bartending but I have no experience. Any ideas or tips that would help me out? I live in Maryland if it matters at all.

Answer 1

bartending is easy if you like to drink
but there is a bartenders dictionary
check local bookstores

Answer 2

Get a bartender's book of drinks and know the basic ones - like the Martini, etc. You can't go wrong knowing how to pour a classic drink. (Our joke was "If you don't know what's in it, you shouldn't be drinking it!")

If you're a regular at a small neighborhood bar or restaurant that has a bar, or if you know someone who owns or runs one, it might be worth asking if you can help out. Meaning, see if the bartender there will teach you how to pour drinks when it's slow - like in the middle of the afternoon. I found that taking a class really didn't help much. I got more education actually doing it.

If that's not an option, find a job as a cocktail waitress near you. Many places will teach their better cocktail servers how to tend bar so they can pour their own orders when it's super busy. (It's also a good way to learn the drinks.)

Be prepared to work hard for next to no money when you first start out. It takes time and practice to make the big bucks.

Answer 3

RE: Could I get a bartending activity with out a bartending enjoy? I haven't any bartending enjoy, however I labored as a waitress for a million yr and I recognise the wines (what wine might move with what entree) and I understand how to pour a lager. I simply don't recognise particularly easy methods to make all of the cocktails. Do I have a hazard at getting a aspect time bartending activity at like an...

Answer 4

Find a mellow bar that caters to the slightly more upscale and you'll make more money for "easier" work. They will expect a lot out of you but if you study up on a drink recipe book before hand you should be able to deal with the majority of things.

An ex of mine has been the head bartender for many bars in and around Baltimore and her hours were horrible. Be prepared to work long hard hours and have a really strange sleep schedule. It works fairly well when you're young and single (or dating someone else in the same line of work) but gets very tiresome when you try to have a family or consistent relationship with someone who works a standard 9-5.

You can go to a bar-tending school for a couple of months, and that will give you a leg up, but it will also cost a good chunk of cash.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Believe it or not, some states DO REQUIRE licensing for many of the food and beverage positions.

I suggest you start with your county health office. They should be able to tell you what the license requirements are - or should be for the county or counties or the cities you want to work in.

Get to know the bartender[s] in the establishment[s] you're interested in working. Getting to know the managers also goes a long way.

DON'T go in those places to get a buzz or get drunk. The best days and times to do your networking are Monday through Thursday: 2 PM to 4:30 PM and/or 9:00 PM to 10 PM. AND/OR, depending on the bar and state law, 12:45 AM until closing. Sometimes they'll let you stay after closing, while they clean up and re-stock for the next business day.
Saturday: 11 AM to 11:45 AM. 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Sunday: Is a "pot luck" kind of day. It all depends on how busy that bar is. Many times, you could go in at 11:00 AM and chat with the bartender until "the crowd" starts coming in for the popular sporting event.

Generally, the busiest days of the week are Fridays and Saturdays. FORGET ABOUT ALL DAY FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT OR SATURDAY NIGHT. Bartenders are far too busy.
Any other times are the times when the bartender is busy tending bar and earning his/her money, tending bar and conversing with customers.

Most of the time, you're on your feet. Invest in a very comfortable pair of shoes or two pair of comfortable shoes. Why two pair? One pair airs-out one day, while you are working in the other. You should alternate wearing the shoes.
When you're busy, the hours fly - they go fast!
When its slow, they creep!
You will find-out and discover you will be your customers’ psychiatrist, psychologist, marriage counselor, Mr./Ms. Fixit, their “best friend”, etc. This is part of the job. Its how you build “a following” and how you increase your tips.

You better learn how to operate that register and make change very fast! Sometimes the bar is two or more “deep” This means all around the bar, the customers are standing - waiting for service. You’ll develop a system. It takes time AND thought.

You may have to start off getting ice, washing glasses, stocking beer and wine; cutting fruit; getting juices and doing all the other tasks necessary for keeping the bar running smooth.

Then you'll get to work the service bar or functions/banquets/parties. You may be able to pick-up a shift or two for lunch, during the week or lunch on Saturday and/or Sunday.

Ask the bartenders you befriend about attending a barternding school. Its worth looking into. If you decide not to do this, its a loss of some of your time and its entirely up to you.

A great book to invest in is "Mr. Boston's Deluxe Official Bartender's Guide" or "Mr. Boston's Recipe Book". Either is commonly referred to as "Mr. Boston" I THINK I would prefer the former rather than the latter. Each day when you go to work, take your book. Each day, when you leave, take your book. You may want to invest in both.

It has JUST ABOUT ALL the popular cocktails and drinks. When you have this book with you, your chances of "being stumped" about a drink or preparing that drink you forgot how to make, should be greatly reduced.
Many times the customers play a vey frustrating game. They try to "stump the bartender" and they make up their own names for drinks. If you can't find that drink in your book, ask the customer who ordered it. DON'T LOSE YOUR TEMPER!

For Heaven’s sake, PLEASE tip the bartender[s]. He/She/They have bills to pay - just like you do!

I wish you well!

VTY,
Ron B.

Answer 6

Go get a bartenders book that has drinks in it. So that you can look through it to see what types of liquor makes what drinks.

Answer 7

well i suggest going to bar tending school. but other than that. nope.