Become a Bartender for Extra Money

Mar 18 2010

By Brian J. Williams

If you’re looking for a great way to earn some extra money, most people think bartending is a fun option and a very cool job. They’re right, but most people don’t realize that becoming a great (or even good) bartender is not as easy as it may look. This doesn’t mean it’s difficult to get into bartending, but you do have to be knowledgeable about the field’s ins and outs, perfect your bartending skills, and sometimes even know people who can help you.

Bartending is not just for college students; anyone can be a bartender. Serving drinks is very profitable because depending on the establishment and your experience you can make anywhere between $100 -$500 a night. You can make more money than your average college educated individual. But how does one get started?

If you’re an experienced bartender who has worked in restaurants, bars, clubs and so forth, you won’t find it difficult to get hired. You’ll already know how to mix drinks and make a wide assortment of them skillfully and quickly. You’ll also be familiar with the hospitality industry, and you’ll probably have a fair idea of which places are hiring and how much money you could make at one of them. It’s also pretty safe to say you probably have some friends that know people who can help you get the job you want.

It will be a bit harder to get your foot in the door if you don’t have any bartending experience. You should first make sure your personality is suited to bartending. The more personable and outgoing you are, the better your chance of succeeding, because bartenders work for tips.

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Next you want to see what place would be better suited for you. Do you like loud music and wild crowds? Then you will probably work well in a bar or nightclub. Do you prefer a quieter atmosphere? Then you could look at a lounge or restaurant. If you like to travel, then working on a cruise ship is always an option. There are many places you can go to serve drinks, try and apply in the environments that you will most likely thrive in.

So now, you have your options narrowed down, what next? Well don’t go applying for the perfect job just yet. Remember you don’t have any experience. Now I know there are a lot of bartending schools out there, but the best advice for these schools – avoid them. For one, they are too costly. And two, believe or not, a lot of managers look down on those who “graduated” from Bartending School. Don’t ask why, that’s just the way it is within the field.

Next, you will need to practice mixing drinks before you apply for a job. It’s best if you know how to make several. You can find free drink recipes on the Internet, and if you want to you can watch some videos about mixing drinks. Your local library might have a bartender’s handbook you can check out. Flash cards can also be a big help. Make sure you know all the popular drinks, but don’t skip over the obscure ones.

Once you have a little experience under your belt, apply for as many jobs as you want. If you have any friends with jobs in the hospitality field, ask them to help you get an interview where they work. Be outgoing and smile during your interview, even to people who aren’t participating in the interview. Try to create a memorable impression. Don’t lie and tell the interviewer that you have work experience as a bartender; instead let him or her know that you’re knowledgeable about how to mix drinks even though you don’t have any work experience. When your interviewer gives you the opportunity to demonstrate, use that opportunity well and show off all the bartending skills you’ve taught yourself.

Brian has helped dozens of aspiring bartenders to find a bartending job with no experience. His newsletter is read by hundreds who want to learn how to become a bartender and get bartending jobs