AFJF Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Taking a bartending class to find a side gig...wondering who has done it before and ideas for first place to try to find a p/t job. Start fast with a banquet hall type of place or a dive bar to get feet wet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Let Thor see this and respond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor99 Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Those classes usually have placement. Well, it's not really placement, but they give you a list of who's hiring. A dive bar is probably the best place to start. You won't get a bunch of crazy drinks and shots. A banquet hall might pay you hourly instead of tips. You'll end up losing that way. Good luck, it's awesome and completely frustrating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 Those classes usually have placement. Well, it's not really placement, but they give you a list of who's hiring. A dive bar is probably the best place to start. You won't get a bunch of crazy drinks and shots. A banquet hall might pay you hourly instead of tips. You'll end up losing that way. Good luck, it's awesome and completely frustrating. Yeah, they have a ton of jobs listed but it really thins out when you take in to account how many places want experience or a chick. One of the dudes teaching the class recommended a banquet hall, saying that once you get that down, you can handle any crowd. What about national chains? Just out of convenience I thought I'd check out a place like Friday's or Chili's....I live about five minutes from either one. If I go to a sports bar I'll be too distracted but it's tempting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Yeah, they have a ton of jobs listed but it really thins out when you take in to account how many places want experience or a chick. One of the dudes teaching the class recommended a banquet hall, saying that once you get that down, you can handle any crowd. What about national chains? Just out of convenience I thought I'd check out a place like Friday's or Chili's....I live about five minutes from either one. If I go to a sports bar I'll be too distracted but it's tempting. Generally you will have to start out as a server. But under no circumstances work at Friday's or Chili's. I don't care what the bartenders pull in, the customer bases at either will ruin your life and you'll hate the gig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 Generally you will have to start out as a server. But under no circumstances work at Friday's or Chili's. I don't care what the bartenders pull in, the customer bases at either will ruin your life and you'll hate the gig. I've only spoken to one or two people about this and they've all pretty much said the same thing. I guess I'll forego the convenience and look for a better option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirorob Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Yeah, they have a ton of jobs listed but it really thins out when you take in to account how many places want experience or a chick. One of the dudes teaching the class recommended a banquet hall, saying that once you get that down, you can handle any crowd. What about national chains? Just out of convenience I thought I'd check out a place like Friday's or Chili's....I live about five minutes from either one. If I go to a sports bar I'll be too distracted but it's tempting. I got placed at Camp Pendleton when I was in CA, at the Staff NCO Club. Worked everything, the club, weddings, parties, all of it. The chains want you to start as a server. A banquet hall isn't bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 I've only spoken to one or two people about this and they've all pretty much said the same thing. I guess I'll forego the convenience and look for a better option. In my experience there's a lag time either way. If you go the school route the placement is probably not going to be ideal at first while you get some experience. If you go directly into a restaurant you will probably have to serve for a little while until you get essentially promoted to bartender, as the bartenders at a lot of places (and almost every franchise you walk into) have been moved into that gig from within. But, if you stress your desire to move to bartender ASAP at the interview, it may help. Good luck, like Thor said, bartending is a good gig if you have the personality for it. But the service industry is the service industry. Not easy to break into as a dude at all. My advice? Show up on time. Pick up shifts whenever possible. Come in to help with liquor counts on your days off. And don't act high and mighty towards the servers. Whatever interview you are at talk about teamwork and selflessness the entire time. Probably all sounds silly but you'd be amazed at how many people in the service industry simply don't want to work or help out at all, and management will eventually notice the people who do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirorob Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 In my experience there's a lag time either way. If you go the school route the placement is probably not going to be ideal at first while you get some experience. If you go directly into a restaurant you will probably have to serve for a little while until you get essentially promoted to bartender, as the bartenders at a lot of places (and almost every franchise you walk into) have been moved into that gig from within. But, if you stress your desire to move to bartender ASAP at the interview, it may help. Good luck, like Thor said, bartending is a good gig if you have the personality for it. But the service industry is the service industry. Not easy to break into as a dude at all. My advice? Show up on time. Pick up shifts whenever possible. Come in to help with liquor counts on your days off. And don't act high and mighty towards the servers. Whatever interview you are at talk about teamwork and selflessness the entire time. Probably all sounds silly but you'd be amazed at how many people in the service industry simply don't want to work or help out at all, and management will eventually notice the people who do. Totally agree on the helping out. I did a lot of grunt work, and I wound up with a lot of prime shifts after a year, and within 2 years I got everything. Also, I took care of the servers, the bar backs, the security (was loosely run), so everyone was well tipped out or got drinks. Consequently, I never had issues, my bar was always stocked, I always got extra food first (before the managers), and people were steered towards me, so I made $500 cash easy every Friday/Saturday, and that was 12 years ago. Take care of your bar backs/ stock people. It's noticed, and life is much easier. An extra $10-15 a night meant I never ran out of anything, which meant I served more people, which meant I made more money, my bar was cleaned faster, and I was the first bartender to leave after a huge party, even though I ran the busiest bar. and... you have to be really verbal. Be willing to talk to everyone, the more you talk with customers, the more $$ you make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Totally agree on the helping out. I did a lot of grunt work, and I wound up with a lot of prime shifts after a year, and within 2 years I got everything. Also, I took care of the servers, the bar backs, the security (was loosely run), so everyone was well tipped out or got drinks. Consequently, I never had issues, my bar was always stocked, I always got extra food first (before the managers), and people were steered towards me, so I made $500 cash easy every Friday/Saturday, and that was 12 years ago. Take care of your bar backs/ stock people. It's noticed, and life is much easier. An extra $10-15 a night meant I never ran out of anything, which meant I served more people, which meant I made more money, my bar was cleaned faster, and I was the first bartender to leave after a huge party, even though I ran the busiest bar. and... you have to be really verbal. Be willing to talk to everyone, the more you talk with customers, the more $$ you make. Running food that wasn't mine always helped out with the kitchen a lot too. I'd get only a minor version of the death stare when I needed something on the fly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 I am not an expert but over the years from what i have heard from friends who have been thru bar tending is If you wanna move up to those high paying gigs what usually matters is not how big a place you started in BUT in which neighborhood your first place was located..........an art district, a hip neighborhood, even an up and coming neighborhood for young professionals would usually be preferred even if it's a small bar. Hope that helps. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor99 Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Generally you will have to start out as a server. But under no circumstances work at Friday's or Chili's. I don't care what the bartenders pull in, the customer bases at either will ruin your life and you'll hate the gig. Excellent advice. Friday's actually has bartender competitions, so everyone thinks they're Tom Cruise. It's the most annoying thing in the world, watching these douchebags learn how to flip bottles. Was desperate, and worked at one for about a week and a half. My last day there, I worked a double, had $1700 in sales, and walked with $80. Never went back. I took one of those classes when I got out of the Army, somehow I got a gig in the Hamptons. I was making $800 a night and didn't have a dime to show for it at the end of the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeC36 Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Excellent advice. Friday's actually has bartender competitions, so everyone thinks they're Tom Cruise. It's the most annoying thing in the world, watching these douchebags learn how to flip bottles. Was desperate, and worked at one for about a week and a half. My last day there, I worked a double, had $1700 in sales, and walked with $80. Never went back. I took one of those classes when I got out of the Army, somehow I got a gig in the Hamptons. I was making $800 a night and didn't have a dime to show for it at the end of the summer. I've heard the tranny hookers and cocaine are amazing in the hamptons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 Thanks for all the advice guys...this is a good option for me because a lot of certifications I can get in the US won't mean much in the UK when I move back there. Bartending however...that could be a good holdover gig that pays the bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor99 Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 I've heard the tranny hookers and cocaine are amazing in the hamptons You're half right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Thanks for all the advice guys...this is a good option for me because a lot of certifications I can get in the US won't mean much in the UK when I move back there. Bartending however...that could be a good holdover gig that pays the bills. My advice would be to stay away from food establishments all together. I bartended my way through school. I worked at a huge sports bar and I loved it because it was sports 24/7...but something about dealing with people and their food...it just sucks because people suck, especially the clientele that came through and especially when they're hungry and they dont get their food quickly or dont like what they ordered. I finally broke away and started just working at a bar with live music. Sooooo much better when you're just poring drinks and not having to worry about food too. You basically make the rules. None of that the customer is always right sh*t. You could tell someone to **** off and cut them off and kick them out. We were actually encouraged to do so if the situation really warranted it. Just a 100% better situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 My advice would be to stay away from food establishments all together. I bartended my way through school. I worked at a huge sports bar and I loved it because it was sports 24/7...but something about dealing with people and their food...it just sucks because people suck, especially the clientele that came through and especially when they're hungry and they dont get their food quickly or dont like what they ordered. I finally broke away and started just working at a bar with live music. Sooooo much better when you're just poring drinks and not having to worry about food too. You basically make the rules. None of that the customer is always right sh*t. You could tell someone to **** off and cut them off and kick them out. We were actually encouraged to do so if the situation really warranted it. Just a 100% better situation. Sounds like a good idea but I think that'll be tough to pull off. Most of the bartending jobs around me are in restaurants and the places that are "just bars" look like rat traps from the outside. Gonna' take a look at some country clubs and/or airport bars/hotels in Philly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Sounds like a good idea but I think that'll be tough to pull off. Most of the bartending jobs around me are in restaurants and the places that are "just bars" look like rat traps from the outside. Gonna' take a look at some country clubs and/or airport bars/hotels in Philly. Do catering. I got into that for a while and it was nice. They stick you in a corner and all you do is poor drinks and shoot the sh*t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombdirt Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 While I'm thinking about it--as a customer, what's a good tipping strategy for dealing with a bartender? Tip every other round? Up front? At the end? Run a tab? Basically, what's going to get me drunk in the quickest and friendliest way possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeC36 Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I always tip at the end of the night, but I'm a big overtipper and the places I frequent know that up front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor99 Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Tip every round? what's going to get me drunk in the quickest and friendliest way possible? There you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 While I'm thinking about it--as a customer, what's a good tipping strategy for dealing with a bartender? Tip every other round? Up front? At the end? Run a tab? Basically, what's going to get me drunk in the quickest and friendliest way possible? If they don't know you, tip a lot on the first round and then every subsequent round. If they do know you, **** 'em, they know you always tip so you'll do it when you are God damn ready to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 Watch out for the thots of the service industry, they will want your babies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizard King Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 This thread explains why I never succeeded in service. I had no patience for clientele arguing over $1.95 on a bill, didn't get the hang of the speed and my smile got me nowhere when I hosted and sent 3-4 people in a row to one area totally neglecting others. One day at Bennigans i just ordered $50 of food at half off, smoked a bowl in the bathroom at happy hour, picked my chow up and never returned. Boss was also a tool. I got mad respect for the people in service though it is tough work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeC36 Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 There you go. I wouldnt tip you at all. you have a horrible attitude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I never pay or tip with each round. I always pay at the end. Tip is based on service. But pretty much all of bar tenders i have ever encountered have been cool and provide great service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeC36 Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job. cannot be repped enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 cannot be repped enough Wanna discuss the meaning of Madonna's Like a Virgin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeC36 Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 Wanna discuss the meaning of Madonna's Like a Virgin? If I wasn't at work i would be happy to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor99 Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I wouldnt tip you at all. you have a horrible attitude I wouldn't expect you to have any money left after paying for dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeC36 Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I wouldn't expect you to have any money left after paying for dinner. The truth of the matter is, I don't pay for anything. I only date girls who pay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job. Excuse me Mr. Pink, but the last ******* thing you need is another cup of coffee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 The truth of the matter is, I don't pay for anything. I only date girls who pay Those are Johns, Joseph. Not dates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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