Bartending For Beginners | How to Become a Bartender

Follow this advice to get a bartending job

2008-06-24T17:59:00.001-07:00

How to Get a Bartending Job

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Bartending positions are highly desirable and equally hard to get. The job itself is fairly simple, but getting one's foot in the door is not. Here's some tips to help you score one of these fun, lucrative jobs.

Steps

Develop a plan. No matter which steps you decide to implement below, everything is easier with a plan. Getting a bartending job is no different. Write down 5 places you want to work. Get the contact info for the people who are doing the hiring at these five places. Implement the steps below with these five people in mind. There are a lot of myths out there regarding getting a bartending job, like you have to have experience and you have to start as a barback or server. To learn more and read about how to kick start your bartending job search check out this article.How to Become a Bartender
Meet the right people. It's all about who you know. If you have a favorite watering hole, find out who the owner is and start talking him/her up. Befriend the bartenders, barbacks, and cocktail waitresses, and let them know you're looking for a bartending job. Tip well, go often, and generally be a happy, useful presence at the bar.
Observe bartenders in action. There are little tricks to pouring a good beer, mixing drinks, and saving time behind the bar. Watch how your mixer handles drink orders. Most of it is not rocket science; the most commonly ordered drinks are liquor plus a mixer. Buy drink manuals to learn about the more complex drinks and practice at home.
Consider whether you want to go to bartending school. Some say this is a waste of time and money, saying that it costs about $500 and you learn by mixing colored water, not actual alcohol. They teach you outdated drinks like "grasshoppers" that no one orders anymore, and most will claim to help you find a job. These "job leads" are generally terrible dives you wouldn't want to work at anyway. Most real bars will laugh at someone with a bartending school diploma and no actual work experience.
Dress the part. If you want a gig at a fancy restaurant, dress professionally. If you want a job at a hip club, dress edgy. If a dive bar gig is fine by you, dress tough. Most bars are going for a certain look or image, whether they tell you that or not.
Look for charity guest bartending gigs. Many big cities are now offering this option. You pick a charity, promote the event, and bring your friends in. In exchange, you and a couple friends get trained for the evening and get to mix drinks all night. It's a great way to get some experience and make contacts. If you impress the bar owner, it could lead to a job.
Write a great cover letter and resume. Oftentimes a great cover letter and resume is enough to overcome a lack of experience. Some establishments prefer to hire bartenders with no experience because they won't have any bad habits to break. Experienced or not, the cover letter and resume need to be exciting and pop with personality. A great personality and attitude will elevate you above the competition every time.
Prepare for your interview properly. Many bartending job applicants go into their job interviews unprepared. If you look at bartending as a quick fix or so easy to do that you don't need to prepare you will not get the job. The best way to prepare for your interview is to write a great cover letter and resume. You will have them to bring to your interview and the process of writing them will better prepare you for the interview.

Tips

Come up with a plan and take action. Like anything in life getting a bartending job requires some effort. The more you put in the more you will get out. Decide on the type of place you would like to work, build a list of 7 of these establishments. Write a great cover letter and resume and go to these establishments. Call ahead first so you will be speaking to the right person. Have anecdotes and stories ready and entertain when you get there. Good employees are very hard to find. If you can show that you will be a great employee, they will hire you or find someone who will. Do not b.s. as suggested in other areas - tailor your experience to present yourself as a great employee but never lie about it. More real advice like this is available in a "How to Get a Bartending Job" newsletter
Catering companies are a good place to start. They are easier jobs to get, if you can b.s. a little bit, and you will learn a lot by doing basic drinks and pouring wine and beer.
Become a barback first. Work your way up the ladder.
Bussers have a good opportunity to barback, in some bar&grill joints you must become a busser before they consider you for barback.
If you plan on going to a bartending school check their Better Business Bureau profile, be sure they guarantee job placement and that they give you a minimum expected pay rate, never pay for an orientation meeting, ever.

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He Doubled His Income by Bartending 2 Nights!

2008-04-18T11:05:00.001-07:00

If you are new to bartending or looking for a way to break in the this article is for you....

Please realize that you can do this - Believe in yourself, get off the internet... and go do it!

Here's the article:

I have been in the restaurant and bar business for over 12 years. The question I am asked the most, by a landslide, is "how do I become a bartender?" I have been asked this question by people already in the restaurant business and people with no experience just looking to make some extra money. I give them all the same answer, "Decide that you want to become a bartender and resolve yourself to doing it."

Becoming a bartender is just .........

Read the full article here

How to Get a Bartending Job with Little or No Experience.

2008-04-17T05:24:00.000-07:00

Lots of people want to get a bartending job but don't know how to go about doing it. This article will expose some of the myths of bartending jobs and show you the steps to getting your first bartending job.

The first step in getting a bartending job is getting an interview.....

Read full Article Here

Cool Martini Recipes

2008-04-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

This is a great resource. I have been getting quite a few requests

for specific, hip and cool martini recipes. I thought you would

like to check out this recipe list from the folks at Swank Martini.

Swank Martini Recipe List

Swank sells stuff like martini shakers, glasses and all kinds of

bar related stuff. They even have olives! I have a few of their

modern martini glasses and they are great at parties but I don't

want to get into that.

I'm writing to tell you about their Martini Recipe List. They

continually update it and its got to have more than 200 recipes

on it right now.

So if you're having a party anytime soon or want to feature some

killer new martinis at your bar then check out Swanks Martini Recipes

at:

Swank Martini Recipe List

I hope you enjoy;) Let me know which ones you like best.

Persitence is more imprtant than bartending experience

2008-04-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

I thought you might like to hear one of my all-time favorite quotes:

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people
with talent. Genius will not; un-rewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan
'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the
human race.

- Calvin Coolidge

Whenever I start to feel defeated I read that quote.

Thinking back, persistence is how I produced the Seven Secrets
Program.

Persistence is how I went from busboy to Food and Beverage Director.

Persistence is how I convinced my wife to marry me.

Everything that I have ever gained that is of value to me; I gained
through persistence.

So, if times are getting tough or you just need a little inspiration
just remember those words from our 30th president.

Thank you for reading and Good Luck,

Brian Williams

getabartendingjob.com

Cool Videos

2008-03-27T06:27:00.000-07:00

Short post today. That last one was a doozy.

I just wanted to let you know about some cool videos I saw
on YouTube. If you click on the link below it will be like
you typed Video Bartending Guide into the search box on YouTube.
The Video Bartending Guide was posted there by the folks at
expert village.

Video Bartending Guide on YouTube

I think these are a great resource, especially for beginners. You
get to see the drinks being made. They cover a lot of ground
including how to make a lemon twist which really must be seen
to learn.

You can check that video out right here.

Shaken or Stirred?

2008-03-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

So you want to know how to make a martini? You thought it was easy. You typed how to make a martini into google and you want the recipe. Little did you know you would be entering a century old debate. Where and how did the martini originate? Are martini's only made with gin or is vodka a viable alternative? What's up with all these drinks like apple-tinis? Shaken or Stirred? Here you will get the answers to all those questions and the recipe for the world's best martini. As a man who was once bitten for refusing to serve a woman her 4th Martini, I have earned my authority on such matters.

Martini mixing is a science and an art.

One is not enough...Three is too many!

You need to know the theory and the process.
It takes 5 minutes to learn how to make a martini
and a lifetime to master.

Directly below is a basic recipe for a very good martini.
But be sure to continue on for the World's Best Martini.

A Very Good Martini
Step 1
Fill a Professional Martini Shaker with ice (preferably
shaved).
Step 2
Pour a 1 count of your favorite Vermouth into the ice
(Martini & Rossi Vermouth works fine but try Duckhorn if you can find it)
Step 3
Using a barspoon, quickly stir the vermouth in the ice, cover with strainer and pour vermouth down the drain.
Step 4
Top off the remaining ice in the shaker, pour in a 4 count of your favorite gin or vodka.
Step 5
Again using the barspoon, stir the liquor quickly but calmly, keeping the spoon along the sides of the shaker until the shaker becomes frosty cold. Cover with strainer.
Step 6
Put 1 olive on a cocktail pick and place it into a chilled martini glass. Pour liquor over the olive.
Step 7
Enjoy!

This is a very simple recipe that any aficionado will enjoy. But its loaded with biases. Notice the mention of gin or vodka. Until the 1990's Martinis were always served with gin. Absolute purists (and the Brits) still insist on gin only. They think a Martini with vodka should be called a Vodka Martini. Walk into any American tavern, however, and anyone ordering a martini means vodka. Its the gin drinkers who need to qualify their martinis now. Personally, I have no problem with this although it was confusing when I first started out as a barkeep. That was during the emergence of vodka as America's liquor of choice. So in the States call it a Martini, when taking a vacation to London call it a Vodka Martini. And when on the Continent call it a Vodka Martini Cocktail but that is another whole story.

Why don't you get out of that wet coat and into a dry Martini - Robert Benchley

Not suprisingly the history of the Martini is also
clouded with controversy. One popular story claims the Martini was the 1912 invention of a bartender at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York by the name of Martini di Arma di Taggia. Published references to the Martini before 1912 seriously discount this theory. The Martini is probably an indirect descendant from the Martinez, a drink made with sweet vermouth and gin, which was invented at San Francisco's Occidental Hotel by Jerry Thomas in the mid to late 1800's.

What does this have to do with how to make a martini, you ask? Everything, if you do it correctly. Each Martini is a work of craftsmanship and should not be taken lightly. If you can't sit through my pontification then you don't deserve to learn how to make the world's greatest martini.

One more bit of bias in the above recipe is the use of vermouth. In the old days - when liquors were commonly 120 proof and higher - the ratio of gin to vermouth was around 4:1. As the liquors improved that ratio increased and today it is about 12:1. Many customers, however, will order a "Very Dry" or "Bone Dry" Martini. In these cases I don't use any vermouth at all. Alfred Hitchcock was said to make his Martinis with gin and "a quick glance at the vermouth bottle."

To me, people who drink Bone Dry Martinis really just want the booze but are afraid to order "A Giant Shot of Vodka, Please." The vermouth is an essential ingredient. It is as essential to include vermouth when making a martini as it is to exclude cranberry juice, lime juice, lemon juice, sweet and sour mix or anything but the vermouth, vodka or gin. The Apple-tini was invented by some unimaginative marketing guy that works for that green pucker stuff. Just because it is served up and in a chilled glass does not make it a martini. I have nothing against Cosmopolitans, they have been around forever, and are enjoying their own resurgence, just don't call them Cosmo-tinis.

One more ramble from my soapbox before I teach you how to make the world's best martini. Shaken or Stirred? James Bond really threw the purists' world for a loop with this one. The debate hinges on whether shaking the gin or vodka bruises the liquor. It certainly does. Is this bad? Not neccessarily. For the beginner a shaken Martini will be more palatable. It will be colder and more watered down than a stirred Martini. This novice, however, must slowly begin to order their Martinis stirred. Unfortunately, many barkeeps have know idea how to do this properly. Teach them the correct way how to make a martini from the recipe for A Very Good Martini, found above.

But here is my recipe for the world's greatest martini. With this recipe neither bruising nor watering down will be a problem. Remember, the Martini is a work of art. It is to be crafted with care. The drinker should come to understand the controversies upon the first sip. This recipe is wasted on the beginner, but a connioseur will love you forever. If you are a professional bartender be sure to play up the story and allow your customers to call ahead for this one. Please use either vodka or gin but this recipe originated with Daresbury Quintessential Gin. It was developed after a conversation with an old-time Brit about the topics we just covered. He disliked bruising and hated his gin getting watered down. He wanted to include vermouth but wasn't a huge fan of the stuff. Our musings gave birth to ...

The 12 and a Half Minute Martini

12 and a Half Minute Martini

Step 1
Pour a 6 count of your favorite vodka or gin into a professional shaker, cover with strainer and lid.

Step 2
Shove the closed shaker into the well of ice and furiously spin it for 2 minutes.

Step 3
Bury the closed strainer under as much ice as possible. Let it sit in the well for 10 and half minutes while spraying cold club soda over the ice every few minutes.

Step 4
Pour a half count of vermouth into an absolutely ice cold Martini glass. Swirl the vermouth around the glass 3 times and discard down the drain.

Step 5
Place 2 cocktail olives, on a pick, into the wet & ice cold Martini glass.

Step 6
Pull the strainer of booze out of the ice well. If done properly the ice will stick to the strainer like a tongue to a signpost on Christmas. Pour the potent potable over the olives.

Step 7
Lick your lips, smell the aromas, take your first sip of pure heaven.

Please bookmark this page for future reference. If not for the recipe than for the story. Remember, bartending is a labor of love and making a martini is an art.

So you wanted to know how to make a martini? How about the world's best!

For more great recipes and to find out how to get your first bartending job check out my website on How to Become a Bartender

"May you live everyday of your life." - Irish Toast

How to Become a Bartender : Take Action

2008-03-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

I want to tell you about something I learned along the way during
my years behind the bar.

To achieve success you have to take action.

Benjamin Disreali, the former British Prime Minister said it best:

"Action may not always bring about happiness, but there is
no happiness without action."

You need to take action to attain the things you want in life.
It really is that simple. If you want to figure out how to become a bartender then take the appropriate actions to figure it out. If you made it her (and you did) you are on your way.

I try to keep all the info here relavant, usefull and actionable. For deeper analysis check out the Seven Secrets Program. If you do you will have the bartending job you have always wanted in 30 days or less - guaranteed.

Lots of people don't take action because they are afraid to fail.
But Thomas Edison overcame that hurdle well when he said:

"I didn't fail a thousand times. I learned a thousand ways how
not to make a light bulb."

And the action I'm asking you to take is much easier than
inventing the lightbulb.

I am asking you to believe in yourself and follow a plan.

If you can't do these two things you are going to have more trouble in life than finding a bartending job.

If you believe in yourself and just need a plan to follow than take action now.
Learn the easiest and fastest way how to become a bartender.

Great Martini and Warning if You Want To Become a Bartender

2008-03-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

Today I'm going to give you a standard Martini recipe and tell you a
true story about one of the funniest things I've seen in a bar.

So here is a standard martini recipe:
If you really want to stand out from the crowd I recommend
my recipe book. It's available as part of my Seven Secrets Program
on my website -

getabartendingjob.com

Standard Martini
fill shaker with ice
pour 4 count your favorite vodka over the ice
using a barspoon stir the vodka, keeping the spoon along the shakers
edge, until the shaker turns frosty cold.
pour 1 count dry vermouth into a chilled martini glass
swirl it in the glass and discard
strain the ice cold vodka over a skewered olive into the chilled
martini glass

But...This is the martini I was serving when
that crazy thing happened to me.
(since then I have created an even better recipe, I
think it's the world's best martini)

I was serving a women who was sitting at my bar and she asked
for a third martini. Any good bartender would have noticed
that she had enough already. Martinis are very strong - be careful
and never over serve a customer. I politely informed her that I
had a 2 martini rule and had to cut her off. I offered her a
glass of water or some coffee.

Just then another customer grabbed my attention and when
she thought I wasn't looking this women stuck the empty martini
glass down her shirt! She started to walk to the door and I could
see the bulge of the glass in her tight shirt.

I started to crack up and whistled over to the bouncer
at the door. He stopped her and asked what she had in her shirt.
She said, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

The bouncer started laughing too and just let her slip out the door.
It wasn't worth making a big scene in this crowded bar over a
martini glass. But I never understood it. She looked classy
and judging by her clothes had plenty of money. I still laugh when I
picture her with that bulge in her shirt.

Sometimes I just don't get people. If you want to know how to become a bartender then consider yourself warned and check out this killer step-by-step system.

My Bartending Story and 1 Great Recipe

2008-03-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

Hello World...As they say on the internet. You have made it to my bartending blog and please allow me to say welcome. You'll find bartending stories, recipes, techniques and some great tips on how to get a bartending job, especially if you are new to the bartending scene.

I have been bartending for quite some time now and thought it would be fun to try and help out those new to the business....I hope you stick around.

I started bartending in 1995, really by mistake. I was serving tables
on my way through college and one of the bartenders quit. The manager
asked me to take his 2 shifts and I didn't want to do it!

I was kind of shy and thought it would be tough to talk with people
all night. I eventually decided to do it figuring it would help me
get over my shyness which would help in job interviews after I
graduated.

Well...Now It's over 12 years later and I have overcome my shyness
and made Bartending my life. After I discovered how fun, rewarding
and profitable bartending can be, I stuck with it.

And those interviews I was so afraid of? I've not only been on plenty
but now I am the Interviewer. I can show you exactly what to do and say,
starting with finding the place you want to work all the way to having
the best bartending job you can imagine.

I've held some of the best bartending gigs in the country and I can
show you how to get them too.

Want to bartend at the top of the Chrysler Building? - I've done it!
Want to Bartend in the homes of multi-millionaires,even billionaires?
Been there, done that!

Stick around and let me show you how to get them. Step-by-Step.
Everything in life is easier with a plan. You can spend 12 years
bartending to come up with one or YOU CAN JUST USE MINE.

How to Get a Bartending Job with No Experience

Enough with the creditials...here's a great recipe.

We'll start off our relationship like any day should begin - with a
Bloody Mary!

My favorite Bloody Mary:
Fill Pint Glass with Ice
Pour 3 Count Your Favorite Vodka
Splash of Worschteshire Sauce
1/4 Teaspoon Horseradish
2 Turns Fresh Ground Black Pepper
Dash Kosher Salt
3 dashes Tobasco Sauce
Fill Glass with Tomato Juice
Shake Well.
Garnish with a Celerey Stalk

I hope you take the time to try this one. It's awesome.

Enjoy ;)

Brian Williams
getabartendingjob.com