The Mixology Talk Podcast, Episode Fifty One
Know how to make cocktails and ready to get behind the bar? Here are some tips for getting a bartending job without any experience.
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In today’s Episode…
Getting a bartending job can feel like a big catch-22. Want the job? Better have experience. Want experience? Good luck! Today we’re discussing some of the ways you can get your “foot in the door” behind a bar, and how you can work your way up.
Getting your Foot in the Door:
Catering
While it may not be glamorous, catering is a good start as a bartender. It’s a bit like being “half waiter half bartender” – but it will put bartending on your resume and give you experience making a wide variety of drinks in a setting similar to a bar. The good news is you can make decent money as a catering bartender, and it’s something you can usually do nights and weekends if you’re trying to get started as a student or while working a “day” job.
Become a Barback
Again, this is probably the least “glamorous” position behind the bar, but it is behind the bar! Working as a barback will give you valuable experience learning how bars work, watching bartenders handle the bar and, frankly, showing your team and your manager that you’re willing to work hard. Plus, it’s far less difficult to get a barback position – just walk into a couple of places and let them know you’re willing to do the work. Unfortunately barbacking will not pay as well as catering, so budget ahead.
Start as a Waiter
This is actually how Chris did it! He walked into a busy restaurant with no experience and told them he was willing to take any position and work hard. They put him in a waiter role and did the job well and proved he was a hard worker – but remained persistent about getting behind the bar! Before too long he was given the chance, and the rest is history!
How to get into Bartending from there:
So you’re working as a waiter or barback – what’s next?
The Key: Service Mentality
I can’t emphasize this enough. Your attitude is the #1 most important thing. I believe anyone can be trained to make great cocktails technically – bartending is a skill like anything else. But you can’t teach a service mentality and a great attitude.
Prove it!
How do you show you have the right attitude?
- If they do training, ask to be a part of it
- Offer to help any way you can
- Show initiative
- Pay attention and learn
- Keep a positive attitude
Get that first shift:
Trying to get that first bartending shift? Pay attention and find the shift nobody wants. Volunteer to take the Monday lunch shift or Sunday afternoon. You won’t get a lot of competition and it’ll give you a slow shift to get used to being behind the bar. From there, make yourself available – tell management you’re happy to pick up shifts to cover other bartenders who are sick or need time off. This shows initiative and – once again – get you behind the bar!
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Bartenders: How did you get started behind the bar? Did you start as a barback or waiter? Oh, and do you have a pedometer? I’d love to hear how many steps you’re logging on your shifts!!
I tracked my steps with my Android Wear (Motorola 360 watch). It has a built in pedometer and heart rate monitor. I logged about 15,232 steps on Sunday Morning but it wasn’t a busy shift. When I get a busy shift I’ll post an update. I work at a Romano’s Macaroni Grill and I bartend and wait tables. Anyways, love the podcast, keep up the good work guys.
Wow, 15k steps is no small feat – I can only imagine what a busy shift would be like!
I’m a bartender (and avid runner) with a Fitbit! My old job got me easily 15-20k steps each shift due to the size of the restaurant/bar, but I now work in a much smaller space. Even so, it’s pretty easy to rack up at least 10k in a basic 6-8 hour shift! And it’s even more fun to brag to you friends about it!
Also, I’ve done the test regarding whether or not shaking a cocktail counts as steps- and the answer is no (unless you shake with a very lengthy forward and back which would just look very odd). So all steps counted are legit!
Oh awesome I have wondered about this! Now we know the truth – bartenders really DO walk that much!
I picked up a pedometer after listening to this episode, I I run a restaurant/bar and was pretty surprised to see almost 17K steps in less than 7 hours. Who knew? That’s not to mention I spend most of the day leading up that running errands. I’m interested to see what the full days count is. Total bragging rights!
I downloaded the Pedometer app on my iphone because I also got curious on how long do I actually walk during work times. I work as a bartender at the St. Regis Hotel in Osaka and it is a crazy busy bar, I don’t just work inside of the bar but I’m also all over the place: I take orders, clean tables, carry trays, pick up food and other ingredients in other sections of the hotel, I carry heavy boxes and stock the bar, etc. On a normal shift, 15km easily.
36,000 steps, 8 hour shift, saturday night at a beerhall!!