Bartending Careers
In most countries, almost everyone loves to have a drink at a bar now and again. This is the perfect way for most people to unwind and relax with friends, while watching the bartenders as they combine different mixes in the most alluring way and then serve with much creativity and style. Considering that these establishments are getting busier each day, it is not surprising to learn that there is a high demand for persons who are pursuing bartending careers.
In addition to bars attracting more people and requiring more workers, this professional also started to get popular after the showing of the movies Coyote Ugly and Cocktail, as everyone wanted to become a bartender. The lucrative business of mixing drinks and entertaining people has been taking the entire world by storm since the late 1990’s. Now the bartending world is not so much about how well the drinks are concocted, but how well a bartender can entertain guests while preparing drinks. Almost anyone can mix two cocktails together, but it will take special training and skills to shake and prepare a drink in such a way that the bar or club will be packed and booked out every single night.
There are many bartending careers which include working at clubs, parties with themes, be a personal bartender for someone, work on a cruise ship and so much more. The bartenders in some countries are also known as entertainers and might even become celebrities depending on how good they are. With the increase of hotel chains with different themed nights, plus many bars, clubs and restaurants offering high end and exclusive services, it will not be difficult to find jobs in this industry.
It is possible to earn quite a lot when you are trained as a professional bartender and your salary does not include the amount that you can get for tips. How you show your skills at your work place, whether you are working day or night, will determine the success that you will have in this profession.
The possibilities to excel in bartending careers are endless and the good news is that you have a diverse selection of places to display your skills. There are some places that will give you a chance to work at specialized parties or business functions for just one night and you could actually make money that is equivalent to your weekly salary. So the job of bartending does have its perks and will allow you to earn a good income. Bartenders are in high demand and this trend will continue for many years to come, as this is evident by the number of persons drinking and partying, so get the right training at a reputable school if you want to start an exciting career.
Learn About Bartending Certification
There are stipulations in different states for bartending certification and these guidelines are basically established to make certain that bartenders are aware of the liquor laws and will act accordingly. This kind of certification usually requires individuals to participate in short training programs, which would be approved by a Liquor Control Board where applicable. If you want to get certified or need know about local regulations, you can check with the local government agency in your area.
Besides that, there is also a separate State Certification course that is done online that would satisfy the requirements in most areas. To lower their insurance rates many organizations require this certification, plus this will also help your chances in getting a job if the other applicant does not have one. However, you should be aware that getting a job will not only be determined by this certification, because you also need to have the required skills and customer service knowledge.
The Bartending Certification also ensures that the individuals working in bars, clubs, restaurants and other establishments adhere to the age requirements when serving alcoholic beverages. The age that one is allowed to drink and purchase alcoholic beverages varies from place to place and country to country. In some countries people as young as fifteen are allowed to drink and purchase alcoholic beverages. When you are in possession of this certification you are recognized above those who don’t posses such a qualification, therefore the onus is on you to ensure that everyone abide by these rules.
After getting this certification you will not only stand out or have an edge over other bartenders, but you can also sense when to stop serving drinks to someone and call a taxi cab. Also the certification makes you eligibly to practice bartending anywhere in your country which will save you a whole lot of trouble with the law if your bar gets raided by the police or if you decide to open your own establishment. The certification also comes with a set of rules that will highlight what you can or cannot do as a bartender, such as not being able to mix certain combinations of liquors in your drink mixes as they are fatal to the human body.
In conclusion, a bartending certification will also provide a list of certain liquors that are not allowed in a specific country. If caught with the illegal liquors your bartending license maybe revoked. The certification also allows you to participate in bartending competitions and also seek employment on different cruise ships. Most cruise ships, hotels and bars really check for this certification as everyone wants to have not only the best persons for the job, but do so in accordance with the set laws.
What To Expect From Bartending Classes
The bartending classes offered by schools and colleges are not only designed from textbooks, but will also teach students how to operate in a real bar setting and deal with the pressures of a packed and demanding environment. The following paragraphs will give you a basic idea of what to expect while training to become a bartender.
A bartender needs to be knowledgeable about serving and mixing alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages among other things, preferably before they even start to work. Therefore, most schools will provide lessons on how to use bartending equipments such as shakers, blenders, sink, ice machines and other gadgets; how to open and close the bar; how to use the glassware; how to create mixes; cash register procedures for example the operations of a standardized calculator and how to cut fruits and vegetables in stages that is needed to make drinks and garnish for cocktails.
This job is much more than just serving drinks, so it is important that you acquire as much as skills to know simple things such the type of glass to serve certain drinks; the amount of liquor that goes into each cocktail; mixing method and also the garnish and color combinations to use for drinks presentation. In addition, you will also get to learn about bar measurements, customer service tips, employment guidelines and how to operate in a private party setting. Bartending classes will also give all the necessary information for alcohol descriptions, their different uses, history and also explain the best way to use them.
There are certain dos and don’ts when it comes to dealing with the patrons at drinking establishments, so this will also be covered during training. Although each state will have their regulations as it relates to the legalities of this profession, you can expect to get information about this before you starting your career. Considering that after training some people might want to open their own business, the courses will also teach students how to operate a bar as a profitable and successful venture. As a result, the students are also expected to attend to the business aspect and daily maintenance of a bar, which involves ordering supplies and keeping a clean and sanitary establishment.
If you are planning to work in the hotel or cruise ship industry, it is very important that you pay attention to wine lessons and understand the different methodology for serving this and other cocktails. There are certain techniques involved in the mixing and serving of drinks, such as shaking or blending a cocktail with crushed ice, so you are required to learn how to execute these tasks with creativity and style.
Last but not least, bartending classes will help you to use your imagination and find ways to keep customers entertained, as well as make recommendations that will to clients. Some establishments such as hotels will require bartenders to serve food to people seated at the bar area, therefore you should know how to provide this kind of service as well. Continue reading to learn how you can enforce local and state drinking laws.
Cost Of Bartending School
The cost of Bartending School may be a little expensive, but this will depend on where are studying. In states like California you may pay up to $500.00 to attend a one week class, while areas like Maryland will be more expensive because there is a higher demand for bartenders in this state. If the school you are attending is well known and also have a record with 100% passes, then you can expect to pay $600 or more.
It is very difficult to get scholarships to attend bartending schools because the government doesn’t offer financial aid, which means that aspiring bartenders have to pay an exorbitant amount for good training. Besides that, as a future bartender you have to take certain aspects into consideration such as purchasing the necessary materials for learning and participating in class. In order to effectively learn the different techniques and master various skills, you have to get a number of materials to make the variety of mixes and this will definitely increase your fees.
There are additional materials such as textbooks which might be offered in some school’s tuition, but may not be included by others so you may need to add the cost of textbooks to your expenses of school. Some instructors might also give you a list of textbooks to purchase in order to enhance your learning experience and get something extra to better prepare you for the bartending world. Also you have to look on the basic necessities such as pens, pencils, notebooks, a book bag and other needs that a normal student requires for school.
The overall cost of bartending school will further heightens if you are required to do practical training at the end of each topic in order to show where your strong and weak points are at the different skill levels. This means that you have to purchase materials to make your presentation and your drink mixes stand out, especially during exams. Another important factor to consider is that you might or might not have to spend money to travel on field trips to local bars, bartending shows and hotels that have special nights highlighting how to entertain people during drink preparations.
In closing, the information provided in this article might seem overwhelming if you have limited resources and you are worried about affording the cost of bartending school. But you should know that the rewards of this career are great especially if you get a good job that not only pays well, but will provide lots of enjoyment.
