how would one become a bartender?

[mss242]

In general, how does one go about it? Do you need to go to school/get training? Where can you do that (I live in the State College Area)? Anywhere online? Thanks in advance.

 

[pyonir]

ummm try applying. i got trained as a bartender from Bartenders Academy. didn't help me get a job. just apply...worst that can happen is they don't call or you don't get the job.

btw: try starting as a bar-back first....

 

[SpecialEd]

yup.. you need a certificate or a bartenders liscense. You can sign up for a class in almost any town.

 

[CStroman]

They would go to the Minnesota School of Bartending.

 

[mss242]

Is there any kind of accrediting system for the schools? Or can I just go anywhere pretty much?

 

[tcsenter]

<< In general, how does one go about it? Do you need to go to school/get training? Where can you do that (I live in the State College Area)? Anywhere online? Thanks in advance. >>

You don't "need" to go to a bartender's school, but it can help. I've known people who both trained OTJ or just learned on their own working in restaurants and stuff, and people who went to a bartender's training program of some sort.

As with any other vocational training like truck driving or those nurses aid schools, be VERY cautious about where you go. There is a place in Michigan that trains people to be things like dental assistants and nurses aids, and they have a very poor reputation. Most employers won't hire their graduates. A lot of vocational schools are crap and their diplomas won't get you a thing.

The best way to find out is to ask several area employers, places you would like to work, if they respect and would hire graduates from any particular school, or which schools they don't respect. If one school keeps being mentioned more often than others, that's where you want or don't want to go, whatever the case may be.

There are several good bartending books I'm sure you could find or order from any good book retailer. But, you want to also learn the community preferences and idiosynchracies of your area or region.

Bartending can be very fun and lucrative in the right location and the right establishment for the right person. Don't expect the medical/dental/optical insurance to be all that great, but some is better than none, and the money can more than make up for that (unless you have a family that you need to insure). I don't know many married bar keeps. ;-)

I wouldn't mind being a bartender at a popular night club, hotel restaurant/bar/club, or even strip club that is 'upscale' (i.e. not one of those sleezy joints in the bad part of town). It can be pretty fast paced, long hours on your feet, but you're always moving so its a lot easier to do long hours vs. standing most of the time, and you have to possess a measure of restraint because you will encounter more assholes and idiots than you thought existed.

On edit: Another measure of restraint that you will need, is that you are surrounded by booze, by people drinking, and having a real good time. It can be very enticing at times to 'join' the party and blur the lines between bar keep and bar patron, but make no mistake, YOU are responsible to a great degree for what goes on in that bar. I've seen a few bartenders make trouble for themselves because they forgot what they were supposed to be doing.