Question about bartending.?

Im about to start College and i was wanting to bartend at a restaurant for my part-time job. well i was looking at this Nashville Bartending School and i was planning on going to it but its like $630 dollars for books and tuition. Its a 2 Week course and i really wanted to do it but for me to bartend is there any way i could just watch a bartender and learn or do i need to go to this school? Would going to the school make me more comfortable behind the bar? BARTENDERS would really help me if they answered these questions. And im sure i will have more questions for you. THANKS = DQuestion about bartending.?
I've worked as a bartender.

I got the jobs by answering ads %26amp; friends of friends etc.

Trained on the job- I didn't even know there was such a thing as bartending school. It sounds a bit of a ripoff to me.
I bartended at a restaurant and then a club. I went to bartending school after bartending at the restaurant for a bit because I wanted to educate myself as much as possible. I found the school very helpful, but not necessary.

I would look for a job as a barback, you can apply at any club or bar, they are always hiring. Barbacks will pour beer, pop botte caps, wash the glasses, get the ice, stock the bar, basically all the little things that need to be done but the bartender doesn't have time to do because they are mixing drinks. Question about bartending.?
Some bars that focus more on flair (like clubs and some high volume and entertainment-based bars) may want you to attend bartending school but for a restaurant job you really want to work up to bartending if possible. Apply at a few local restaurants and tell them you're interested in bartending, or at least serving in the bar. The best way to learn is to be thrown back there and just do it. Bartending school is honestly considered at joke at many restaurants (at least at mine and several other locals that I know of) because it mostly stresses recipes and not social and serving and mixing skills.



Learn a few recipes and then just apply. Go straight to the bar, save your money, and skip the course.
unless you have no brain bartending at a basic level is easy peasy. You will pick it up as you go along like most service jobs. Here's some tips:

1. Be polite to customers at all times (this makes it fun because when they annoy you, they cant fall for the bait)

2.enjoy the drinks once you're off shift. (nothing better than a beer after serving them all night!)

3. be confident (its not a really hard job really)



Hope this helps
those schools are not worth the money. most bartenders i know started out as waiter/waitress or bar backs. I have been in the bar restaurant business over 20 years, and have only known one guy that went to one of those schools, and I hired him as a bouncer.
if its a restaurant i would just start and have them train you there. you really dont need a bartending class unless you are going to a full fledge busy bar. you can buy a 'bartending for dummies' book to keep with you. best way to learn is to jump right in!!!
i have to agree with the others, i bartended for 3 yrs, waited for 2yrs making my own drinks all the while, and our bar did get busy. you should totally be able to back into it start out waiting dealing with customers learning drinks, then slow bar shifts when you're capable and eventually busy shifts. dont be pushy about it tho, its not cayote ugly, you wont be able to walk in off the street with no exp and jump behind the bar and if you can it means they're slow and you wont make money or they want you as eye candy if you're a chick. remember there are likely other people there who've put in their time too. be serious with your money, you can make alot but it can pass through your hands like water once you get into the life.
Please don't waste your money on "bartending school." It's a joke and a way to weasel college-kids out of their money. NOT worth it!



I agree that you should bar-back for a bit. A bar-back helps the bartender(s) by keeping everything stocked -- ice, glasses, liquors, beer, mixers, etc. -- and helping if the bar gets swamped by pouring and pulling beer (usually). While you're back there and not busy, you can watch and talk with the bartender(s) and learn from them about mixing drinks and pouring the perfect draft beer.



I suggest finding a chain restaurant to start out. They give you training in alcohol service and have recipes for you to follow. It's a good way to start if you just want to jump right in as a bartender, as most people going to the restaurant are there to eat.