You may think that you need to be a party animal to have a career in bartending. You must indeed be able to identify each different liquor you serve. But the knowledge itself is not that baffling. Everyone can be a bartender, as long as serving drinks is their passion.
Observe the Local Law Regarding Alcohol Serving
Bartending may seem like an informal job, but the truth is that in some countries or states, bartenders, servers, and anyone who serves alcoholic beverages to paying customers must hold certification in responsible alcohol serving. In Australia, for example, there is the RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) law that regulates that matter. You must attend an RSA course and obtain the certificate before you can work in local clubs. But one thing to note here is that RSA of one state is not valid in others.
Certify Your Bartending Skills
Although you don’t always need to be a certified bartender to land a job, a professional certificate can be a significant boost to your career. You’ll get paid better, and you can have a better chance of working in big and famous clubs. Besides, bartending is a sophisticated art. If you don’t learn it systematically, you will be wasting your time.
Learn Directly from the Pros
You surely have visited a bar before, but the thing you haven’t done just yet is to observe how the bartenders there do their job. You can order a drink and see how the bartender prepares and serves it to you. Pay attention to both their pouring and mixing techniques and their manner. Serving a drink is not only about giving your customer the best drink there is, but it is also about making them comfortable being in the bar.
Moreover, watch how your bartender communicates with other workers. Learn their jargons, and don’t be afraid to ask them directly if you don’t know what you hear. You’ll be surprised how bartenders love to share their knowledge with people who are interested in their art.
Estimate How Much Your Will Earn
Bartending is about passion, indeed. But you must estimate your potential income so that you know much you can invest in your bartending skill training. Typically, the closer you are to a tourist spot, the most likely you are to have good salaries. For junior, you should not be surprised if your earning is only around $11,000 per year. But as you make a name for yourself, that number can increase up to $132,000! The most important thing here is that you should open your mind to new opportunities and never be satisfied with just one place. Different bars and clubs have different challenges and styles. You’d better try them all!
