Whether you’re seeking a career change, a side hustle, or simply a means to impress your friends at your next get-together, learning how to become a bartender can be an intoxicating journey. So, grab a glass, pull up a stool, and join us as we unveil the steps to getting into the industry.
Learning the Ropes
In this article, I will guide you through the essential skills, daily tasks, and incredible opportunities that await you behind the bar.
As a bartender, your earning potential is contingent on your versatility and knowledge. You’ll need to learn how to mix and accurately measure liquid. “For a standard entry-level bartending position, most of the basic knowledge and technical training can be self-taught through online resources,” McGuire says. If you only know how to mix classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned or Pimms Cup, you’re limiting the types of establishments you can work at.
The most common advice you’ll hear from actual bartenders is that you should start out as a barback if you want to learn how to be a bartender. Working as a barback provides a lot of benefits. If you’re someone who has never worked in the bar or foodservice industries, you’ll gain an understanding of how everyday operations work.
Landing your first hospitality job is essential to becoming a bartender. You can get a barback or cocktail waitress job at a bar or nightclub. Then, you work your way up to a bartender. The bartenders at the place you work will train you to become a bartender.
Taking Formal Steps
You’ll need to enroll in a bartending school if you want to work as a bartender. You will learn how to mix and prepare a wide variety of alcoholic drinks while attending a bartending school. Other skills needed to become a successful bartender will be taught, such as how to properly store alcohol and care for the glassware used for the drinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard to be hired as a bartender?