Finding a Job as a Bartender
As many of you know I'm currently not tending bar. This is the first time in about four years that I've had Friday and Saturday nights off, which is kind of nice, but I don't know what to do with my weekends. Anyway, I've been browsing the "Want Ads" and there seems to be plenty of bartending jobs out there, just ones I'm not interested in. Yes, I've become fussy. I want to work at a place where I get to do what I do best, not what some high school drop out, who drinks too much, tells me what to do.
When people think about a bartenders job, they tend to think it's living the party life. Stay up late, hang out in a bar, meet good looking girls/guys, and drink on the house. Well if you are an aspiring bartender this usually isn't the case. Most owners watch the alcohol like a hawk, if you are off by a an ounce some owners take it out of your pay. Most owners are slave drivers, and even if the management is decent, your co-workers may be idiots. They'd be the ones who are trying to make bartending the 'party life' but don't do any of the behind the scenes work.
When it comes to bartending income, it can be hit or miss. This is unless you are lucky enough to work in a very high volume place, but then you only win of the weekends. The rest of the week balances out the high income weekends. When bartenders talk about tips, it always reminds me about gamblers. You see gamblers only ever talk about their winnings, never their losses. You never hear a bartender discuss his Tuesday night earnings.
Basically what I’m saying is that bartending is like any other job, except we earn our income from the kindness of people buying drinks. Jeffrey Morgenthaler wrote a good article about the Myth’s of Bartending. So when I get my next bartending job, I want it to be a good one.
I don't think I'd have a hard time finding a bar position, I've worked hard to become good at what I do. But, I'm weary of working for a person like my last boss or working with the crew of 20 year olds at my job before that. So here's what a dream bar job would consist of:
- A manager who doesn't drink while they work. Sure, a drink towards the end of the night, or a drink with a really good guest, no problem. The only time I have a drink (no more than two) is in the last hour of work, if it is allowed. If the manager has a drink before the 6PM rush, or the 8PM turnover, no thanks.
- Co-workers who actually care about their job. I'm in my mid 30's so I’ve long ago left the "bar scene". I don't want to party until the sun comes up and hangovers are for special occasions, not every weekend. That means I probably seem serious to the younger ‘tenders who treat the job as a way to get through school and a reason to party while they work. I'm serious about my job, but I'm not a stick-in-the-mud. I just get satisfaction from working hard.
- A manager who enthusiastically promotes good cocktails and understands them to be a revenue source for the establishment, not just a drug to get people liquour'd up.
- Co-workers who enjoy their job. I don't mind working with people who are just paying for school, as long as they don't screw everyone else.
Well it looks like I may never find my dream job, unless a new restaurant opens up in this city or I open one up myself. For now I'll just continue to write about cocktails and work in the lab. As luck would have it, the lab has become significantly busier so I can almost make a full time job out of it to pay the bills. Yes, I still work in a lab, a Molecular Pathology lab to be exact. Working in a lab though just isn’t as exciting, or as fun as working behind the bar.
 
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10 Comments on Finding a Job as a Bartender
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What's a matter with Tuesdays? At my bar Tuesday is the best night! I hope you can find a great place to land. I think it is best to be choosy and find the perfect spot. Good luck!
Hey Darcy,
the problem is: there is no perfect job, there is even no perfect bar!
2 years ago the bar where I was managing, became the best bar of Germany (Glenfiddich Award - promoted by Playboy Germany) - but do you know what: this bar was in my eyes far away of a really good one - my colleagues where not that special (and even not knowledgeable), the staff level was far below any needs (we were hit regularly 10 pm with multiple orders and guests waited very long)...
So I learned just to take it as it is and doing the best what is actually possible! And it worked...
Ok - the drinking manager shouldn't be...
I'm feeling for you, Darcy, it can hard to be a professional, career-track bartender sometimes.
Have you considered biding your time at someplace that didn't require much responsibility for a little while? I know that if I ever lost my job at El Vaquero, I would consider finding a neighborhood tavern, pouring beer and wine and biding my time until something more suitable came along.
I think it's great that we all study the craft of the cocktail, but there's something very real about mindlessly pouring draft beer and studying the art of the conversation.
And I'm with Jimmy, I love my Tuesday shift!
I recently read about a couple who hire themselves out as bartenders for functions (weddings, company parties, etc). The twist is, they feature classic cocktails done right with high quality liquor and a classy portable bar. So one would assume these are high end functions they do. Sounds like you'd be perfect for starting a business like that. Who needs a crappy manager? Be your own boss, without the overhead of opening a restaurant/bar.
I'm thinking working at a really good beer bar might be an option. In the spring and summer I really like beer and working behind the bar pouring draught might be a perfect fit. A small pub would be cool too, I just have to find one I like. I think patients is a virtue and I'm currently in a situation where I can wait for a good opportunity instead of the first opportunity.
As for the Tuesday nights, I never made any money on them, but when I worked at a casino, money nights were really good.
Darcy
Hey fella,
I really feel for. It's truly a shame that you don't live in Melbourne Australia I'm have the opposite problem I'm trying to find bartenders that want to work in a great cocktail bar with staff that truly care about making fantastic cocktails with premium products but you know what I've found it amazingly diffult to get the right staff.My core personal consist of bartenders whom have worked with me before and they make me very proud but apart from that it's been a disheartening uphill struggle.I spend hours researching cocktails, spirits and cocktail trends so I can pass that on to my staff and wish I had worked in a bar such as the one that I now run, 15 years ago instead of the many crappy bars that I worked in learning nothing along the way, apart from not how to run a bar.
Oh,I never, ever drink before or during a shift.It's called being a professional.Something you're ex boss certainly was not.
Darcy you deserve far better and I wish you best for the future.
Kind regards,
Linus
Thanks Linus. If I had the flexibility I'd be on a plane tomorrow.
And George, I can always count on you to say the things I'm too polite to say! It's a Canadian thing.
Darcy
I've heard a whispered rumour of a t.v. show ... still something to think about you know.
Hey Darcy,
I think that we may be hitting some sort of critcal mass regarding the higher end cocktail bar. Thats not to say that escaping the draught and red bull vodka crowd is going to entirely happen...and if not for Red bull i wouldn't survive friday nights. But I relish my few early hour regulars who enjoy a well made tradtional cocktail made with good ingredients. I am frustrated by not being able to incorporate ingredients from my home bar into work, homemade bitters, grenadine and other such infusions...too expensive according to management. But at least I can balance the slam of work with mixing up great stuff at parties at my home, but some how it's not the same.
My point, I guess more of us should open up places where we would want to hang out. Where we can ask for something interesting and not have it be seen as snobby or stupid, or worse get the blank bored stare. No bar is perfect, not that i've found yet, but if all of us keep trying to be professional, it has to get better. Best of luck
Andrew
I'm looking into Bartending schools in boston and wonder if ABC (affil. boston Bartending school) or drinkmaster have beter 1)placement 2)more professional evening training.
I need to make money at night. Anyone have any advice on books about bar tending or would you join Local 26 ?
Hoping to start at a decent Hotel.
Any advice or tips appreciated
Max