For this week’s research I chose to talk about my google alert from BALTIMORE Examiner.com. I have enjoyed reading the articles about bartending and entertainment that found on this site.
DC Nightlife Examiner is where this week’s article came from. If you haven’t already guessed, the topic is bartending. Jovan Bland writes about how many people are entertained by watching their bartenders in action and how they too want to become bartenders.
Bland started off by basically stressing everything I have said over the past seven weeks. Since I have recently started reading these articles, I have shared my thoughts on how much I can identify with these writers and how I have found it comforting to know other bartenders share my views. This reaction is quite different than previous ones. Bland goes downhill fast and right after he impressed me!
He poses a good question in the first paragraph. He asks the reader, if you enjoy drinking and think you can make tasty cocktails why not become a bartender? At first I couldn’t tell whether he was being sarcastic or not, then came the next paragraph.
He touches a little about the good and bad points of being a bartender (although he never mentions the long hours of being on your feet and pounding headaches from constant noise). He goes in to explaining that just because you are of age and enjoy drinking doesn’t mean you will become a good bartender. I do like what he says next,
“Just think about it: on one hand you are in the middle of a packed party with people desiring your attention; then there’s the thought of you having what seems to be a million tasks to do while trying to keep sanity in a distracting atmosphere. How can one take it? It’s true that bartending can be quite a beneficial experience, but only if it is truly of interest to those who approach.”
I agree with what he is trying to convey to his readers. He then goes on to what seems to be my favorite subject, whether or not one needs to attend a bartending school to become certified. I was shocked and a little disappointed by what he said next. He made a point by saying, “Contrary to popular belief, there are instances where becoming a “master of mixes” is achieved without a certification or license. In fact, many people will become bartenders without a certificate or license at all!”
Okay, this statement is not the one that drove me mad; he continued by saying, “However, it is greatly recommended that an interested prospect attend a bartending school to become familiar with the craft. Since getting a job is highly dependent on one’s experience, this is a must for all of you aspiring cocktail shakers. Those of you who don’t have much time to attend a few classes, fret not, there are books and websites that can assist with your goal.
This gives people with no personality, no rhythm, no multitasking skill, and no experience hope. Some may say that I take this too seriously and am being too harsh. The truth is you can be the judge the next time you are out for a drink. When you walk in to a bar take notice of the little things. Did you get greeted by the bartender? Did they introduce themselves? Did they ask you what you like to drink? I’m not talking about if they ask what you would like to drink, but if they ask you about your likes and dislikes among the world of alcohol. A good bartender can make a drink up on the spot based on your answers…you won’t find that in a class or a book! Does the bartender involve you in conversation or introduce you to other patrons? Maybe you want to be left alone; does your bartender know when to shut up? Did they take interest in you as a patron?
If these questions were too difficult to answer or you can’t remember if your bartender did these things, you probably had one of those “aspiring cocktail shakers” whom Bland referenced to in his article. Maybe they can flip through the pages of their new “bartending for dummies” book or hop online real quick to find a recipe that they can stir up for you. I’m sure waiting ten minutes for your first drink while they fumble around will leave a lasting impression.
Well, maybe some of the articles you are reading are infuriating you, but at least you’re seeing some very common themes developing — and you know you are on the right track.
Hi Christine,
Don’t be angry, please.
So, what are your suggestions for people who want to start bartending? For example, if I want to be a bartender, and I don’t know much about alcohol let alone mixing them up, where am I supposed to go?
Is it really that bad to go to a bartending school? I mean, I know zero about bartending but I think for other people who know zero just like I do, a school as a start is not that bad of an idea. What do you think?
Also, I have a stupid question. When one sign up for a job as a bartender, do the employers expect some sort of bartending education? If all employers only care about experience, then where should a person (fresh one), who wants to build his/her experience, starts bartending? Does that mean this person will find it hard to get a job?
Sorry for all the questions. I just don’t know anything about bartending.
Your comment made me laugh, I wouldn’t be angry with you asking questions. All of your questions are valid and I think that anyone who may be interested in bartending may want to attend a bartending school for some helpful background knowledge about alcohol.
I guess throught the semester I have tried to show bartending as something that one can not easily master. So many people say that it is not a “real job” and that is why I defend it. It is more than just pouring drinks and I think everyone in our class would agree with that.
Bartending school is not a bad start to gain product knowledge, however it drives me crazy when people think that attending bartending school automatically makes you a good bartender.
So what I am saying is that if one knows very little about alcohol they would benefit from the school. But the experience aspect of it is what makes a good bartender. Basically, the point I was trying to make is that even if someone can read a recipe out of a book, it doesn’t mean it will taste good. It is a trial and error type of learning that works best.
Some bars that I have worked at over the years will not hire a graduate of bartending school because the bar owner would rather teach the employee themselves. It is just an individual preference of the way certain things are done. For example at Mixers, a small bar, they do not put cocktails in “rocks” glasses like most places. Instead of using “highball” glasses like other establishments they pride themselves on using pint glasses. Everyone that orders a drink there for the first time is blown away that the prices are so low and the drinks so large.
This example is a complete “no, no” in bartending school. From saftey reasons to the presentation, its all wrong. Yet, this bar owner encourages it from his employees. It’s simple little things about how you greet people and how you talk to them that bartending schools do not teach.
I know I keep rambling, so I will stop now. My point is that someone who has gone to bartending school does not always get hired based on that. Also that a person must develop their own style and be comfortable behind the bar in order to be great.
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