Discover the Exotic Life of Bartending

Chris Yee
Who doesn't like a nice glass of wine, a cold beer, or a margarita every once in a while? Well, all around the world, bartenders are serving up delicious mixed drinks and frothy cold beers to the masses. As a bartender, you might expect to bring in hundreds of dollars a night in tips, but be prepared to make and serve people drinks; having a good set of social and networking skills is a must. But, do you have what it takes to be a bartending master? This article will explore the many aspects of the life of a bartender.

Bartending at the latest "hot spot" or at a popular bar in your home town can bring in a lot of money for you in just a short amount of time. Some bartenders earn an average wage of up to $20-30 an hour and even more with wages and tips! Having a good relationship with the customers is a good way to improve your changes of getting bigger tips and possibly increasing your wages. Although making a lot of money sounds very inciting, there is a lot of training involved to becoming a bartender.

Like every other job in the work place, there is a lot training and schooling involved with bartending. And not one single bar will hire someone who doesn't have the proper training. Fortunately, there are many bartending schools to choose from. There are a variety of different classes to choose from whether you are a college student or a full-time parent. Classes can range from two weeks to two months. Despite all the training and schooling however, nothing can replace the experience the "real world" can provide. And it's in the "real world" where you will learn the skills and abilities to be a good bartender.

A good bartender is one who has extensive knowledge of mixed drinks and other alcoholic drinks. It is not only someone who can "fit-in" but someone who has a solid background and can perform the job with the utmost professionalism. The most important skill in becoming a good bartender is your social and networking skills. Making friends and socializing is what makes this career so fun and exciting.

At its most basic level, the job of the bartender is to make and serve drinks. On the surface this job may appear simple and easy, but it is not for everyone. This career is completely opposite of the grueling 9-5 work days. The hustle and bustle of the everyday socialites brings a lot of excitement to the work place. While many people love the fast past business of bartending, some people fail because of the training and hard work involved. It takes a person who is dedicated, willing, and out-going to become that bartender everyone knows and loves.

As you can tell, being a bartender is a lot of hard work, but extremely rewarding both financially and socially. But the hard work involved go hand-in-hand with the money you make and the fun you have. The harder you work, the bigger the reward. So, if you can make a lasting relationship with a complete stranger in less than five minutes, then you have what it takes to be a good bartender.

Published by Chris Yee

Cat owner, dog lover, movie goer, couch potato. Just trying to find my way through life.  View profile

10 Comments

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  • In x plane a bull12/21/2007

    I agree i love alchohol

  • Jody12/19/2007

    Nicely written article about bartending jobs!

  • Eclectic Muse12/19/2007

    I did it for years. It got me through college, I became the manager, and retired when I got pregnant a few years ago. The money was a nice perk, nice enough to keep me from using my degree. I made friends that I still keep up with now. My old boss always calls me about coming back. There is definitely potential in this career to earn full time wages only working part time.

  • Shanelle Diaz12/17/2007

    I always thought about doing this!

  • Kim Linton12/17/2007

    My son, who just turned 21, is a musician and wants to supplement his (on and off) income by becoming a bartender. He starts his first bartending job this week. I emailed your article to him for inspiration. Great read!

  • Bruce Bostwick12/7/2007

    Great article and very interesting.

  • julz12/6/2007

    I can make Captain Morgan and Pepsi.

  • Sparkle77212/6/2007

    Great and informative article. I think it would be cool to be a bartender. It is true that you really have to work hard to earn that money. It is ashame that now-a-days there are a lot of 'grumpy' bartenders who wonder why their tips are so poor! Maybe the fact that they are grumpy and are often making the drinks poorly is the main contributors! I have met a few though that are awesome.

  • Sullivision12/5/2007

    I always thought this would be a fun job to do

  • Rae Lynne Morvay12/4/2007

    Nice job on this article.

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