[Biz]

(07-04-2018 03:37 PM)a beer is enough Wrote:  

Solid thread! Glad I got linked to it.

Got familiar with the gig in my college days, no doubt the guys who did it were cleaning up with hot girls since it was an entry to the party life. The only issue is that unless you were a well-connected fraternity guy, it was impossible to get. Most bars were loaded with hot girls or fraternity guys as bartenders and outside of that, it was impossible to get a job there even as a barback.

Been wanting to do it myself being in my mid-twenties and seeing time run out so I wanted to ask questions for the OP or anyone who might be able to answer.

1. Is it possible to get any job at a bar (barback or bartender) if you already have a full time 9 to 5? Will that rub managers the wrong way?

2. What is the age limit typically like if you want to bartend at places like a nightclub or some of the bars that younger fresh out of college crowds gather at? I don't ask regarding being able to do it but whether management will take a chance on you.

(09-22-2017 07:32 PM)Rhyme or Reason Wrote:  

(09-20-2017 03:19 PM)MaceTyrell Wrote:  

Bumping this thread cause it's awesome. Going to try this in NYC - seems like a great way to get a place on lockdown.

NY jobs are notoriously difficult to get. I've never lived or worked there this is just based on what I've heard about it, but apparently NY restaurants / bars are very hard to get hired in. Many such places require "NY experience" and say as much on their job applications.

It's absolutely going to be an uphill battle.

In that case I have another question, any strategy for breaking into the bartending scene there? My goal is to one day bartend at a nightclub or bar in Manhattan.

Depends where you apply, restaurants are usually early in times, usually 5 pm. Bars could go either way but 5-7 pm sounds about right. Nightclubs are obviously later around 8-9 pm.

No age limit, to get those jobs you need experience anyways and there's always mid to late 20 and 30 year old's working the bar. Knowing someone is by far the best way to get any bartending job, I've gotten in this way for almost all of my bar jobs.

Bartending in NYC is incredibly lucrative, especially at busy bars and nightclubs since they can easily make more than lawyers.

[a beer is enough]

(07-05-2018 05:41 PM)Biz Wrote:  

(07-04-2018 03:37 PM)a beer is enough Wrote:  

Solid thread! Glad I got linked to it.

Got familiar with the gig in my college days, no doubt the guys who did it were cleaning up with hot girls since it was an entry to the party life. The only issue is that unless you were a well-connected fraternity guy, it was impossible to get. Most bars were loaded with hot girls or fraternity guys as bartenders and outside of that, it was impossible to get a job there even as a barback.

Been wanting to do it myself being in my mid-twenties and seeing time run out so I wanted to ask questions for the OP or anyone who might be able to answer.

1. Is it possible to get any job at a bar (barback or bartender) if you already have a full time 9 to 5? Will that rub managers the wrong way?

2. What is the age limit typically like if you want to bartend at places like a nightclub or some of the bars that younger fresh out of college crowds gather at? I don't ask regarding being able to do it but whether management will take a chance on you.

(09-22-2017 07:32 PM)Rhyme or Reason Wrote:  

(09-20-2017 03:19 PM)MaceTyrell Wrote:  

Bumping this thread cause it's awesome. Going to try this in NYC - seems like a great way to get a place on lockdown.

NY jobs are notoriously difficult to get. I've never lived or worked there this is just based on what I've heard about it, but apparently NY restaurants / bars are very hard to get hired in. Many such places require "NY experience" and say as much on their job applications.

It's absolutely going to be an uphill battle.

In that case I have another question, any strategy for breaking into the bartending scene there? My goal is to one day bartend at a nightclub or bar in Manhattan.

Depends where you apply, restaurants are usually early in times, usually 5 pm. Bars could go either way but 5-7 pm sounds about right. Nightclubs are obviously later around 8-9 pm.

No age limit, to get those jobs you need experience anyways and there's always mid to late 20 and 30 year old's working the bar. Knowing someone is by far the best way to get any bartending job, I've gotten in this way for almost all of my bar jobs.

Bartending in NYC is incredibly lucrative, especially at busy bars and nightclubs since they can easily make more than lawyers.

I am looking more at bars and nightclubs.

Funny that you mention mid to late 20s lol, you'd think that be on the younger end right?

[Rhyme or Reason]

Quote:

1. Is it possible to get any job at a bar (barback or bartender) if you already have a full time 9 to 5? Will that rub managers the wrong way?

2. What is the age limit typically like if you want to bartend at places like a nightclub or some of the bars that younger fresh out of college crowds gather at? I don't ask regarding being able to do it but whether management will take a chance on you.

1. It's certainly possible, no doubt about that. The question then becomes "how long can you last without a day off until you burn out?" because that is bound to happen.

As far as how managers see you, they will probably favor someone with a more open schedule for hiring. I've turned down many job offers because the hiring manager wanted me to leave my current job.

2. Nightclubs / neighborhood bars, it's more an issue of your stamina and your physical ability to do the job and put up with the BS. A manager is less likely to take a chance on you if they're running a really hot spot. And let me just say, working at a spot with college kids isn't really all it's cracked up to be...they never tip, are needy, obnoxious, get really fucked up, ect.

If you're at a spot where you frequently hear the words "I'll have a Long island" or "lemme get an Adios, holmes!" You will very quickly learn to hate that crowd.


Finally let me just say that after doing this for a couple years, I haven't had a weekend off in forever and I'm sick of not having any fun. If you're ever wondering "Why's this bartender so surly?" this is partly why.

These days, I go out only on days when nobody else is out, and I actively avoid crowds. I go to other 'industry bars' where the bartenders know me and pour me stiff ass drinks. I don't go to the 'hotspots' anymore because I work all weekends and see enough obnoxiousness there that the last thing I want to do is spent my hard earned money going to places like that.

All that said I still like my job, overall

[a beer is enough]

Thanks for getting back to me Rhyme or Reason.

1. I feel like I have a lot of energy left over after a 40 hr work week in the corporate world but when you say "certainly possible", that does kind of make it seems like under some real special circumstances. Are we pretty much talking being best friends with the owner type of a deal?

2. I don't really care for all that, tbh, I want to do this a lot less for the pay and a lot more for the experience of having done it in my twenties. Given the background I had in college, this is something that is real personal to me.

Maybe after a couple of years I do burn out, great, I am all for it. I just want to have done it for a couple of years while I still have the youth and energy to do it.

[Rhyme or Reason]

(07-08-2018 10:09 PM)a beer is enough Wrote:  

Thanks for getting back to me Rhyme or Reason.

1. I feel like I have a lot of energy left over after a 40 hr work week in the corporate world but when you say "certainly possible", that does kind of make it seems like under some real special circumstances. Are we pretty much talking being best friends with the owner type of a deal?

It really depends on the way the venue is run. If it's run by a close knit group of partiers, they're not likely to hire a stranger with no experience. If it's more "professional" then there will be channels you can apply through. I'd mention the fact that you have a lot of left over energy wherever you interview at.

2. I don't really care for all that, tbh, I want to do this a lot less for the pay and a lot more for the experience of having done it in my twenties. Given the background I had in college, this is something that is real personal to me.

Can I ask why? What about your background makes this personal to you?


Maybe after a couple of years I do burn out, great, I am all for it. I just want to have done it for a couple of years while I still have the youth and energy to do it.

Then I say go for it, it's always a skill you can fall back on. You'd be surprised how many people bartend in their youth, move onto 'real' careers and come back to bartending after a while. The answer is invariably the same: The money.

[a beer is enough]

I would be more than happy to mention that, if there is a way I can pitch my story it would be great. The truth is, I make plenty of money at my current job but it is very cut and dry due to the field. If there is a story I can spin, I'd try it with them. TBH, I am more than happy to start as a barback if it means I can work my way up man.

As for my personal reason, I don't open up too much on a thread like this but since you asked and seem like a solid dude, well....

So I was kind of a social outcast to the party scene throughout my younger years. Oblivious to it in high school and tried to be a part of it in college only to fail due to a lack of being in the right social groups. So much of the party scene and fun at my university revolved around nightlife and all bartenders were college kids, there was always that something attached to that gig that I wanted to get in college but never could get due to a lack of the right connections (you more or less had to be in certain social groups to get it).

It was the gig to get and the gig to have if you wanted to not only get hot girls but also be a part of that party crowd if you catch my drift.

I see my 20s as a reinvention period, gone through so many transformations to better my life but it still eats away at me for what I missed out on in college with not being a part of that bartending scene. It had the most fun party people and you don't get that in a corporate job or even most hobbies. I run across so many self-righteous pricks and people that look down on that sort of a life.

As for how working at a bar plays a role, I mean I can always go to a bar and spend money to get drinks and game women but deep down, I always wanted to be on the other side making drinks and working in that fast paced environment. Loud music playing with the party crowd and some fun people wanting alcohol and me supplying it.

I mean fuck it, I can't really go deeper than that but it is a huge desire of mines. Its like I feel alive at a fun bar or nightclub, the feeling is so hard to describe but I just feel so alive there than at any other venue or place on the planet. I want to bartend because I feel like it puts an exclamation point to my twenties which have been a journey of redemption. If I can do it on top of my 9 to 5, that is a dream fulfilled.

You mention youth, I am in my mid-twenties and see time slipping fast. I envy the guys who got to do it in college, really fucking envy them.

[Rhyme or Reason]

What you're describing (in so many words) is a desire to branch out socially. Absolutely understandable.

Quote:

As for how working at a bar plays a role, I mean I can always go to a bar and spend money to get drinks and game women but deep down, I always wanted to be on the other side making drinks and working in that fast paced environment. Loud music playing with the party crowd and some fun people wanting alcohol and me supplying it.

Again, I say go for it. But a word of warning. Once there, however, you may find it's a lot more stress than you originally thought, and may not in fact be worth the effort takes to get to that 'glamorous' position. It can suck. Party people get old after not all that long. You will likely wish you were back on the other side of that bar getting hammered once the novelty wears off. I get where you're coming from though.

Let me just say as something I've learned since my original posting of this thread, is that you must procure a positive clientele.

This cannot be stressed enough. CLIENTELE IS EVERYTHING. Because of this, not all bars are created equal. The party atmosphere you're imagining is a very delicate balance. YOU DON'T WANT JUST ANYONE AND EVERYONE AS YOUR CLIENTELE IN A BAR!

You're gonna deal with dysfunctionals, weirdos, wackjobs, gang members, winos, pretentious "cocktail enthusiasts" (fuckin hate those), losers, recently divorce-raped broken hearted guys, and socially maladapted dudes who, for whatever reason, want to talk your ear off.

That shit gets OLD.

The perfect party atmosphere you're envisioning, where there's nothing but hot chicks, cool guys who tip a lot, and fun times all around is largely a fantasy. That bartender you see working those venues likely has to deal with many frustrating experiences NIGHTLY. You don't realize it but he does. I can promise you.

Location is huge, too. Poorly managed bars in a prime location can survive in spite of themselves. On the other hand, bars doing everything right "on paper" can fail due to simply being in a bad location.

Back to the issue of clientele, let me tell you, the "prime directive" (meaning the reason people show up) of the bar has a lot to do with what kind of people it attracts. If it's a "hard bar" meaning full liquor service with no food, it's a recipe for trouble and you HAD BETTER have security.

I know I bitched about food service earlier in this thread but I learned that lesson the hard way.

Contrast that to a high end restaurant, where you're likely to have less QUANTITY but more QUALITY clientele. You are better off where the 'prime directive' of the bar isn't just people coming to get fucked up, because that is always going to be a recipe for trouble for you. Your life's much easier where the people coming in are drinking, but also dancing or eating, or bowling, or something other than just sitting there and bugging you. Because bug you they will.

So how do you procure a quality clientele?

Don't give away free shit (I hook up forum members, though) , don't let people get too fucked up, and never let people think they can run roughshod over you. Have presence. If a bar gets a reputation for jackass customers engaging in jackassery, that will only attract more of the same. Same goes for anything. gangsters doing gangster shit, college kids being annoying...whatever you put up with, you encourage more of, so keep that in mind.

On the other hand if you get a reputation for hosting cool people who can hold their liqour and don't act a fool, you will attract other cool customers who know how to act.

Reputation is everything.

You have a responsibility to dispense alcohol in a responsible manner, so never forget that. This is what makes you valuable to your employer. Protecting their liquor licence is huge, also. Understanding this will set you apart from other people applying for these jobs. The last thing you want to bill yourself as is a partyer looking for this job because "it's like, cool".

[a beer is enough]

I've absolutely thought it through, a lot tbh. Very likely that I come to the realization that even if this somehow magically happens (I know they will start me off as barback), I will still feel that deep hurt of not doing it as a college kid. Like I know that bartending in NYC or any big city might not exactly give me what bartending in a college town would have given me, it is something I have learn to realize might be the case and I walk away unfulfilled.

I might even have nights where if this happens and I do it, I feel like shit because I realize just how different it is doing it as a college kid.

All that being said, I rather do it than live with regret because I know that once I am over the age of 30, it will be impossible to get into bartending at a fun spot.

As for the clientele and bar itself, I have taken that into account a great deal. I am looking to bartend at the kinds of places that attract a younger but somewhat well off yuppie type of crowd. Obviously I know I won't get this right off the bat which if why if I can get any role at these places, that would be a great start.

I am looking to go more into bartending at a nightclub or a bar that has a significant party scene at night. Obviously I will avoid those in a poor area but that is what I am aiming for since I am not looking to bartend at a place that is more family oriented or lacks the party scene.

All that said, I appreciate your feedback and experiences as well as sharing this guide. This is a huge thing for me in my twenties.

[Zimbuc]

Rhyme or Reason any advice on Wine Bars that deal primarily in Wine?

[Rhyme or Reason]

(07-11-2018 02:22 PM)Zimbuc Wrote:  

Rhyme or Reason any advice on Wine Bars that deal primarily in Wine?

I did work at a nice restaurant where the bar was wine-focused. It's easy, as soon as you learn all the varietals and learn to act like you know your shit about wine (I still don't know shit about it, but i've never been called out on it). However a lot of high end wine-featuring restaurants / bars will test your knowledge on such things. I think you can enroll in sommelier school online, or otherwise sign up for classes which are actually recognized by employers ( unlike shitty, scammy bartending schools).

If you are a sommelier at a high end restaurant, you are a pimp.

The somm is absolutely a respected figure in the industry, he's the guy everyone wants to talk to and admire his knowledge and enhance their dining experience. Because he knows his shit and is basically running things.



Some people ask ridiculous, or hilarious questions about pairings and all that shit. Of course that's not just limited to wine bars.

I'd also like to point out that the vast majority of times I've been annoyed by pretentious questions and pretentious BS from customers is from WOMEN. And effete, "cocktail enthusiasts". It's a peaked off trend in the industry right now for sure. "Craft cocktails" and all that jazz. All the cool bartenders know what a joke it is and make fun of those denim-suspender-wearing waxed-mustache-having cocksuckers.

You want to work at a volume bar...not a craft bar.

[d3traktion]

ive worked in bars for years. in los angeles for the past few. i prefer working at night clubs and just pumping drinks out quickly. most people aren't ordering complex drinks and you can just make them as quickly as possible and who gives a shit if a dude orders 5 whiskey cokes for 65$ and tips 5. it literally takes you 15 seconds to make those, ill take that all night.

also, i prefer working at bars without chairs at the bar, so you dont have to sit and entertain people for hours or talk to them for a while. one of my recent spots added chairs and i was forced into a conversation with a guest who stayed for 2 hours, had 3 drinks and tipped 7 bucks. much rather have that dude with the five whiskey cokes, his 5$ tip, and the 15 second interaction.

management can really blow at some places. some places ive worked cant even get alcohol orders in correctly for key items (for example, well vodka, gin, whiskey, etc..). Its incredibly frustrating to work at these places even if the money is good. i've learned most owners have no idea whats going on and no idea how to actually run a bar. this is where your general manger comes in. he pretty much does all the work while the owners can sit on there ass and not cough up money when it is required to better the establishment.

also, working at a place with no food is way better. you dont have to deal with shit. obviously people may get drunker because you have no food, but, in a large city you have security to deal with these people if they get unruly.

And as for what Rhyme or Reason has said, I am not a "craft" bartender, hell, my bar doesnt even have campari, aperol, grand marnier, nothing. just the basic. but i do have a mustache and wear suspenders its part of our uniform (although my stache isn't waxed and my suspenders are black)! but yes, those enthusiast are annoying, but its great to tell them i cant make their stupid fucking drink because i don't have the supplies (take The Last Word/French 75's and shove em up ur asses lady).

Ideal bar (for me atleast)

No chairs
No food
High volume
Pretty much limited alcohol so you can't make everything, and limited wine options so you dont need to know so much (No Chartruese, Chambord, Grand Ma, Aperol, Campari, Kahlua, etc...) --- yes, ive worked at bars that literally dont carry any of that shit, they still can function. then again, these aren't like craft lounges, or beer driven bars.

Also, someone talked about age at these places. Most bars I work at the bartenders as males are 25-35 in Los Angeles, girls can be younger because they are hot. Nightclub jobs in LA even are not easy to get into and I would imagine NYC is just as if not harder. The 30 year old bartender at a nightclub thats mainly early 20 year olds is absolutely true. it can be pretty great money if the volume is high enough

[a beer is enough]

(07-11-2018 05:54 PM)d3traktion Wrote:  

Also, someone talked about age at these places. Most bars I work at the bartenders as males are 25-35 in Los Angeles, girls can be younger because they are hot. Nightclub jobs in LA even are not easy to get into and I would imagine NYC is just as if not harder. The 30 year old bartender at a nightclub thats mainly early 20 year olds is absolutely true. it can be pretty great money if the volume is high enough

This caught my attention as my ideal situation is to be bartending in NYC once I move back there. What I have found so far is that getting these jobs is 10 times harder than actually doing them, this in speaking with some guys who bartend. Have a couple questions though:

1. What kind of an experience or resume would you need to even be considered at a lot of the places in Manhattan?

2. If you have no experience, would it be possible to get any side-job (obviously not bartender at first) at these nightclubs while already having a 9 to 5 office job?

[d3traktion]

(07-12-2018 09:59 PM)a beer is enough Wrote:  

(07-11-2018 05:54 PM)d3traktion Wrote:  

Also, someone talked about age at these places. Most bars I work at the bartenders as males are 25-35 in Los Angeles, girls can be younger because they are hot. Nightclub jobs in LA even are not easy to get into and I would imagine NYC is just as if not harder. The 30 year old bartender at a nightclub thats mainly early 20 year olds is absolutely true. it can be pretty great money if the volume is high enough

This caught my attention as my ideal situation is to be bartending in NYC once I move back there. What I have found so far is that getting these jobs is 10 times harder than actually doing them, this in speaking with some guys who bartend. Have a couple questions though:

1. What kind of an experience or resume would you need to even be considered at a lot of the places in Manhattan?

2. If you have no experience, would it be possible to get any side-job (obviously not bartender at first) at these nightclubs while already having a 9 to 5 office job?

I can't really answer the manhattan question accurately since I don't live in NY, but if its a busy nightclub, you will definitely need experience. I find working your way up from Barback to Bartender is probably the easiest route, although it can take a while (this is how I got my first bartending job at a club). Barbacking is a great start because you learn what/where everything is behind the bar, what different types and brands of liquors you have, learn drink recipes, learn how to make various juices and such, and you can see how a bar operates if you have no experience. I think it's totally possible for you to be a barback at a club if you work a normal 9-5 as well. Keep in mind, if its a busy nightclub its probably not going to hire a barback without experience either though.

The first nightclub I worked at I got in as a barback with previous barback experience at a sports bar, and even then the manager sort of hired me as an "okay, well I guess we'll see how you do"

In my opinion, it may be easier to start at a bar then move to a nightclub later on

[d3traktion]

*delete*

[a beer is enough]

(07-13-2018 02:57 PM)d3traktion Wrote:  

(07-12-2018 09:59 PM)a beer is enough Wrote:  

(07-11-2018 05:54 PM)d3traktion Wrote:  

Also, someone talked about age at these places. Most bars I work at the bartenders as males are 25-35 in Los Angeles, girls can be younger because they are hot. Nightclub jobs in LA even are not easy to get into and I would imagine NYC is just as if not harder. The 30 year old bartender at a nightclub thats mainly early 20 year olds is absolutely true. it can be pretty great money if the volume is high enough

This caught my attention as my ideal situation is to be bartending in NYC once I move back there. What I have found so far is that getting these jobs is 10 times harder than actually doing them, this in speaking with some guys who bartend. Have a couple questions though:

1. What kind of an experience or resume would you need to even be considered at a lot of the places in Manhattan?

2. If you have no experience, would it be possible to get any side-job (obviously not bartender at first) at these nightclubs while already having a 9 to 5 office job?

I can't really answer the manhattan question accurately since I don't live in NY, but if its a busy nightclub, you will definitely need experience. I find working your way up from Barback to Bartender is probably the easiest route, although it can take a while (this is how I got my first bartending job at a club). Barbacking is a great start because you learn what/where everything is behind the bar, what different types and brands of liquors you have, learn drink recipes, learn how to make various juices and such, and you can see how a bar operates if you have no experience. I think it's totally possible for you to be a barback at a club if you work a normal 9-5 as well. Keep in mind, if its a busy nightclub its probably not going to hire a barback without experience either though.

The first nightclub I worked at I got in as a barback with previous barback experience at a sports bar, and even then the manager sort of hired me as an "okay, well I guess we'll see how you do"

In my opinion, it may be easier to start at a bar then move to a nightclub later on

I get it, but thankfully now I have a path, asked around a couple places last week in my city and they were not hiring. It seems like bars and clubs hire during a certain time period of a year, will try a few more places later on tonight though.

From your experience, what are some of the best cities to bartend in?

[d3traktion]

(07-14-2018 03:22 PM)a beer is enough Wrote:  

(07-13-2018 02:57 PM)d3traktion Wrote:  

(07-12-2018 09:59 PM)a beer is enough Wrote:  

(07-11-2018 05:54 PM)d3traktion Wrote:  

Also, someone talked about age at these places. Most bars I work at the bartenders as males are 25-35 in Los Angeles, girls can be younger because they are hot. Nightclub jobs in LA even are not easy to get into and I would imagine NYC is just as if not harder. The 30 year old bartender at a nightclub thats mainly early 20 year olds is absolutely true. it can be pretty great money if the volume is high enough

This caught my attention as my ideal situation is to be bartending in NYC once I move back there. What I have found so far is that getting these jobs is 10 times harder than actually doing them, this in speaking with some guys who bartend. Have a couple questions though:

1. What kind of an experience or resume would you need to even be considered at a lot of the places in Manhattan?

2. If you have no experience, would it be possible to get any side-job (obviously not bartender at first) at these nightclubs while already having a 9 to 5 office job?

I can't really answer the manhattan question accurately since I don't live in NY, but if its a busy nightclub, you will definitely need experience. I find working your way up from Barback to Bartender is probably the easiest route, although it can take a while (this is how I got my first bartending job at a club). Barbacking is a great start because you learn what/where everything is behind the bar, what different types and brands of liquors you have, learn drink recipes, learn how to make various juices and such, and you can see how a bar operates if you have no experience. I think it's totally possible for you to be a barback at a club if you work a normal 9-5 as well. Keep in mind, if its a busy nightclub its probably not going to hire a barback without experience either though.

The first nightclub I worked at I got in as a barback with previous barback experience at a sports bar, and even then the manager sort of hired me as an "okay, well I guess we'll see how you do"

In my opinion, it may be easier to start at a bar then move to a nightclub later on

I get it, but thankfully now I have a path, asked around a couple places last week in my city and they were not hiring. It seems like bars and clubs hire during a certain time period of a year, will try a few more places later on tonight though.

From your experience, what are some of the best cities to bartend in?

Best cities to bartend, probably places with a good nightlife, NYC, Miami, Vegas, LA, Chicago, etc... Then again what do you mean by best? most money? id rather make less money in LA and work till 2 am than work till 4-5 am in another city

Keep in mind different states do last call at different times (for example California is done at 2 am, Chicago can go till 5, i think NYC goes till 3 or 4, new orleans pretty much doesn't stop, im assuming Miami is similar but havent been there in years.

As far as bars hiring during a time period, yea the summer here in LA is more touristy so they probably hire more around that period, but people may quit/fired there jobs at any time so you gotta just be constantly on the prowl.

Good luck to you man, it can be a very fun job depending on the spot you end up working at and most of the co-workers are pretty cool

[Biz]

Yea I'd totally rather be out at 2 am than have to be there until 5-6 in the morning, even with a 2 am end time you can still have a normal life if you don't need much sleep.

I'm at a spot on a beach at the moment working the summer season and wish I did this in my early 20's (I'm mid 30's) it's the easiest money and pussy I've ever experienced. Very easy to get burnt out though. Now that I have done it I would take a beach spot over a city spot any day.

[Rhyme or Reason]

^ How close to the beach we talking? Right on the beach at an outside venue?

[jordypip23]

I've had friends / acquaintances that bartend or promote or manage at bars, nightclubs & strip clubs, I'll just say that these folks are married to a lifestyle with its own set of pro's & cons just like a lawyer, a doctor or a wall street guy would be subject to. Crazy hours, dealing with crazies, etc. etc. But yeah quick cash income often times, access to interesting social events & people. But you definitely gotta deal with a lotta headache & a lotta crazies along the way. Lotta them tend to party with each other on "industry nights" that may take place on some odd night like a Sunday or a Wednesday or some shit like that. Or if they are a 2 AM close bar on a Saturday, they'll party at the after hours scene which starts after that and lasts into the morning.

Hope you're ready for all that!

[a beer is enough]

(07-23-2018 10:19 AM)Biz Wrote:  

Yea I'd totally rather be out at 2 am than have to be there until 5-6 in the morning, even with a 2 am end time you can still have a normal life if you don't need much sleep.

I'm at a spot on a beach at the moment working the summer season and wish I did this in my early 20's (I'm mid 30's) it's the easiest money and pussy I've ever experienced. Very easy to get burnt out though. Now that I have done it I would take a beach spot over a city spot any day.

As someone whose early 20s are almost over and is entering his mid 20s later this year, your post is going to put me in one hell of a quarter-life crisis.

I have done some looking into during the weekends and chatted with some bartenders, a lot seem to be doing it full time if they are at the party spots. I'd love to hear stories from dudes who managed to make this shit work while holding down the traditional full time job.

As fun as the perks sound, especially the parties and fucking women that comes with it (things very few jobs outside of celeb status can offer), I am also having to work on a career that is guaranteed to net me six figures in my thirties without having to work Investment Banker hours.

At some point, it just becomes how much you are willing to give up for it. The plan is:

1. Focus on main career.

2. Give up weekends for the bar.

3. Whatever minor time you have leftover, devote to health and make sure you aren't dying or getting fat lol.

I think with just focusing on those two things, it could work, I'd be starting as a barback anyways

[Biz]

(07-23-2018 02:24 PM)Rhyme or Reason Wrote:  

^ How close to the beach we talking? Right on the beach at an outside venue?

Right on a beach. It's a large spot with an inside and a huge outside deck perched up over the sand/ocean

[Rhyme or Reason]

(07-24-2018 09:28 AM)Biz Wrote:  

(07-23-2018 02:24 PM)Rhyme or Reason Wrote:  

^ How close to the beach we talking? Right on the beach at an outside venue?

Right on a beach. It's a large spot with an inside and a huge outside deck perched up over the sand/ocean

That sounds ideal for poosy slaying. Whereabouts are you regionally?

[Sherlock Holmes]

Has anyone here attended the EBS (European Bartender School)? I wonder if it's worth attending if you wan't to learn the basics fast and get access to the industry in a specific city.

[a beer is enough]

So a few questions about being barback.

1. What does it typically entail? Do you just stock drinks or do you have to clean stuff like tables too?

2. How long does it take to go from barback to bartender at most places?

[PapayaTapper]

(08-03-2018 09:56 PM)a beer is enough Wrote:  

So a few questions about being barback.

1. What does it typically entail? Do you just stock drinks or do you have to clean stuff like tables too?

2. How long does it take to go from barback to bartender at most places?

Why dont you just go get a bar back job and find out for yourself? After all...Its not like its a life critical position. Hell...in most of the US you dont even need to speak English