How To Get A Bartending Job - Get Into The Best Nightclubs Part 2
Well… I promised that I would do this yesterday, but I didn’t. Sorry to anyone who is desperate to get a bartending job and couldn’t wait the extra day. I want to save your time (actually, I want to save my time) so I’ll get right into the second article about how to get a job at a top nightclub:
Before I forget, if you missed part 1 click here!
4. Confidence Is Key
One of the most important qualities in a bartender is that they exude confidence, and confidence is one of the first things a manager will be looking for when they are evaluating you as a potential employee. Confidence is important because you have to be able to control large crowds of customers who have a lot of money. You have to be able to perform your best and keep your cool when you are under pressure. And you need to be able to command respect from your customers and the people you work with. Trust me, if you lack confidence, you will be eaten alive as a nightclub bartender. However, I should add that if you do get in, being a nightclub bartender is one of the biggest confidence boosts you will ever get.
5. Make sure to talk to the decision maker
After you have figured out who the hiring manager is (it might even be the club owner) and you are looking your best, it’s time to assault the club. Arrive at the club before it gets busy and ask a member of the security staff if you could speak to (insert hiring managers first name here). It is better to ask a doorman than a bartender because if a bartender catches wind that you’re applying, he might see you as competition and make it difficult for you to talk to the hiring manager. Make sure you don’t leave the club unless you have either talked to the hiring manager or set up a time to talk to the hiring manager.
6. Get Your Foot In The Door
Many people think that they can take a bartending course and then get a job as a bartender. In my opinion bartending courses are a money making scam. To walk into a top nightclub and get a bartending job with little to no experience is almost impossible, and don’t ask me why, but a certificate from a bartending course almost diminishes your credibility. Bartending is a craft that is best learned through self-study and on the job training. And the best way to learn is to be in a nightclub atmosphere, not in a classroom.
The first thing you need to do is get hired by a nightclub. Take any job they’ll let you do, and let them know that your intention is to become a bartender and that you are willing to do whatever it takes to get there. This is why I had you choose a nightclub that has the potential to stay busy for years to come so that you will have time to work your way up to a bartending position.
The bad news is that to get your foot in the door at a top nightclub you’ll probably end up with one of the least glamorous jobs available. You’ll be a bar porter. You’ll pick up glassware from all over the place, clean up messes, stock the coolers, refill the ice etc.
The good news is that in great nightclubs, even the porters make excellent money. And bar porters get to learn the ins and outs of bartending in a nightclub and are generally considered next in line for bartending positions if they prove themselves.
7. Work Your Ass Off!
Once you have your foot in the door, you are so close to the bartending position you can almost taste it. In a good club, managers will be watching not only how hard you work as a porter, but also how you treat customers and if your personality is one that would be a good fit for a bartending position. Generally, you should be professional, yet you should also contribute to building a positive atmosphere in the club. Pay attention to what the managers are looking for in a bartender and make sure you excel in those areas. Your performance as a porter will determine exactly how long it takes for you to get your first shift behind the bar.
8. Be Prepared To Step In
Make sure that management knows you want to bartend, and then look for your opening.
Practice on your own: Memorize the recipes for popular drinks and work on pouring. Watch the bartenders to see how they operate (as a porter you’ll have a front row seat). Come in on your own time and learn how the computer and cash system work. The extra initiative will go a long way toward showing your enthusiasm.
Once you think you are prepared to step behind the bar, start looking for opportunities. Ask a manager if you could come in one night to shadow a bartender, or ask if you can show them your stuff on a slow night behind the bar.
Once you get the chance to bartend the ball is in your court. Good luck!
If you want to be one of the best, make sure you read every single frickin article on this site.
Cheers,
Andrew
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Loved the article. I am embarrassed to say I was considering bartending school until I read this! Thanks!