I'ma take a crack at this bartending thing.

[penelope]

Why the hell not, yanno?

I'm an accomplished drunk, but I've never taken a turn behind the bar. Taking a class to become familiar with the equipment and whatnot, but how does one land a job without a drink encyclopedia in one's head?

I'm not even sure I want to do this for very long -- I'm kinda chillin' between 'real jobs'...but I think working at a local dive would be a hoot for a while.

I hear that catered events are where you can make a killing though.

Any thoughts, commentary, whateverishness about breakin' in?

I'm in NYC, 34, relatively decent lookin' though I'm about 20 pounds shy of wearing latex mini-dresses. :P

[TheBeerLady]

You might try getting on someplace as a barback to start. It's grunt work, and you won't have to worry about how to spend all the $$$ you'll make, but it'll get you behind the bar and give you a chance to watch what's going on there. Probably the majority of bartenders I know put in their time there first.