Bartending Schools?

[DM Nathan]

What are the best bartending schools in the world? What's the average cost/length of these courses? I've been interested in know this for a while now...

Anyone attend any respectable schools?

[BarManStan]

Depends how much you want to spend and where you want to go. Be careful though, there are lots of rip offs out there that are no more than glorified recipe courses (ala those weekend "Learn to baretend fast!" Holiday Inn courses). There are lots of good ones in NY, I can't give a name off the top of my head. Some of them are up to a month or so, but they can be realy pricey (almost rivaling college tuition.) There's a decent one in NJ, Mix em Up Bartending. They have small class sizes, 1week all day or 2 weeks half day classes, each student has their own station and their own backbar, all taught hands on and the classroom is basically setup like a bar/club.
Bartening is really something that you learn by doing and watching so the more you can get out and learn the better.

[505nation.com]

What are the best bartending schools in the world? What's the average cost/length of these courses? I've been interested in know this for a while now...

Anyone attend any respectable schools?

Only speaking from my part of the country... Every successful bartender that I've met... ever... did NOT go to bartending school. They started out as a rookie in a dive bar, or a bar-back or server in a good bar, learning the ropes OTJ.

I'm sure you learn a lot of good stuff, and if you have the money & time to spend, you'll gain some great knowledge. However, IMHO, learning about 20 different types of glassware and 300 types of liquor is great - but if you find yourself working in Bob's Corner Bar & Stab-a-torium where they only have 3-types of glasses, 30 bottles of booze, and a limited wine selection... it might be overkill. But, if you just want the education or you want to be hired somewhere that requires it, go for it.

[YtJ2]

I've asked a few bartenders about bartending school and such, and most say that they received all their training and stuff on the job as well and never were trained in a classroom setting.

[Kelsey]

Hi Nathan,

Many years ago I started bartending. I worked in a very nice restaurant called Lutz's in Denver Colorado as a busboy/lineboy. When I turned 21 I asked to be trained behind the bar. I was lucky, there was three bartenders that trained me.

Bill was from NY and he wore a black bowtie and cumberbund. He tought me how to make professional looking, properly garnished drinks.

Ed taught me speed. He would take the drink orders and have over 20 glasses in a row and made nice looking drinks quickly.

Clarence happen to be my uncle. He taught me how to ask questions to keep the customers talking about their favorite subject or about them selves.

At that time we made drinks from scratch. Only the sweet/sour mix was a purchased premix item. I believe it was called Sour Puss. It had a small vial of egg white with it to give a drink a very white top layer of foam. I quess what I am saying is go find a job with a very nice restaurant and make a deal with them to learn. Train for free for awhile and than get on their pay roll or go to another to learn more. You must want to do it and most of all have fun. By the way, we all free poured and become very accurate for the correct recipe. I worked one place that had a fashion show every night. We took inventory every night and rounded by the 1/4 cases. It was not uncommon to go through 1.5 cases of whisky, 2 of scotch, 1/2 of gin etc. The waitresses bet me I could not make it there. I bet I would match the highest tipped waitress with in two week. We be a Steak Dinner. That place did not have a male bartender before me. I enjoyed the dinner with the fashion models.

I have been helping at a small restaurant in Eastern Colorado. They just got their liquor license. But they buy pre-mixed reciepes. They do not taste the same as the old fashioned way of doing it.

By the way, you are on the right track by utilizing Drinksmixer. I love this site.

Thank you all for this.

God Bless.

Gary

[Infinity]

I agree, bartending schools are somewhat a waste of money. I went to a local place in Houston and besides getting tabc certified, the class just worked on memorization and speed. The first thing I was told when working at a real bar was to forget everything I learned at the school. The speed, memorization, and socialization skills come with practice and experience behind a real working environment.

[Stigster]

Sounds like you all have the same experience - bartending schools have limited value. But how would you feel about a course that is run in a bar, starting off with practical stuff in a closed bar and concludes with an evening or two behind the bar serving customers like a regular tender?

[VincentBlackHeart]

Well the same for me I went to an agentcy to train to be A bartender, but unforchantly regardless how much I try no one will call me back fo answer.

True fully I want to be a great Bartender I want to enjoy the work, the people, and the chicks.

But the enjoyment of seeing some one ejoy something you made with your two hands and get drunk cause of it.

That I love about the job.

[Sn0w_MaN]

this is a very interesting topic to talk about, i love to talk about my bartender life. Hmm... i didnt actually master the basic skill of bartending cause i was in F&B industry i only have a super basic knowladege of it.

As a girlmy frens & parents always tell me it's not good to work in a bar cause after all wat men can do you women can do it. I was quite piss off in the 1st place as i think that every drink that a bartender that make will always bring out the unique of each drink.

I really hope to master the skill of bartending and make sure everyone enjoy the drink that i make. I am really interested in what is the world BEST school.

[Elite Bartender]

Hello Everyone,

I would just like to throw my .02 cents in if I may. About half or three fourths of current bartenders learned by OJT. Working in small bars with little traffic or working as first a bar back then moving up though the company. But there is that other quarter that has completed some sort of schooling.

All schools are not created equal. Many are money mills looking to prey on people that are either hurt for work, or someone that has not a clue but is starting to look.

I was one of those people that fell for the money mill. I started looking into this as a second job or something fun. I always wanted to own a bar. So better get to know one. I went to a local school that promised the world. Said they had all these great little gigs and spots to work once out. All was fine the first day till the owner stopped showing up by the second day. Then time to graduate, no direction and failed promises.

So I being business savvy I set out to build a school that would help students become professional bartenders and put this other school out of business. So with 18 months and 2 partners and 1 employee we are doing just that.

We offer classes in Mixology, Advanced Mixology, Flair both working and exhibit, POS computer training, and Bar Management.

As A bar manager of a high volume place. They are not going to want to hire someone that does not have confidence, speed, accuracy, and the understanding of how a bar or club works.

So we built our school from a multi level, multi bar club here on South Beach. This gives students different looks feels of the different bars. Also when the Club goes live we offer an Internship to work with the active bartenders to build such confidence.

We hope our program is separated from those that give the schools a bad name. We strive to live to our name and I think we are doing just fine!

Our site is Elite Ver.1.0 but check us out and if you having questions feel free to ask. Even if your not from Miami!

www.EliteBartendingSchool.com

Good luck in your endeavors, just ask a lot of questions!


Elite Bartender

[SaSoig]

I am in the process of changing careers, and I have always been facinated with spirits and mixology. I was wondering: do bartenders make decent money?

[Elite Bartender]

I am in the process of changing careers, and I have always been facinated with spirits and mixology. I was wondering: do bartenders make decent money?

Hello,

Bartenders in big cities can make really good money. We are located in Miami FL and with the scene my partners make well into the 6 figures a year. But thats working at the hottest clubs on the beach where 18% gratuity is also included. A beer sells for $9 and a Martini goes for $15 to $20 each depending on the up sell.

Schools are good for someone that does not know anything about the business. But schools also have a bad reputation because people expect to be making what seasoned bartenders make right out of school. Its really hard to land that first job. Also girls have the advantage. I hate to say it as well but personal appearance accounts for a lot in the hiring process.

Job placement is really tough. Dont expect to work in high volume places for at least 2 years of good job experience. Networking is super key. You must be a right personality to really go far in the industry.

Just be real about the change of carriers, and understand this business is tough. Its a lot of hard work and late hours. It can be a really fun time so give it a shot if you feel its something your willing to put the time into.

[22u]

I have never professionally bartended, and I've been working in small businesses and as an independent contractor for some time now. I frequent bars, and I've recently become very interested in learning about the art of bartending and becoming a bartender myself, but I've never had the spare time to get a part-time job in a bar or restaurant. The economy's downturn lessened my workload, so I decided to take a shot. I considered just applying at some local bars/restaurants, but I was fortunate to get a great deal on a course in Boston using the coupon site www.groupon.com ($150 for a full 20-hour course instead of $450 or so), so I did it. I took the course last week, 6-10pm Monday-Friday, and successfully graduated.

Not only did I thoroughly enjoy the classes I attended, but now I feel ridiculously more confident than I did a week ago with regard to applying for a position. I had three different instructors that have decades of experience each (either as bar managers or bar owners), different teaching styles and emphases, and varied opinions on certain methods. The result? I learned from professionals in a classroom that was set as a bar with 11 other eager students.

I obviously can't comment as to whether I learned more or what was necessary than I would than OTJ training, but I can certainly say that I learned essential techniques that bartenders I've observed do not use. A lot of the class was dedicated toward confidence building, too. The last class, after a written examination and a quick-fire drink drill (individualized), included a 45-minute discussion about building a great resume, getting the interview, and getting the job. A lot of the stuff I already knew, but the instructors really helped me learn what was most important.

In short, OTJ training I'm sure is great, but if you want to get your foot in the door and don't have any experience, I would highly recommend taking a class. You might even realize that you don't want to be a bartender after taking the course, or you might have MORE interest (like I do now). Plus, if you order a drink from me today, any one of you, I'm pretty sure I'd be able to make you anything. Last week? No way.

[jhb23]

If you need information for your specific state regarding what licenses or certifications are required to serve alcohol, visit http://www.BartendingLicenseHQ.com

[jewson]

I went to drinkmasters bartending school in Boston and they are extremely professional and teach based off of their own experience and their mini-text book and give tips and help people get bartending jobs even after they graduate.

[Anderson Vanessa]

Does joining a bar tending school really help finding a good job in bar tending? And what criteria one should consider while choosing any bar tending school. I want to make my career in this field and hence need some such information. If you can suggest anything, this will be a great help. Thanks in advance.

Rose Champagne (http://comparethedrinks.com/category/572/Rose-Champagne)