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Subject: Does it matter where I go to bartending school?
From: Bartender master wannabee
Posted: Fri Aug 2. 2002, 03:07 UTC
Right now, i have relatives in several places. Maryland and Philadelphia.  I 
live right near albany, new york.   I have seen big prices differences in 
different areas for bartending schools.  I know the Maryland Academy they 
charge like $640. I heard of one guy near Virginia Beach say in his area the 
classes cost $450.  In my area it is $250.    
I wonder if it would really make a difference if I went to bartending school 
in my area and moved elsewhere?  I mean in my area I can see the charge is 
like the lowest so far from what i have seen.  Or I should really try to go to 
the bartending school where I will most likely live for a while because the 
placement is a lot better?  If it really does not matter where I attend school 
in terms of getting a job than I will go to school here.  
I mean I am not keen on spending a lot of money. I know it can really be hard 
to get into bartending without restaurant experience or bar experience. That 
is why I am planning on going to bartending school.  I mean I have done a 
little research myself. I have talked to restaurants. They all seem to only 
hire servers from within unless they had several years of outside experience. 
I heard TGI Fridays makes everyone even if the bartender has experience become 
a server first.  
But than I met like 3 or 4 individuals who went to bartending school and had 
no experience in restaurant work or bartending.  Who are working as 
bartenders.  I met one guy who is now a restaurant manager said he went to 
bartending school in Colorado and spent like $300 to $500 I think and he said 
he made his money back within a few days.   
I have heard about how the best bartenders come from the waitstaff and 
bussers and all that.   But I also hear from a friend of mine that waiting 
tables is something that is not the most difficult thing in the world. I 
realize not everyone is cutout to be a server.  Well waiting tables is 
something I will have to try out on my own. 
I realize it is possible to get a bartending job without going to school or 
without having restaurant experience. I am thinking without experience it will 
be very very hard. I have tried getting a job with no experience. I dont want 
to try that again.  
Any insight would be welcome.
Parag Shah
sjaykum1[at]nycap.rr.com


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