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 Message 1218 of 22774 in Behind the Bar
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Subject: Re: New Bartender Frustrated w/"Exp. Prefered"
From: Heavywhere
Posted: Thu Feb 6. 2003, 21:23 UTC
Followup to: "New Bartender Frustrated w/"Exp. Prefered""  by Jesse G  (Thu Feb 6. 2003, 16:43 UTC)
I'm assuming Jesse, that you graduated from the ol' American Bartenders School 
in Wayne, behind "Fountains of Wayne" on Rt. 46....I bet you look everyday for 
a job on the website and everyday you find a bunch of "restaurants" who WILL 
NOT hire anyone to work behind their bar without experience, in turn you will 
have to be a server there for 6+ months before getting your shot.....First 
thing, if it's a restaurant....don't even apply unless you're gonna bullshit 
them.  But bullshitting a restaurant staff into thinking you're a bartender 
could be much harder than bullshitting a "high turnover" nite club, or sports 
bar type place.  Try to find a place like a highway bar or club that you'd be 
able to bullshit (if need be) into thinking that you've worked somewhere for 
like a year.  Also, make sure you have a place that would back you up, or just 
say it was in another state or something...whatever, just cover all your bases 
and make it good in case they do research.

That's what I did, now I'm paying my dues in a fairly "uncool" bar in Jersey, 
getting experience, and gaining the confidence needed to be able to go into a 
big $ bar in a few months and have the know-how to back up my ploy for a 
position.  Look, get your experience ANY WAY YOU CAN.  Anywhere.  But 
understand this....if it's a restaurant or "high volume" bar....you're gonna 
need a good story and a little "bar culture" experience.  I've learned very 
much in the past 6 months of searching/tending that inexperienced bartenders 
aren't just not wanted by bar managers....they're fucking KRYPTONITE to them!  

Check this out though, you should keep calling that guy that said he'd keep 
you there and give you the night alone.  Sorry to repeat myself, but get the 
experience ANY WAY YOU CAN.......There's gonna be many more things besides 
crappy DJ's that are gonna piss you off.  Don't sweat it....just get in the 
door and get your "introduction" period over with.  It's uncomfortable and 
frustrating, and you should try to get it over with as soon as possible.  I'm 
still in it....but I have faith that my future will find me enjoying where I'm 
tending.  

But hey, if you're a fine female specimen....then everything I just said is 
irrelevant....just flash a pretty smile and get pourin'...I'm trying to help 
you from a North Jersey "male" bartender's point-of-view.......the search for 
a job is a little rougher for us.  But I understand.....no bitterness here!  
hehe  :)

p.s. Don't let ANYONE steal your tips....if you don't understand how they 
collect their tips at a certain place then question the bartenders, managers, 
servers....anyone!.....just find out before you're taken advantage of.  This 
job takes to much work to be giving your hard earned $ away.  

p.s.s. As for NYC, I wouldn't know if you'd be better off...it could be the 
best thing you could do or it'll put you through the shredder!  I live 5-10 
minutes from the Manhattan also, and I stuck with Jersey, but that's me...good 
luck Jessie
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·´¯`·?>©~ Matt~©
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