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Subject: Re: I'm a dancer, want to bartend.. but i am not a big drinker
From: joecairo
Posted: Thu Jun 2. 2005, 19:55 UTC
Followup to: "I'm a dancer, want to bartend.. but i am not a big drinker"  by almosFAMEus  (Thu Jun 2. 2005, 13:56 UTC)
Hey. I probably can't offer much relevant advice since I bartend in the UK, 
but there are a couple things in your post I'd comment on...

First, if you lack experience, find yourself a small, easy bar to work in for 
a little while. A newly opened place may be ideal - they'll need all the staff 
they can get, and generally should have decent on-the-job training. Failing 
that, find somewhere that can offer you free bartender training even if you 
have to do "non-bartender" jobs like cleaning glasses, barbacking, etc. Even 
if they don't end up employing you as a bartender, you WILL learn a lot about 
how a bar runs, how to deal with customers, and hopefully make a few drinks 
into the bargain.

You can always leave after a couple of months if it looks like you're being 
taken advantage of, and it will be worthwhile.

Second, it's a bar managers dream to find staff who don't drink so much. 
You'll never be drunk behind the bar, the stock will be ok when you're on, you 
won't be nursing last night's hangover on a busy saturday shift, etc, etc. But 
you will need to have some product knowledge, at least if you are going to 
work in a proper cocktail bar. That is, you need to know that Jagermeister 
will knock you out after a few shots. You need to know that Grey Goose will 
make a better vodka martini than Absolut. Taste as many 
spirits/liqueurs/cocktails as you can, so you'll be able to recommend them to 
customers.

Anyways, my boss just got back & I'm on the work PC, so I'd best go. 

Good Luck!   


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