I dont know if this is the right place but I think a lot of people in this area know alittle about this.

So I want to earn some extra cash on nights/weekends and also socialize alittle bit. I feel bartending is a good pick. I am currently take a break from school and will be back in the fall. In the meantime i have a fulltime 9-5 m-f job doing computer stuff and want somethign to make some more money on weekday nights and weekend nights. The problem is I'm not a big time drinker and not a huge fan of bars but I do go once every 1-2 months with friends. So with this lack of experience and knowledge I feel i have a lot of catching up to do. I am kinda too proud to start any lower than a bartender (ie waiter, cleaner) so I want to know what the best option to go. I'm not a hot girl or even a hot guy for that matter but I am very punctual, likeable and really laid back.

Should I do bartending school? It seems like a scam but if it has good job placement then maybe its worth it. Any one have experience with MN school of bartending?

I bartended as an undergrad. Spent $500 on bartending school, because like you i had no experience, and was immediately placed at a Hilton resort where i averaged $200 per night. So it was a good experience for me.

argh sorry I didnt mean to offend anyone. I am just saying I really dont want to work up a ladder or anything, just straight into bartending.

Thanks

Hey

Do you have to be 21+ in the states to be a barman?

Not a fishing post, i live in england and am tempted to work in the US over the summmer so i can put it down as work experience in another culture on my CV.

Ty

I think it varies state by state, but I know in MN that you only have to be 18 to be a bartender (still 21 to actually drink)

Read this and nothing else.

So basically, instead of paying money and going to school to learn how to perform a trade, you'd rather the bar/restaurant straight up hire you with no experience and teach you for free?

I assume you're attempting to be sarcastic, but there are tons of bars that will hire you w/o any sort of a class and many prefer to train you themselves.

Getting a job in LA is pretty tough even with the huge amount of bars we have. Of course we have more "actors" than anywhere else too. Bar School will probably be best if you don't have a connect on a job and don't wanna barback first. I would make sure the school had good placement though so try and talk to recent grads if you know any.

So you're suggesting hiring blacks to perform these more menial tasks? I agree.

I didn't know you were such a progressive thinker Noah!

bar tending school is not a necessity, and while it may help you out it wont hurt you to not have it as long as you know the ins and outs of making drinks.

that being said, i suggest you read up on how to make drinks (ie ingredients, measuring shots, etc) what types of glasses/types of drinks (highballs, martinis) how to prepare drinks (shake, stir, filling a glass properly, garnish) and how to work quickly and efficiently.

given that you dont really enjoy the bar/drinking scene, i dont understand why you want to do this... you will be dealing with drunk people and without good knowledge of how bars work you may be in trouble. i would suggest you take the schooling.