I am getting tired of the earnings of my day job. I feel like I am not progressing financially, and need a side income. I want a "fun" job, but I realize I am never going to be a dancer , waiter (hard to break into this field!), or anything like that. B. I am passionate about drinks (mixing), it just interests me to make combinations of liquids to make something great. However I am not one to waste money on alcohol, so I just use cheap vodka for everything, that may change if I want to learn how to mix.

And there's plenty of bartending jobs out in the world, so I couldn't see it as a waste of time to learn. The best way to describe this is that I am into bartending, as Paula Dean is to cooking. *like cooking too, but there's no jobs for that lol*

C. I think I could be feminine at the job as well, without having a problem since it is a night entertainment job.

Okay, if anyone knows, how did you started? Did you enjoy it? Advice please?

I did all kinds of restaurant work when I was in my early twenties. Bartending, waiting tables, cooking, all of it. Restaurant and bar workers are a subculture, you have to join the culture. If you just walk in off the street, you won't get the job. I moved to a college town, and hung out at the hot bars, and made friends with the help, and when they had an opening, I suggested they hire me. If you want to bartend, start with a beer and wing bar, you learn the way the business is run, without having to know all the hip drinks. You might have to start as a dishwasher or prep cook, and work your way up. Never turn down a shift, or a chance to be cross trained for another position. Fill in for anybody, anytime. The business is very cliquey. Yeah, some corporate gigs will hire a fresh face, but you will get bad shifts, no tables, and won't make a good living. TV and movies make it look easy, but the real money is well-guarded by people 'in the know".

So, keep your day job, find a place that is hot, and these can change pretty fast in the restaurant biz, and make friends at the bar. Hang out. A lot. Make the idea of hiring you seem like a natural progression. Tip WELL!!

Be prepared to work your butt off, impress the manager by being willing to work any shift, any time. Don't complain, always look like you are having a great time, personality is king in the hospitality business..

I made a LOT of money once I was into my third bar. The best bars hire the hot talent from the lesser bars before they will risk hiring a stranger. It takes time, but it can be a blast, if you like to party, but don't mess up while working, it can be a very good living..

Most people fail at it. It takes a certain type to pull it off well..

Hope this helps, it is how I paid my way through a double major at a very good state universtity.

Good luck!

That's pure wisdom right there. You made this thread worth my while!

How did you find out if there openings? How long did it take for you to land your first job? Did you learn on the job, or did you taught yourself before walking in?

That is a big Affirmative! I looooved it. I had no bartending or service industry experience beforehand.  I did commit to memory a plethora of cocktail recipes, but thank goodness for highballs because that was the mainstay.  I began at the strong suggestion of a friend who persuaded me to enter into the business because he said "You need to do something that takes advantage of your exotic good looks"...   what? me have good looks... he was so silly.  He was my teacher, mentor and he even scoured the papers for openings for me.  At the first interview, I fibbed about my experience and I was friggin nervous about it too. But I got the job and the manager placed me as the opening night bartender -- yikes!!! Imagine my surprise.  All I can tell you is that it was the most lucrative job I've ever had. I do believe you would enjoy it.

It is something I suggest anyone do who wants to have fun, meet people, and go to school or have a day job.  My bartending job paid so well that I working during the day was a joke. I did go to school though instead.  I was 21 when I started and when I look back and see pictures of those days it is something I will never regret.  Best time ever!   

Word of advice - I gather you are transitioned socially and physically, so my advice is that there are going to be so many men that you won't know what to do, so be prepared for that.  Use your money wisely, and save save save.

I wish you much luck and fun times!!   

Yeah, I've done it. In a 1,200 capacity nightclub rather than a smaller bar. I would totally have preferred a smaller bar, I know it's a lot more personal and enjoyable and relaxed than a club bar. Nobody really tips in the UK unless it's like some fancy place, part time is not a living wage.

My advice is avoid big night clubs and stick to smaller venues. But in clubs if you do your job well and stay you can easily work your way up in the ranks. Two of my fellow bartenders from the same uni course are club managers now. If you're into the work and the scene, it can be VERY hard to leave because the staff atmosphere and camaraderie can be better than in most jobs and there is usually always something going on. You can pick up the knowledge really fast, none of it is difficult.

Quote from: Wild Flower on January 27, 2017, 03:38:34 AM
That's pure wisdom right there. You made this thread worth my while!

How did you find out if there openings? How long did it take for you to land your first job? Did you learn on the job, or did you taught yourself before walking in?

The restaurant business has a lot of turn over in employees. So, there are often jobs opening up, especially 'entry level' positions, like dishwashers and prep cooks. Check the help wanted listings, walk around the restaurant district in your town, go to the mall and look. It is important to realize that it is a rare thing to jump into any business at the top of the heap. Bartending is the most sought after position, because the bartender has POWER, and makes the best tips, generally. In some places, especially fine dining establishments, the wait staff may make more money, but they work far harder and have no power.

Where you live, and the population in your area, play into what opportunities you will find. If you live in a place where it is mostly old folks, and little tourism, or transient population, the pickings will be slim. You will find family-owned places with little chance of advancement. College towns and destination locations have a lot more disposable income floating around, so your chances are better there.

I had worked in a pizza place during high school, so I knew my way around restaurant equipment and had counter experience. When I went off to college, I was already a party animal, and I gravitated toward popular bars near campus. I saw a sign in the window for 'pizza cook wanted' while walking into my new fav oyster bar, and I went in and sat at the bar, ordered a pitcher of dark beer, and began chatting with the woman behind the bar. She and I hit it off, she thought I was a cutie, and by the time I was done with my beer, I knew I liked the place and would be happy working there. Turns out the woman was also the manager, and when I asked her about what it was like working there, she asked me "why? do you need a job?" I told her I had worked in a pizza place before, and by the time her shift ended, we were drinking together, and the next day, she told the kitchen manager to hire me.

I worked there for about 6 months, always with the aim of getting hired at the oyster and wing bar next door. Once I had a reputation as a great worker, I was able to grab a few prep cook shifts when a guy quit showing up on time. I made myself valuable by learning everything I could, soon I was also cooking there at night. Then, I became the day cook, and began bartending the lunch crowd. When a bartender was late, I stayed late and covered for his or her shift. Soon, I was being scheduled as a bartender AND a cook, so I quit the pizza place. I was the day manager there after a year, and I was now also working weekend nights occasionally, and that was where the real money was, this place had lines out the door and around the corner on Friday and Saturday nights. I also started doing doubles on Sundays, since everybody else was hung over and wanted the day off. It was a slowish day, but by working alone, I turned it into another great pay day for me.

That bar closed when the owner had legal trouble, but the bar had legendary status. People would see me on the street and yell my name and smile. Everybody knew me, or thought they did, cuz I poured them beer and was funny and we all had a good time. Not long after, a huge new bar opened near the stadium, and it was based on the wing and beer joint I had worked at, but they had a liquor license! I made it my nightly hangout, partied with the bartenders, swapped stories about the place I had worked, and I tipped WELL! The manager and his girlfriend and I hung out a lot, but everybody wanted 'in' so I played it cool. I usually hung out at the end of the bar where all the employees had to go in and out from behind the bar, so I was on a first-name basis with most of them, and there were a lot, it was a big place. One evening, the owner came in while I was sitting there chatting with the manager over drinks, and the owner started asking him if he had filled a recent vacancy yet. The manager looked at me, and said "I am thinking about hiring 'old name'", and the owner looked at me, and said "good, when can 'old gender' start". I played it cool and said I could start "right now". In ten minutes I was wearing a bar T-shirt and getting shown where everything was behind the bar...

I did not know how to mix drinks, though, and the manager was cool with that, is was a college bar, so the drinks were pretty simple. He went over the basics in about 20 minutes, and told me to just ask if I didn't know something.They also had a recipe book with their versions of drinks behind the bar, so I played it cool, had a 'can-do attitude' and I was off and running. I worked there for years, and made a ton of money, especially on football game days, when the whole state came back to town to fill the stadium.

Hope this saga helps, lol.

Missy

I have, and I'm currently a consultant in the hospitality industry. I basically grade restaurant/bar/nightclub employees, provide feedback to ownership, and offer staff coaching.

In general, the service industry is great for a side income. On a good weekend, I could make my weekly salary from my day job in tips over a 2-3 night period. On a slow weekend, not so much. I'm also in a large city. Take into consideration things like parking expenses, bus fares, etc. to figure out where it's worthwhile to look for work. Also keep in mind that if you're intending to keep your day job but want to work during the week, that may mean that you're not leaving your fun job until 1am or later in some places. It can quickly become not fun if you work mornings. I'm up at 4am or 5am now for my day job, which is why I'm no longer behind the bar.

I also know quite a few career bartenders. I consult for a large hotel here. The lowest earning bartender I've met there earns a low 6 figure salary annually AND takes a 2-3 month vacation every year in the winter when the slow season starts. Plus a full benefits package. So if you get good at what you do, there are certainly opportunities to earn great money and still have time to enjoy life.

Like MissGendered mentioned, most of the places you'd make great money want to see some kind of experience or connection to the industry. I got started with a reference from a friend. I had no bartending experience, but I had a background in liquor/beer/wine sales and could talk extensively about all of those things. It is easy to pour drinks but a bit harder to talk about what you're pouring. That is why I got hired with no experience.

It was a good time, and I highly recommend it. Probably what I will be looking into again when I finally decide I'm tired of this job

I bartended, if that is what you want to call it, for my sisters catering business. Private parties, mostly at residences.

Still do it in a hotel.Cocktails are a PITA I always try avoid them

If you want experience, one place to try is a VFW. One time my roommate was bored and knew somebody who worked the bar there. She worked there for a short time before other interests took her elsewhere in life. Mostly the request are for beer from the old timers but there are mixed drink request. This will give you some experience and you can move on from there.

I don't work as bar staff, however, I am the resident DJ / promoter in a local LGBT bar.  It's a 3 room venue, so we average 650+ events a year.  It's only been in the last couple years that we've opened our doors to a broader range of events and communities, instead of just drag, burlesque, kink, karaoke, & Top40s Dance.  I live in a small city with a populous of ~100 000, so our capacity is around 250.  Working as a DJ / Promoter I would only benefit from working in a bigger venue; however, I feel really safe where I work and if I were to bartend, I don't think I'd want to work in a bigger, more populated environment.