Bartending also offers opportunities that you may not have even considered.
Hourly Wage: It is well known that tips make up the bulk of a bartenders income. But, as a bartender, you also get a fair hourly wage. The general rule for employers and bartenders regarding hourly pay is that bartenders typically make $2.00 more per hour than the current minimum wage. Bartenders with a following can usually expect to make considerably more in hourly pay. This is covered in detail in our customer service lesson.Tips:
Tips account for about two thirds of a bartenders income. Not only do bartenders get a fair and reasonable hourly wage but a good professional bartender will average between $100 to $250 per shift in tips.As a special events bartender or when working for a caterer, hotel or banquet facility, there is a third opportunity to add revenue for every hour you work. This is covered in detail in our customer service lesson.
If you like people, you will love bartending. Bartending is a very social job. Bartenders meet and interact with new and interesting people on a daily basis. The steady stream of new faces and personalities creates a variety of opportunities for a bartender, both personally and in many cases professionally.
Personal Level: What easier way is there to kick off a relationship of any kind with another person? Almost everyone knows that bartenders are supposed to be good listeners right? Well then, lets talk to the bartender. Male, female, old and young, doesn't matter, everyone talks to the bartender. Plain and simple, the bartender is safe haven in any bar. Customers know they can always get a quick smile and easy conversation from the bartender.
From the bartenders perspective, what better way to meet people. Interesting people that trust you and want to converse with you while you make money doing it!
Contacts: How many times have we heard it? It is not what you know, it's who you know? Well, as a bartender you will know just about everybody.Auto mechanics, hairdressers, bar owners, bankers, policemen, politicians, mailmen, musicians, judges, real estate agents, doctors, brokers they are all sitting at your bar.
Need great tickets to a concert or game? Need an honest mechanic that will give you a fair deal? Need some legal advice? Maybe some investment advice? The person you need to talk to probably comes into your bar.
As a bartender you can usually count on getting the best deal from a customer. Why? The one providing the service is basically assured of getting additional business from all the other customers you will tell about the great deal you got and how well you were treated! You are a walking, talking free advertisement.
See Networking below, it works both ways!
Professional Level: Show us a bartender that has almost any kind of side business and we will show you a bartender whose side business has benefited greatly from his or her bartending job! Bartending is the ultimate networking opportunity.Networking is one the of the most underrated aspects of being a professional bartender. Insurance sales, web design, catering, disc jockey, floral design, arts and crafts, cell phone sales, Mary Kay, name it.
Almost any service or product intended for public consumption that you may be involved in on the side can be disceetly promoted and thrive from your perch behind the bar. Think about it, the potential is limitless based on the sheer volume of people you come in contact with everyday and the reputation you have developed as a professional, responsible and trustworthy individual.
One of the best things about bartending is that you have an opportunity to go to work everyday in an environment that you enjoy being in. When your comfortable in your work place the more likely you are to be successful.
Atmosphere: As a bartender you have the unique opportunity to work in an atmosphere that truly interests and excites you.Are you into sports? Get a job at a sports bar. Like to dance? Well, get a job at a club. Are you into music? What kind? Country? Hip Hop? Techno? Rock? Jazz? Somewhere nearby there is a bar or club that emphasis that kind of music. Perhaps you like the finer things in life. Fine food? Fine wines? Get a job in a five star restaurant or hotel. We could go on and on. Whatever your personal interests are, there is a facility near you or near where you want to be, that caters to people just like you!
Flexible Schedules: Obviously bars are not 9 to 5 operations. As a bartender you can usually find a bar that has a shift available that fits your schedule.Bartending is a great way for college students to find accommodating full or part time employment, by mixing in a few day shifts with some night shifts as their varying class schedule dictates.
Individuals looking to supplement their current income with a few shifts behind the bar can usually find employment readily available as well.
Maybe you can't commit to working the same shifts every week or perhaps you can only work every other week. Working banquets for a hotel, banquet house or a catering service is usually a solution for those bartenders with tough commitment issues.
