Check out my video on what I really think about bartending schools, and then read the article below that provides a survey in which I asked 47 bar owners and managers what they thought about bartending school and how relevant they are to finding a bartending job.
As I take on this ever-increasing (and quite frankly, unexpected) role of helping people obtain a bartending job, I find that people can’t let go of the idea that going to bartending school is the answer to all of their prayers. Despite my warnings and admonishments and downright lobbying against bartending schools, I receive weekly and daily emails from people asking me, “Should I go to bartending school?”
So let’s lay it all out right here. I decided to put all my biases and preconceptions to the side and let the professionals answer this question. I hit the pavement and did some research to find out how helpful bartending schools really are.
The first thing I did was track down all the bar managers and owners that I know (and there’s a lot, over 40 of them), the same managers and owners I interviewed when I wrote my book to help people find a bartending job. The same bar managers and owners who told me exactly what they look for when hiring a bartender and what answers they want to hear in an interview. It was time-consuming, but I eventually contacted them all and presented them with a questionnaire, and I asked them to be honest so that it would be helpful to all of you reading this. Here are the questions I asked 47 bar managers and owners and the results of that survey:
1. How important is it to you that someone you’re hiring went to bartending school?
A) Very important
B) Somewhat important
C) I could go either way
D) Not important at all
E) I will not hire someone who went to bartending school
Results: A = 0; B = 1; C = 18; D = 23; E = 5
Summary: 46 of the 47 bar managers/owners could care less or do not think bartending schools help at all.
2. When someone mentions the term “bartending school”, what comes to mind?
A) I wish all of my bartenders would have attended bartending school
B) I have no real feeling either way
C) What a joke
D) I will crumple up any resume with the words “bartending school” on it
Results: A = 0; B = 21; C = 21; D = 5
Summary: Again, no one wishes they could hire bartending school graduates. Waste of time, and more importantly, money.
3. In all your years in the business, how many bartending schools have contacted you about helping their graduates land a job as a bartender?
A) Zero
B) 1-5
C) 6-10
D) More than 10
Results: A = 47; B = 0; C = 0; D = 0
Summary: WOW! What helpful schools!
4. As a bar manager/owner, would you recommend bartending school to students looking to get a bartending job?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Maybe
Results: A = 0; B = 39; C = 8
Summary: That’s all you really need to know right there, from the professionals who hire you. 0% yes’s, 82% no’s, and 18% who are indifferent.
Here it is in a nutshell: Bartending schools are a WASTE of your time and money. They charge you $400-$1,000 to teach you bartending skills that can be learned from a book for $10. This isn’t molecular biology. Memorizing drink recipes, pouring liquid into a glass at the right proportions, pouring beer and wine, these are all simple tasks that bartending schools have depicted as impossibilities without their help. They are taking advantage of an industry that is highly coveted, and they are raking in the dough because of it.
Do you really want to succeed? Make a plan. Bartending schools WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET YOU A BARTENDING JOB!!! Creating goals and a plan and a system for finding a job is where the schools and most people looking for a job fail.
If you want help, I have created the system in my book: How to be a Bartender: Get a bartending job in 30 days or less with little or no experience. You can find it on Amazon. It’s only $9.99 and if you don’t like it, get your money back. I’m serious. I don’t want anyone dissatisfied or unhappy, and you can use the $10 towards a bartending school after that if you feel the need (but I bet you won’t).
The system works and it can be credited to these same 47 bar managers and owners that I know. I spoke with them at length, I interviewed them, and I have laid out exactly what it is they want to hear and what they want to see in a bartender, whether they have experience or not. I never expected the book to be as successful or receive the positive feedback it has, but that just tells me that all the information that was given to me from my colleagues was sincere and true and effective.
So to answer your question, so as not to leave any doubt in your minds: Should you go to bartending school? FUCK NO!!! Clear enough? Excellent.
If you have any further questions or need any advice along the way, send me an email and I’ll respond as quickly as I can: Dave@TheRealBarman.com. I do wish you all the best and if you ever come into my bar, let me know that you found me on my blog and I’ll buy you a drink.
Happy job hunting, and cheers until next time.
The RB
I love the objectivity concerning bartending school. However, are all bartending schools the same? I think not. I own a bartending school in Riverside, California and we teach a 100-hour program. First, a 100-hour program saves the average restaurant at least $2000.00 in training costs and labor burden. Unfortunately, many restaurants promote their MOST TALENTED server to become a bartender. In my research, I have found that the establishment looses the best server they have and they gain nothing but a worthless bartender that has no knowledge of mixing drinks. All establishments should require that their servers go to Riverside Bartending School’s 100-hour program before the pour alcohol.
What is the answer?
I propose the answer is to attend a bartending school with a 100-hour curriculum that teaches students to run the bar in a high-volume atmosphere. A bartending school that teaches alcohol awareness, food and wine pairing. Certification in California is BS. One needs to learn how to run the bar in a high-volume atmosphere, become certified in bartending, and alcohol awareness.
Is 30 or 40 hours enough to become a bartender?
Yes, and no. A basic bartender (40 hours) gets the worst shifts (usually daytime at the bowling alley) and a great bartender (100-hours) makes the big bucks (working Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights).
What is the most important part of your job as a bartender?
I see bartending schools offering “flair classes” I think flair has its place in the industry but lets talk about business. SALES is the most important part of bartending (businesses need to make a profit to stay in business) and it is the most important part of your job as a bartender. If I had to prioritize a bartender’s job laterally, not descending, the first would be sales the second would be customer service and the third would be cleanliness (if you are leaning you should be cleaning). Flair, oftentimes, slows the bartender down and decreases sales. If the business model of the establishment is to entertain then the flair may work but I will tell you I would never open a bar and hire a flair bartender (unless they promised not to flair). Flair is too time consuming and decreases sales (it may increase tips but tips do not keep a business open).
I think most bartending schools are BS. Certification is a joke unless school you attend is a reputable school that teaches you how to run the bar, by yourself, in a high-volume bartender.
Questions you should ask a bartending school?
1) May I have references of managers who hire from you?
2) May I have a list of people who are working now that have graduated from your school?
3) Do you have personalized job placement assistance or are you going to put me on a job placement assistance list/e-mail list/craigslist list?
Many online bartending schools will “certify” you ONLINE!!! REALLY??? Online, without picking up a bottle? Dealing with a point of sale machine? Testing on pouring your drinks accurately in a fast and professional manner (hands on)?
Give me a break. I own a bartending school with integrity. If you call or come to Riverside Bartending School you will get service, job placement assistance, and personalized service until you find a job.
Not all bars hire from bartending schools but we specialize in finding our graduates jobs at locations that hire from us (not necessarily other bartending schools).
Please shop around and call us last. We are happy to help you and happy to show you the ropes. If the owner of this website decides to let this post go through please contact me. Nate Smiley, President/CEO Riverside Bartending School 951-371-6342
Do not be fooled by schools that are closer to LA or OC. Our job placement assistance is of a higher quality because our school is less crowded and we have more time to devote to each student.
Greetings Nathan. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of censoring comments, even ones that are 17,000 words long and shamelessly plug their own business. It only took me 45 minutes to read your sales letter. I do have to say I was a little hurt that there was no introduction or warm-up though. You just wanted to grease me up and get straight to the fucking before we had even held hands or kissed. It would have been nice to start out with, “Hey Dave, you’re fucking hilarious and have the best blog in all of the surrounding galaxies,” or “My God you’re a handsome man! Will you send me a signed poster of you drinking bourbon in your bikini briefs?”
Thanks again for the comment. Best of luck.
Cheers,
The RB
LMFAO…!!!! You’ve got to love Intertoobz trolls
i got my first bartending job by lying my cute little 25 year old ass off and saying i had worked at a hilton hotel in another state far , far away,…i kept a mr boston under the bar and winged it. thats how you get a bartending job,,,that and a lot of flirting,,mindless chatter and free pouring alcohol.. carry on
oh by the way,, i love your blog,,,its the best in the galaxy