3 answers
Cole
Student
North Adams, Massachusetts
1
Question
Updated
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How do I become a popular bartender and make my way up into more popular cities?
I am wondering because I would like to bartend in New York City. Even if I have to start off small I would like to go to NYC.
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3 answers
david kirk
Retired Computing Manager
478
Answers
Syracuse, New York
Updated
david’s Answer
My suggestion is to start in NYC. There are hundreds of bars there and, as you become popular, it will be with the NYC crowd. Starting elsewhere would buy you nothing, because people in NYC put value in your experience there, not elsewhere. Your career dream sounds like fun and I wish you well in your pursuit.
Matthew Johnson
Sales, bar management
1
Answer
Vancouver, Washington
Updated
Matthew’s Answer
this depends on a few factors, and making it to popularity in this industry can be a bit of a fierce fight. For every flashy bartender working at high end dining establishments, there are dozens working at shot and a beer style dive bars.
The largest factors can be broken down into a few areas.
1. socialization. A good bartender isn't just a robotic drink mixer, it's a people person. You need to ensure that your personality when you're behind the bar is overwhelmingly friendly/entertaining/interesting. Even if it isn't who you are in your daily life, people don't like to be served by a wet blanket. They want to be served by a knowledgeable professional with a gleaming personality. This doesn't mean you need to barge into every conversation a guest is having, or make yourself the centerpiece. Just find good ways to regularly engage your guests and make them feel involved in the atmosphere of the establishment.
2. Hard skills. This is one of the easier things to pick up. Get used to the basics of every drink and find the way to make your mark on each one. It's as important to follow the establishments recipe guide as it is to have unique ideas and twists to present in the proper avenues. So learn the basics, learn why they're the basics, embody them, and then find what changes can be made to turn something conventional into something unforgettable. A great bartender has an arsenal of knowledge ranging from the classical to the odd. Every guests taste is different and it's your job at times to tune drinks to a specific guests taste, or at the very least guide them to something else they may enjoy. Read every book you can find on the subject and become an expert.
3. connections. Some people may have these in spades already, if you're starting in a new city, especially a large social hub then you will need to create them. Once you have your first gig, find out where the staff goes to get drinks, go out and get to know everybody, then rinse and repeat. Eventually you will have a collection of contacts in the industry ranging from dive bars to the high end. An important note here is to never underestimate the importance of a connection by way of job title. A busser can help land you a starting position at the next step as much as any other server could.
4. Be ready to start over, a lot. This is one of the most daunting steps. For every step forward you make in the industry, there's a good chance that they kick you back down a few positions. Most high end establishments don't like to hire on unknowns to roles like bartender straight away. They'll likely start you at barback, or busser, and give you a chance to work your way up. If you accept a position as a barback, just ensure that you're putting as much effort and enthusiasm into it as you can, It's your best chance at being given a chance at their next step. This can be difficult because you may go from bartending at one location for a year, to barbacking again the next year. It feels like a frustrating cycle but if you play your cards right, it gets you to where you want to be.
5. Find a way to stand out. Popular bartenders aren't popular because they're just like every other person doing that job. They're popular because they help create a unique experience you can't get anywhere else. Be it by twists on drink ideas, flaretending(the act of spinning, tossing, etc while bartending), or even just having a unique personality that people want to be around. Find your thing and perfect it.
6. Once you've got all of this figured out. You start. I recommend starting in the city you want to become popular in. Starting elsewhere doesn't give you any credit as your experience could have been equally made up. Once you find the city you want to be in, find the path to the top. There's likely levels of establishment that you need to move your way up through, so try and make a mental map of that and start your journey.
The largest factors can be broken down into a few areas.
1. socialization. A good bartender isn't just a robotic drink mixer, it's a people person. You need to ensure that your personality when you're behind the bar is overwhelmingly friendly/entertaining/interesting. Even if it isn't who you are in your daily life, people don't like to be served by a wet blanket. They want to be served by a knowledgeable professional with a gleaming personality. This doesn't mean you need to barge into every conversation a guest is having, or make yourself the centerpiece. Just find good ways to regularly engage your guests and make them feel involved in the atmosphere of the establishment.
2. Hard skills. This is one of the easier things to pick up. Get used to the basics of every drink and find the way to make your mark on each one. It's as important to follow the establishments recipe guide as it is to have unique ideas and twists to present in the proper avenues. So learn the basics, learn why they're the basics, embody them, and then find what changes can be made to turn something conventional into something unforgettable. A great bartender has an arsenal of knowledge ranging from the classical to the odd. Every guests taste is different and it's your job at times to tune drinks to a specific guests taste, or at the very least guide them to something else they may enjoy. Read every book you can find on the subject and become an expert.
3. connections. Some people may have these in spades already, if you're starting in a new city, especially a large social hub then you will need to create them. Once you have your first gig, find out where the staff goes to get drinks, go out and get to know everybody, then rinse and repeat. Eventually you will have a collection of contacts in the industry ranging from dive bars to the high end. An important note here is to never underestimate the importance of a connection by way of job title. A busser can help land you a starting position at the next step as much as any other server could.
4. Be ready to start over, a lot. This is one of the most daunting steps. For every step forward you make in the industry, there's a good chance that they kick you back down a few positions. Most high end establishments don't like to hire on unknowns to roles like bartender straight away. They'll likely start you at barback, or busser, and give you a chance to work your way up. If you accept a position as a barback, just ensure that you're putting as much effort and enthusiasm into it as you can, It's your best chance at being given a chance at their next step. This can be difficult because you may go from bartending at one location for a year, to barbacking again the next year. It feels like a frustrating cycle but if you play your cards right, it gets you to where you want to be.
5. Find a way to stand out. Popular bartenders aren't popular because they're just like every other person doing that job. They're popular because they help create a unique experience you can't get anywhere else. Be it by twists on drink ideas, flaretending(the act of spinning, tossing, etc while bartending), or even just having a unique personality that people want to be around. Find your thing and perfect it.
6. Once you've got all of this figured out. You start. I recommend starting in the city you want to become popular in. Starting elsewhere doesn't give you any credit as your experience could have been equally made up. Once you find the city you want to be in, find the path to the top. There's likely levels of establishment that you need to move your way up through, so try and make a mental map of that and start your journey.
Angelina Shamborska
Global Benefits and Wellbeing (Human Resources)
4
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Angelina’s Answer
Read up about popular bartenders, their stories and how they started. Choose what resonates with you.
Hey Angelina, do you have a recommendation on where this learner can find these stories?
Gurpreet Lally, Admin