Beverages Education and Training
The key to becoming a great bartender is education
Bartending may look fun and easy, but it takes a lot of hard work, business and people skills and beverages education and training to be successful. Bartenders not only mix drinks and take care of beverage sales, they work with the wait staff, have a strong understanding of beverage brands and care, stock beverages through beverage vendors and more. In most bars and restaurants, bartending jobs are tough to come by--so do everything you can to impress your future boss. Get great training and ease your way into the job you desire.Although on-the-job training as a cocktail waitress or waiter is a time-honored way to learn the ropes of bartending, there are several other ways to enhance your skills in the alcoholic beverage industry:
1. Attend brick-and-mortar or online alcoholic beverages school.
2. Immerse yourself in the magazines of the alcoholic beverage industry.
3. Keep on the lookout for other educational materials for alcoholic beverage makers.
Train formally to serve beverage products
Bartending school is a good way to supplement your experience as a server. You'll learn recipes, business tips and other necessary skills for being a successful bartender.
Try: Get bartending training in the comfort of your own home through Bartending College Online, or find a training school near you on the American Bartender's School website.
Read periodicals targeted at the drink industry
To keep up to date on new drinks, new business ideas and new trends, immerse yourself in good magazines targeted at beverage companies and bartenders. Bartending is a competitive business; you can't afford to fall behind.
Try: Bartender.com is the home of "Bartender Magazine," an essential educational resource for bartenders. "Chilled Magazine" is a newer, hip periodical devoted to the trade of bartending.
Keep an open eye for other opportunities in the alcoholic beverages business
To keep in the know, it's essential to keep up with new recipes and trends. Magazines certainly help with that, but it's also wise to have a few classic and newer bartending guides on hand. Most of these will be in book form, but sometimes bartending software will be useful, too.
Try: Upper Hand Software offers BarSim, interactive drink recipe and bartending training software. Bottles-Up offers a good collection of bartending books on the market, including "Bar Code Book," "Low Carb Cocktails Book" and "Drinktionary."
- When looking at bartending schools, look for one that will help you find a job or internship at a local bar or restaurant serving alcoholic beverages.
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