The Best Bars To Work At // Bartending 101

[@TrueSkillest]

I work at both a high volume, very fast paced college bar and I manage a craft cocktail and tapas bar right around the corner... Everything you've said is exactly right. For instance, yesterday at the craft joint I pulled in $50 in the first hour then ended up walking out with $67, pretty pitiful. On the other hand, when I leave the college bar, it's a bad day if we made mess than $200. Working both places, though, definitely taught me how to bring speed to craft cocktails and finesse to high volume.

[@dylanprouty7788]

I wish when I started someone broke down the different kind of bartending there is, but honestly from working sports bars, to steakhouses, to craft bars, dives, even becoming the lead mixologist at a 4 star resort that was $800/night to stay there 😬 I can easily say where I’m at home and where you’ll make the most money by far is nightclubs. But beware people, everyone wants the money they see out of the club but it’s not for everyone, hell out of bartenders i know who are good bartenders, less than 5% would I ever put in a nightclub well. Nonstop groups of drinks and laser focus and multitasking, like asking what the next group wants for drinks while pouring 5-6 drinks for the current group while past group is finishing up paying and tipping on the POS, entering in current groups drinks and get them set up to tap/insert pay. At the end of the day tho clubs are doing $10k+ sales per well and even with barbacks getting a good piece of it (usually 20%) you’ll avg 1000-2200 a night in tips. Some of the craziest nightclubs in major cities, my friends all work at and share their stories and clock out sheets with each other, do over $20k with $2300+ in credit tips alone

[@wlddthatpunkrocker3866]

I just started working as a bartender at an Olive Garden, it's not incredibly hard but it's stressful and a great way to gain experience in bartending. We rarely ever make cocktails and if we do it's the cliche drinks. Money could be better but it's great experience. So I'd suggest for some of you is find a mid level resturant with a bar and start there, alot of them do not require experience as they perfer to train you in their particular style

[@d_d88888]

I bartended at OG as my start and should haved moved on a long time sooner once i learned my fundamentals.

[@asianstud7]

@@d_d88888 where you work now?

[@Mike242]

I want to get into bartending because i just love mixing drinks and giving them to people to enjoy

[@scottsleeper5071]

I work at two bars in a college town. One of which is a dive bar and the other of which is attached to a well known pizza place right off campus. Personally I love working at both. Working a the pizza bar during the week is great because you get to know a bunch of the regular local folks. Working at the dive on the weekends is fun because you get to see all your friends and "be at the party" without having the hangover or hurting your wallet.

[@carlitosway6989]

Been in the business for more than 20 years, everything you said makes great point, vegas is the best place to bartender from dive bar to fine dining, we have a great community here as far as hospitality is concern

[@jasonkoontz5649]

Just started Bartending for the first time at a beach style bar. I only watch your videos Jay, and find it hilarious how your story's help me remember drinks. (Cosmo, Vodka Taste Like Crap) hahaha anyways thanks for the videos you have helped me massively. Cheers

[@camerontrevino8085]

I work at a craft cocktail bar and it is rewarding to have knowledge of spirits, cocktails, etc. It can take you places if you do competitions and join the United States Bartenders Guild. But then again, you're right on how saturated this style of bartending is getting. I love the craft but then again I do miss the speed bar and high volume. Great video though! You've helped me with my bartending career since day one 3 years ago! Cheers!

[@BartendingPro]

Your right about the opportunity to grow into higher positions if you can rise to the top of the craft scene... my buddy is Kevin Denton, the National Mixologist for Pernod Ricard USA, one of the highest professional mixology positions in the country (I've actually been talking to him about doing an episode or interview with me soon). And if thats something you, or anyone is interested in, then it's definitely the type of position you would be aiming for. The thing is as I mentioned, if thats not someones goal in this industry it may behoove them to pursue other types of bartending depending on their intention of being a working bartender. Thank you for sharing!

[@thestraycat907]

Living in a small Alaskan town, those who work at super divey fisher bars make bank. Warm beer, no draft, and no cocktails. Just high volume and people who just enjoy being there.

[@simplydusty330]

Love the new layout and delivery of content, good job man

[@malcolmnicoll1165]

Most helpful info. Most grateful. Thanks for posting.

[@iRazenrak]

What really helps is pushing really good, high end foods. It pushes the check amount up, and it takes some of the pressure off of you because instead of having to increase the check with ten $3 drinks, you can sell one really good $30 dinner. And sending it to the kitchen and then running it is just about as fast as making one basic drink.

[@joemartra4825]

Great Information Jason! Awesome video thanks!

[@BartendingPro]

You're welcome Joe!

[@barryseaworth]

I needed something like this.. Thank you. Everybody tells me to work at a craft bar. Hehe I love the science behind cocktails and having that cocktail knowledge. But I've been stressing that I wasn't going to make money that way. I've never been much a of social nut.. I wanted to improve my charisma and be more socially active. I thought doing this would do me good, at the start I was shy of course but I started opening up etc..I was getting somewhere but then I dropped off again. I use to work at a gaming bar with terrible management..the people were good despite being in a shady area of Vegas and tips weren't really that great maybe like 30/70$ a night on top of that 9$ an hr, but I was only working 3 days out of the week and call ins. I still want to continue down this path a bit longer to see if I can better myself. I wanted to become a mixologist one day but I'm given this belief that I need to be a part of some social stigma to fit the part.. You've given me some insight. Thx.

[@BartendingPro]

Absolutely, you're welcome. Think of the places you enjoy, or would enjoy if you were just going to hang out for a snack or beverage. That will give you a starting point of the type of place you might enjoy better. The other thing to think about is other positions in the industry, maybe serving or cocktailing could be an option where there is a bit less non-stop interaction with your clientele. In the end, listen to your instincts always...if it doesn't feel right, move on.

[@lucmclaughlin5917]

Wow! 04:44 to 05:21 is pure gold!!!!

[@AshitaN0J0E]

Can you please do a video of how to change kegs, and the syrups from the soda gun system? Great videos by the way

[@BartendingPro]

Yo Edgar! Check these: How to tap a keg: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3zNcpKcoqahaqs Changing soda syrup boxes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZTJhniOqtWrq6M Playlists: Bartending 101: kzbin.info/aero/PLC6lnUHH0orsbC5rgHtMag0GRqL5cXSe2 Tips for Working Bartenders: kzbin.info/aero/PLC6lnUHH0orux-zkw87YVLhKvnM1FUYE7

[@daniellepruitt6581]

Thank you for this video. I liked everything you said. I miss working at a "dive" bar because I was actually able to perfect my bartending skills better. As far as accuracy in my counting and experimenting with different cocktails. Now I work at a casino and it's so regulated. Our liquor either comes out of guns or we use jiggers. It kind of takes the fun out of it for me!

[@gracejohnson4588]

Any thoughts on working at a hotel?

[@kristianmacias9029]

what is it like to bartend at a big event

[@flouncymagoo9766]

It's awesome

[@tooold8549]

I'm 16, and after college, I think I want to start my own bar (with a pub feel to it). When I turn 18, I'm going to start working at a bar asap. What should I do from there career wise?

[@rogerbruinsma467]

Get a degree in business or something of the likes so your bar doesn't fail.

[@FG-dw9cf]

I hope you went for that dream and didn't waste your time and money in a degree!

[@taniamaxineclarke6131]

Thank You

[@MrJersonvaldes]

Good video. I work in a mexican restaurant but have the freedom to work as and how i please so i have both aspects that i love. I have the volume but on slow nights i experiment and my dirty secret that all my close friends know about me is i love crafting up something original and my own.

[@VitaminV29]

I just got a new bartending job but I'm not sure if it's the right place for me. I used to work at a wine bar with craft cocktails and the money was low and now I'm at a Chinese American restaurant with a more dive/ karaoke bar attached. The thing you said about thinking about the customers you wanna deal with make sense. Rgggg idk

[@Adrian101882]

veronica linn the place that you work at - you wouldn't happen to mean Lee's Little Noodle on Fulton St. near the Chase bank, would you?

[@shadow3974]

dope! I used to work at a hotel bar. medium volume bar and cliental varied from tourist to rich businessmen and movie stars. good vibes terrible management. had to get out of there. looking for a sports bar vibe this upcoming spring to keep myself over the summer.

[@shadow3974]

*busy

[@tedwunderlich2741]

What made the management bad?

[@nadavm.6843]

What sort of bar is good to work at to make connections? Connections with the "investor" type, not necessarily hedge fund, but "if I really like the idea I'm not broke" type, and also where in the US do most of that type have drinking problems?

[@navidtehseen]

Im thinking of taking classes to become a bartender but I don’t know where should I go to take the classes... im currently living in Newyork city .. any suggestions ??

[@jessiepucciarelli1293]

Navid Tehseen dude! Ive been a bartender on staten island for most of my life. I made the mistake of getting that stupid licence 20 years ago only to find out that Boston is like the only city that actually requires it. At the time it cost me over 800 bucks and it didn't even get my foot in the door.90 percent of newyork bars don't care about a licence they just want experience. I'd suggest you get a gig as a barback just to get your experience up.

[@navidtehseen]

Jessie Pucciarelli thanks for the suggestion actually i had no idea about drinks or anything about bars so it gave me idea about everything.. and also im new here in US so its kinda hard for me to go for gigs because I still really don’t know how would i do that and the fact is that im an asian so it kinda helped taking those classes.. and i will start looking for jobs lets see what happens :)

[@jessiepucciarelli1293]

Navid Tehseen good luck out there!

[@navidtehseen]

Jessie Pucciarelli thank you Jessie :)

[@jyster18]

I love music. And the nearest venues to me are out of town and 20-30 minutes away. I've played one show at a bar. Would a music venue bar be the best place to work at?

[@kittybriones1703]

can you please do a video on what makes a great Barack

[@SenorJuan2023]

uggh. High volume sounds like working in clubs with loud and/or crap music (techno, rap, etc.).

[@brianhinnant6015]

Yeah I dropped out of college too...

[@rollinstolen7214]

Lmikli