Becoming a Bartender: Skills, Training, and Other Requirements

So you want to become a bartender? Pouring drinks and chatting with customers in a lively atmosphere can seem glamorous. But professional bartending involves much more than that. Being a successful bartender takes specialized skills, knowledge, training, and the right personality traits.

In this comprehensive guide we’ll cover everything you need to know to start your bartending career.

Bartender Job Duties

Let’s start by looking at the typical job duties of a bartender

• Taking customer orders for drinks, cocktails, beer, and wine
• Preparing and serving drinks to customers accurately and efficiently
• Checking customers’ ID for legal age requirements
• Advising customers on drink selections and making recommendations
• Mixing and garnishing complex cocktails
• Stocking the bar area with glasses, ice, garnishes, and replenishing depletion
• Accepting payment and operating the cash register
• Maintaining inventory records of bar stock
• Cleaning bar equipment and work areas
• Ensuring responsible alcohol service and cutting off intoxicated guests
• Arranging bottles and glasses to keep the bar organized
• Coordinating with wait staff and kitchen staff

Bartenders work in a fast-paced environment filled with distractions and need to multitask efficiently Good bartenders remain calm under pressure while delivering friendly service They think on their feet to resolve any issues.

Bartending combines customer service skills with the physical tasks of preparing drinks quickly and accurately. Let’s look at the requirements in more detail:

Bartender Skills and Qualities

To succeed as a bartender, certain skills and personal strengths are very helpful:

Customer Service Skills

• Friendly, outgoing, and polite personality
• Active listening and conversational skills
• Patience and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to read customer moods and interact accordingly

Physical Ability

• Stamina for standing for long periods
• Lifting and carrying heavy loads
• Manual dexterity and precision when preparing drinks

Organization and Focus

• Paying attention to orders and serving properly
• Preparing multiple drink orders at once
• Staying composed in a noisy environment
• Managing priorities and time efficiently

Knowledge

• Understanding spirits, beers, wines, and cocktail recipes
• Familiarity with bar equipment and tools
• Knowing drink preparation methods like muddling, shaking, stirring, and pouring
• Awareness of serving regulations and responsible beverage service

Other Helpful Traits

• Working well in teams
• Dealing calmly with unruly patrons
• Handling fast-paced shifts during rushes
• Willingness to work late nights, holidays and weekends

These skills and personal strengths will make it much easier to handle the demands of bartending work. Some attributes are inherent, while other skills can be learned on the job. We’ll cover training options next.

Bartender Training and Education

While bartender requirements vary by state, most bartenders get training through one of these methods:

• On-the-job training at a bar or restaurant
• Attending a bartending vocational school
• Participating in a bartending apprenticeship program
• Taking a bartending class independently

On-the-Job Bartender Training

Many aspiring bartenders start by taking a server or barback position at a restaurant or bar. This allows you to learn the basics of drink preparation, customer service, and point-of-sales systems on the job. You can express interest in bartending and advance once a position opens.

Pros: Learn by doing in a real bar environment. Get paid as you learn.

Cons: Training quality depends heavily on management. Learning can be haphazard.

Bartending Schools

Attending a bartending school or vocational program is a faster route to gain core skills. Typical bartending school curriculum covers:

• Bartending terminology
• Equipment use
• Drink recipes and ingredient knowledge
• Pouring, muddling, shaking, stirring techniques
• Garnishing and presentation
• Inventory control
• Service procedures and laws

You’ll get hands-on practice mixing drinks to speed the learning process. Look for programs with bar setups that use real liquor bottles and professional equipment. Many schools also assist graduates with job placement.

Pros: Learn core skills quickly. Structured programs and classroom learning.

Cons: Does not substitute for real-world experience. Costs money.

Apprenticeship Programs

Some bars and distributors offer apprenticeship programs that provide mentor-guided training from experienced bartenders. This gives hands-on practice in an actual bar with oversight.

Pros: Learn on professional equipment alongside working bartenders. Get paid while training.

Cons: Competitive to get into. Time commitment. Limited availability.

Independent Classes

For a flexible option, you can take bartending classes through community colleges or private instructors. This covers the basics, sometimes with a focus on cocktail recipes. You won’t get as much hands-on practice as a full program.

Pros: Learn at your own pace. Short time commitment.

Cons: Less hands-on practice. Won’t be trained on real bar setups.

No matter how you choose to learn, hands-on practice of actual bartending skills is invaluable. Let’s look at the nitty-gritty of drink preparation next.

Key Bartending Skills to Master

Here are some of the drink preparation skills every bartender must master:

• Pouring – Using bottle spouts to free pour alcohol with accuracy and consistency. This takes practice to pour specific shot sizes.

• Garnishing – Cutting citrus wedges and garnishes for drinks attractively. Using ingredients creatively.

• Shaking – Sealing a shaker firmly and shaking with power and rhythm to properly blend ingredients.

• Stirring – Mastering gentle directional stirring with a barspoon to mix ingredients without overdilution.

• Muddling – Using a muddler to extract flavors by mashing fruits, herbs, and spices efficiently.

• Layering – Carefully floating liquors to create shots with separate layers of alcohol.

• Flair bartending – Advanced moves like flipping bottles, tossing garnishes, and flashy serving techniques.

With practice, these drink-making skills will become second nature. Speed and efficiency is crucial when customers pile up at the bar. Let’s look at a couple other key areas of knowledge:

Bartending License and Certification

Bartenders who handle and serve alcohol must earn a state license or certification in most cases. Requirements vary widely by state in the U.S. Common steps include:

• Complete an accredited bartending program
• Pass a written exam about laws, safety, and responsible beverage service
• Submit application forms and fees to local licensing department
• Pass a criminal background check

Some states have additional training requirements or restrictions around what tasks minors can perform. Look into your local bartending license rules well in advance.

Bartending Equipment Knowledge

Bartenders must be proficient using various equipment and tools behind the bar:

• Glassware – Knowing which drinks go in specific glass types like old fashioned, highball, margarita, pilsner, etc.

• Shakers – Mastering different kinds of shakers like Boston tin-and-tin or Cobbler tin-and-glass.

• Strainers – Using Hawthorn and julep strainers properly to filter ice and solids.

• Bar spoons – Stirring and layering drinks with long spoons.

• Juicers, shakers, blenders – Freshly squeezing juices or making blended drinks.

• Garnish tools – Efficiently cutting garnishes with paring knives, channel knives, scissors, and peelers.

• Jiggers – Using measuring jiggers to ensure accurate proportions.

• Pour spouts – Controlling flow when free pouring from bottles.

Take time to get comfortable with using all the tools found at a typical bar. This will make you more efficient and skilled as a bartender.

Dealing with Difficult Bar Customers

Every bartender inevitably deals with challenging customer situations:

• Intoxicated customers – Politely decline serving further alcohol to intoxicated guests. Offer water and food, call them a cab, or summon security for help if needed.

• Underage customers – Always check IDs thoroughly before serving and decline underage patrons seeking alcohol. Be aware of local laws.

• Crowds – Stay cool under pressure when crowds of customers order at once. Prioritize orders appropriately.

• Angry or rude guests – Don’t take it personally. Maintain calm composure and attempt to politely resolve the issue. Get management help if needed.

• Messy or clumsy guests – Keep your cool and quickly clean spills or broken glass. Address politely and don’t assign blame on customers.

• **Difficult drink orders