Guys here familiar with bartending and the nightlife scene, help me out!

[Billtx49]

“Help me out!”, “Save me SS”
If you want to get your life on track according to your goals, stop whining, get out there in real life and make it happen. No forum will make your goals magically appear…

Guts plus ambition and determination equals success and results.

 

[mrgoodstuff]

Voicing it once or twice even on here is complaining and that's victim mode .

 

[drakeisfire]

Yup if you want easy poon become a staff member at a club, I got a couple buddies who work security and they got tons of ass, just because they stood at a door lol

Can you do this while having a full time job though?

 

[Solomon]

Can you do this while having a full time job though?

If you have the weekends of it's easy work Friday and Saturday nights

I got a buddy whose been doing this for years, he's a light guy at a club...an average looking guy but bangs 7-9 effortlessly

just based of his status of being a "light guy" at a club lol

 

[snowdog]

I've been a bartender as a side-job for many years. Started during college. It's damn hard work, but it's satisfying.

You will start at the bottom. You'll be the guy that grabs the empty glasses and puts them through the dishwasher. Eventually you'll get to wait tables. Hang in there long enough and you'll be a bartender. The bartender position is the top of the food-chain in a bar, and you won't get there right away.

I've run glasses through the dishwasher till my hands dried out so badly they started to crack and bleed. Those industrial dishwasher chemicals are really ****ing aggressive and corrosive, man.

The general rule of hospitality: There's only one gear, and that's full-speed ahead. Sometimes you need to be in that gear for 12 hours straight. At weird, ****ty hours. You will wear out a pair of shoes every 2-3 months. There is no downtime, ever. If you have nothing to do, you're cleaning the bar. If the bar is clean and there's still nothing to do, you wipe the tables. If the tables are clean and there's still nothing to do, you're cleaning the back of the bar. If the back of the bar is clean and there's still nothing to do, you clean out the filters in the dishwasher. If you can't deal with that mentality, this is not for you. If you don't have this mentality and you work in a bar regardless, your colleagues who actually understand what this job is about will hate you.

The upside is that time goes by very fast. The day is over before you know it because you're working non-stop, and you'll go home with some decent money in your pocket. Lots of hot chicks everywhere, also among colleagues. When you're behind the bar, you're automatically cooler than every other guy in the venue, it really is true.

You're on your feet all day and you're carrying kegs around. It's physically hard. You'll likely eat like **** because you have a short break. You'll likely end up drinking a lot. You're surrounded by booze and partying people during working hours. At the end of the night you'll be exhausted and all you'll want is a well-deserved cold beer. And it's there right in front of you and the first one or two is always on the house. All your colleagues are having one, two, three, four, etc as well. It's awesome and it's fun. And every night ends like this.

And that's the main reason I got out. I was having too much fun all the time. It's a lifestyle that's not good for your health. After doing it on and off for 10 years or so, I decided it's been enough. There's no career in it and it's a young man's game. The money is very decent for a job that doesn't require a degree, though.

Ultimately it's a skill I'm very happy with. It's something I can always fall back on, no matter where I am in the world.

I've been a bartender on a tropical island for almost a year.

Best days of my life.

Highly likely I'll say this still 50 years from now.

I highly recommend you give it a shot. You might fall in love with it the way I did.

I probably never worked harder, but I never ever hated it. Can't say the same about any other job I've had on either accounts.

 

[MoreThanSmooth]

I don’t want to totally take the thread off at a tangent, but it seemed like a relevant place to post this: has anyone here ever done door work?

I know a few guys who have been doormen but they all retired a long time ago. The money is actually really good for a few hours standing around, insanely good if you have training...and you get the “status” too.

I think I’d be pretty good at it because I’m good at handling people and de-escalation. Just pair me with the dumb 7 foot roidfreak for when my fast talking fails...

Also I feel like I want to be a bartender now, maybe that will be my thing for a few months post degree. My main issue is I have a slight hearing problem, so that’d probably destroy my customer service...

 

[drakeisfire]

I've been a bartender as a side-job for many years. Started during college. It's damn hard work, but it's satisfying.

So here is the issue, you started in college, that is the problem I find with bartending in my city, they take fratty dudes fresh out of college who bartended in college due to frat connections. I feel like almost pushing 25 that I am behind.

You say it is a young man's game, how old is too old to start? Do let me know, is anywhere past 30 too old for the bars and clubs that attract hot girls?

 

[drakeisfire]

If you have the weekends of it's easy work Friday and Saturday nights

I got a buddy whose been doing this for years, he's a light guy at a club...an average looking guy but bangs 7-9 effortlessly

just based of his status of being a "light guy" at a club lol

Yes I have the weekends off but don't those busy shifts go to experienced guys? I am going try and look for barback gigs starting out but they seem tough as heck to find in my city.

 

[snowdog]

So here is the issue, you started in college, that is the problem I find with bartending in my city, they take fratty dudes fresh out of college who bartended in college due to frat connections. I feel like almost pushing 25 that I am behind.

You say it is a young man's game, how old is too old to start? Do let me know, is anywhere past 30 too old for the bars and clubs that attract hot girls?

25 is fine. If you apply yourself, you can still get in the game. If you work hard, you'll move up quick. I'd say you have an advantage over the young bucks at your age. You're way smarter and more world-weary than people 5 years younger than you. It matters a lot at that age.

It's not very difficult work, it's just hard work. Having the right mentality is the most important thing. Be humble, run faster than everyone else, and you'll do fine. I worked the longest consecutive time in hospitality when I was 29. Almost a full year in different bars across several different countries. I backpacked around and dropped off my resume in every bar I could find when I moved to a new place. I slept in hostels and on couches of friends I made along the way. I had lots of bartending experience at that point, including ****tail bartending skills, which helped a lot in finding jobs in that field. It was a great adventure in every way, but I was also completely over it by the time I quit.

Again, it is fun and great, but it's also really hard work at weird hours. It starts to wear on you eventually. You know what a 40-year old bartender looks like, right? It's a fantastic gig, as long as you get out at the right time.

If you're serious about this, you should follow a ****tail bartending course, man. It'll cost you a few hundred bucks, but you'll meet cool people (among them very likely hot chicks), get a good idea about the vibe around the job (and you'll know quickly if it's for you or not) and you'll learn a cool, fun skill that you will have for life. If you put ****tail bartending skills on your resume, it will instantly give you a huge advantage over 90% of the people. Guaranteed.

As for being 30, I can speak about that at this point. I'm in my early 30s, and I'm tired/bored of chasing poon the way I used to in general. It probably sounds insane to you now, but your perspective really starts to shift in your late 20s. Starting a family, growing my business, spending quality time with my parents, and building a legacy sounds a lot more appealing to me at this point than getting laid with a random chick on a Friday night.

Time flies, man. If you think you want to add this chapter to the story of your life, go for it! I can tell you I have no regrets when it comes to this (unless I end up with liver problems later in life, that is).

 

[snowdog]

lmao, I can't say c0cktail.

 

[drakeisfire]

Ya @snowdog you likely got laid a lot in college or early 20s which is why it is old to you, will take a while for me to get there.

Anyways man, I work the typical 9 to 5 or 9 to 6 job on the weekdays but have the weekends to myself. I have heard how the weekend bartending shifts go to the best guys since they are the busiest and the big money shifts. Am looking to break into this field as a part time gig so looking to get in as a barback at a decent enough bar on the weekends. The thing is I am trying to build a corporate career which already pays well but do this more for fun and that sort of nightlife opportunity because I never had the chance to do it in college, Greek Life ran the college town and bars only hired frat guys.

So even if I do not get into bartending right away, I am cool with it as long as I get to work in nightlife. Are you at all familiar with the scene in Atlanta? Are there better cities you recommend for opportunities of getting part time work in nightlife?

 

[snowdog]

Ya @snowdog you likely got laid a lot in college or early 20s which is why it is old to you, will take a while for me to get there.

Anyways man, I work the typical 9 to 5 or 9 to 6 job on the weekdays but have the weekends to myself. I have heard how the weekend bartending shifts go to the best guys since they are the busiest and the big money shifts. Am looking to break into this field as a part time gig so looking to get in as a barback at a decent enough bar on the weekends. The thing is I am trying to build a corporate career which already pays well but do this more for fun and that sort of nightlife opportunity because I never had the chance to do it in college, Greek Life ran the college town and bars only hired frat guys.

So even if I do not get into bartending right away, I am cool with it as long as I get to work in nightlife. Are you at all familiar with the scene in Atlanta? Are there better cities you recommend for opportunities of getting part time work in nightlife?

Nah dude. Read the thread in my signature. I didn't get laid until I was in my mid 20s, and after that there was almost nothing going on for years. It was only in my late 20s when things started happening for me.

I don't know the Atlanta scene very well, but bars in the city are generally loud and high-energy. There's always work to be found in hospitality. People get hired and fired left and right all the time. Try to find a place that fits your vibe and that plays music that you like. It will make working there enjoyable, and it will have the crowd that you like. I always worked in rock and blues bars because that's my jam. Don't work at a hotel or casino bar. It's always boring and ****ty.

I personally liked the small-town places the best. It's generally more laid-back and friendly. Less a-holes to deal with. Look into Gulf Coast Florida. Nice weather and hot girls everywhere. Panama City is nuts during the summer. MTV filmed their spring break specials there in the 90s with Limp Bizkit and all those other idiots... lolz. Pensacola is cool too. Tallahassee is a huge college town with plenty of stuff to do, too.

And there's always Nashville north from Atlanta. Love that town.

 

[drakeisfire]

Ya @snowdog so the scene in Atlanta is pretty much hip hop through and through, even in the whitest bars.

Unfortunately, my job will be keeping me in Atlanta for at least another year so not much flexibility. Florida is one of my favorite states but the problem is that it does not have many corporate type jobs in my field, would love to live there if I can in my 20s.

TBH though, I am just looking at bars where the hottest girls gather, specifically white and more upper middle class types.

You say hotel and casino bars suck but what kind of places do you personally recommend trying for?

 

[snowdog]

Ya @snowdog so the scene in Atlanta is pretty much hip hop through and through, even in the whitest bars.

Unfortunately, my job will be keeping me in Atlanta for at least another year so not much flexibility. Florida is one of my favorite states but the problem is that it does not have many corporate type jobs in my field, would love to live there if I can in my 20s.

TBH though, I am just looking at bars where the hottest girls gather, specifically white and more upper middle class types.

You say hotel and casino bars suck but what kind of places do you personally recommend trying for?

I don't really know the scene in Atlanta, but I'm sure you can find some good places there. There are usually hospitality Facebook groups for every city where jobs are constantly posted. Try and find something there. Start at the bottom. Don't expect to make much money at first. Work hard. Be humble. Expect to take a lot of **** in the beginning.

I think hotel and casino bars are just boring. They also tend to mostly hire people with a lot of experience. There's a certain decorum required and expected there that puts it in a different category. Some people love that, though. It's just personally not for me. Very different kind of gig than your neighborhood bar. I don't like working in clubs, either. The music is way too loud which makes conversation impossible (which is by far my favorite part of the gig), your hearing and voice are shot at the end of the night, and it's super high pressure. Good money, though, but you're basically a human machine.

My favorite places are the low-key kind where people go have a couple of drinks and hang out with friends to laugh and talk. So maybe look at bar/restaurant kind of places and beer gardens. Or the hipster hamburger places that also have a bar.

I generally would recommend finding a place that doesn't have music blasting so loud that you have to yell at one another. The banter with customers is what makes it fun. You'll meet a lot of interesting people. Loud music takes that element away and it makes the job a lot more tiring. Even if you like the genre, if it's super loud, it wears you down.

The craft beer places are usually cool, but they're highly coveted gigs.

Also, I'm just saying, look into talking a c0cktail bartending course. It's lots of fun, it will teach you some cool skills, it will get you in the game, it will get you connections, and it could very well lead to a job. Just like your professional career, it's all about connections in the hospitality scene.

Good luck.

 

[drakeisfire]

I don't really know the scene in Atlanta, but I'm sure you can find some good places there. There are usually hospitality Facebook groups for every city where jobs are constantly posted. Try and find something there. Start at the bottom. Don't expect to make much money at first. Work hard. Be humble. Expect to take a lot of **** in the beginning.

I think hotel and casino bars are just boring. They also tend to mostly hire people with a lot of experience. There's a certain decorum required and expected there that puts it in a different category. Some people love that, though. It's just personally not for me. Very different kind of gig than your neighborhood bar. I don't like working in clubs, either. The music is way too loud which makes conversation impossible (which is by far my favorite part of the gig), your hearing and voice are shot at the end of the night, and it's super high pressure. Good money, though, but you're basically a human machine.

My favorite places are the low-key kind where people go have a couple of drinks and hang out with friends to laugh and talk. So maybe look at bar/restaurant kind of places and beer gardens. Or the hipster hamburger places that also have a bar.

I generally would recommend finding a place that doesn't have music blasting so loud that you have to yell at one another. The banter with customers is what makes it fun. You'll meet a lot of interesting people. Loud music takes that element away and it makes the job a lot more tiring. Even if you like the genre, if it's super loud, it wears you down.

The craft beer places are usually cool, but they're highly coveted gigs.

Also, I'm just saying, look into talking a c0cktail bartending course. It's lots of fun, it will teach you some cool skills, it will get you in the game, it will get you connections, and it could very well lead to a job. Just like your professional career, it's all about connections in the hospitality scene.

Good luck.

So just getting back to the forum now.

What kinds of bars do you suggest someone like me with no experience should look into?

I ideally want to be at younger bars with a millennial type of clientele but want to get an idea of what is realistic here.

 

[drakeisfire]

Alright guys, so I did some active looking around and I am facing a bit of a problem. The bars that seem to be hiring are not of my crowd, they are more like the corporate chains or older crowd bars. I was trying to find any work at a more younger hip sort of bar, nightclub or places of the sort. Anyone mind giving me some advice here?

 

[IKO69]

You have to get your bar tending license but you won't necessarily be a bartender right away. Chances are you will have to bar back for a bit first.

 

[TheMonkeyKing]

I've been working in pubs and bars on and off for quite a long time.

First off you should really think about what you're really after, and in light of that, think about what kind of venue you need to be applying for.

I've recently moved from an upmarket gastro old man type pub to a late night student type bar. Though I enjoyed the pub, the bar is a much more mixed crowd and more consistently busy. Last night during the football, I was chatting to and getting IOI from at least three Spanish girls, and another English girl just outright gave me her phone number on a scrap of paper.

So think first about what you want, and maybe do a bit of reccon around a few venues to get a feel for different places.

 

[drakeisfire]

You have to get your bar tending license but you won't necessarily be a bartender right away. Chances are you will have to bar back for a bit first.

For the right bar, I am more than willing to bar back for a little bit.

 

[drakeisfire]

I've been working in pubs and bars on and off for quite a long time.

First off you should really think about what you're really after, and in light of that, think about what kind of venue you need to be applying for.

I've recently moved from an upmarket gastro old man type pub to a late night student type bar. Though I enjoyed the pub, the bar is a much more mixed crowd and more consistently busy. Last night during the football, I was chatting to and getting IOI from at least three Spanish girls, and another English girl just outright gave me her phone number on a scrap of paper.

So think first about what you want, and maybe do a bit of reccon around a few venues to get a feel for different places.

Thanks for your insight man, I have been thinking of doing that.

The bars I want which are more of a younger party crowd seem to be uber-competitive to get into, only frat bros with connections seem to get those gigs. Been looking into some hipster type bars too and might try to go to some to look for a weekend gig if I can.

Must ask you a few questions though.

1. How old are you? When did you first start bartending?

2. Are you in the US?

3. What is the average age for bartenders like?