Earning Money as a bartender

Where Can I earn the most money as a bartender?

February 5th, 2008

We have probably been asked this question tens of thousands of times by students and prospective students in countless bartending schools that we have operated.  Here are our best answers based on our own experiences in running and operating bars, being bartenders and managers, operating active bartending job placement assistance programs and being interactive with our grads out at work.

Any type of place can be a source for great income….contingent on one thing;  the bar has to be busy….and you have to work during busy shifts.  In other words it doesn’t matter if its the hottest club, an ultra fancy high end hotel, a chain restaurant, a neighborhood bar, a sports bar, a biker bar, or whatever.  If the place is busy you can make money.  If its not busy….you and the owner/operators have to make it busy during your shifts.

The key, as with any service business is “customer service”.  You don’t need to be the most compelling personality in all of Western Pennsylvania, or the best looking, hottest, most amazing eye candy….etc.  You have to be nice, personable.  The biggest thing you have to do is make your customers comfortable at the bar.  Do that, and create an environment where you will make regulars, and build customers and you’ll start making a lot of money.

The type of bar depends on you.  If you are 21 and primarily comfortable with your peers…..and sort of uncomfortable with elders….don’t work in a fancy hotel or restaurant bar where the customer base is in their upper 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s.

On the other hand if you are working in a mega club with about 15 bar stations, including some in the center of the action and some in the corners, upstairs, or away from most of the customers…..don’t expect to make tons of money….if you are in the corner bar.  In fact the managers put you there to see if you can make money.  Do a good job, better than their average and they’ll move you to the best locations in time.

The neat thing about bartending school is that we teach every type of bartending from the trendiest club environments to classic fancy bartending.  One of the cool things we have seen over the years is when grads shift from type of establishment that reflects their changing interests over time.

Want to find out more?  Arrange to visit our school.  Call us at (412) 921-9227 and arrange a free visit.