bartending jobs

Pittsburgh Bartending School Cost

May 20th, 2010

We operate several bartending schools.  People always ask about the cost.  Its one of the first questions that comes up.  We are happy to discuss it.

When people ask the cost, they should always consider the payback that a bartending school can provide.  Its actually fantastic and far better and faster than any kind of trade school anywhere.

State regulated bartending schools typically cost somewhere between $300 and $1000 depending on the city and the market.  Our school falls somewhere in the middle of that range.  At a state regulated school you should get the following:

• hands on training behind a real bar
• learn a lot of recipes that are popular in all kinds of bars
• learn about alcohol, tastes, colors, mixers, etc. so you can start creating  drinks surprisingly fast
• alcohol management training
• VERY IMPORTANTLY an active local job placement program with real leads/contacts and a system to land bartender jobs.

We feature that kind of job placement program.  Its the critical step in earning back the cost of the 40 hour program.  We can’t guarantee jobs.  That is against the law.  It would be stupid for us to guarantee jobs to anyone.  We don’t do the hiring. 

But our Pittsburgh bartending school has incorporated a bartending job placement program that was developed elsewhere and in early 2010 alone helped grads land over 350 jobs by Mid May.  Not another bartending school in the nation is wiling to show that kind of information.   We will.  We want you to be able to earn that money back and more and do it quickly!! 

Meanwhile a graduating bartender can often land a job quickly, often within a week or two, and start making money back fast.   Here is exactly what we see from our grads in Pittsburgh and other cities where we have operated bartending schools.

A beginning bartender who isn’t fully skilled yet, might find him or herself earning somewhere in a range of $100/night in tips, give or take about $50/night.   Not bad.  That’s about $500 in one’s first week.  That alone pretty much pays for bartending school.

Once you get more comfortable and more efficient we see graduate bartenders in Pittsburgh earning in the $200-$400 range on solid evenings.  These can be weekdays or weekends and it depends on the bar and the type of bar.  It could be a club, it could be a fancy restaurant.  Its got to be busy and popular for you to make good money.

At that rate its easy to see how a good full time bartender can earn $30-$60,000/year.  Imagine that after a 40 hour program that can be finished in one or two weeks depending on scheduling and costs far less than $1,000.   That is incredible.  No other type of trade school training offers the same opportunities.

If you are bartending part time its also easy to make that investment in bartending school payoff.  Imagine making it your fun extra part time job.  You work one or two nights/week possibly making about $300/week and you only do it about 40 weeks of the year.  That is an extra $12,000 in a fun job.  Again you are making it from an investment of far less than $1,000 and investing it in yourself and your skills.

One nice thing about a state regulated bartending school like us is that we help all our grads all the time.  Say you take the course, graduate and don’t bartend for a period and then decide now is the time.   Come back to the school.  Take a FREE refresher class(es).   Get updated job leads and start working.  The investment in yourself still works.

Enough of this talk about money though.  Bartending is fun.  Its like being at the party, having fun…..AND GETTING PAID.  Nothing beats that.

So if you want to know more about our Pittsburgh Bartending School call us at 412-921-9227.   Arrange to visit the school.  Get the exact costs there.  Watch class in session.  Speak with our staff.  Ask questions.  Find out about our placement program.

Better bring a smile though.  Its bartending!!  Its a lot of fun!!! 

   

Read Comments (1)

Yinzers find quick bartending jobs!! Take that recession!!

March 31st, 2010

We love it when grads land jobs.  Several of them recently picked up great bartending jobs very quickly after finishing our quick forty hour hands on bartending program. 

As is always the case, they picked up bartending gigs at all kinds of places from the fancy and chic to neighborhood bars and beyond.  Check them out.

Eric landed a bartending gig at Chili’s in Butler.  That place gets very crowded on Fridays.  Good work, man.

Ebony is bartending at the very well known, very established Omni William Hotel.  Ebony:  Good work.  That is a place where you can find some great tippers!!

Denise is both managing and doing some bartending at the Coal Hill Steakhouse.  And best of all its Spring.  Definitely that is the BEST bar scene on Mt Washington.  We have already heard about some killer nights there….and on weekdays no less!!!

Chelsea landed a great gig at the Hideout.  Very Kewl!!!  You go girl!!

Alexis is bartending at the Penn Hills Liquid Lounge.  Deffo one of the best places for HipHop in the region.!!!   Gr8 job, Alexis.  Congrats!!!!

Myles is behind the bar at Zippys Saloon.   Knock em dead, Myles.  That is a great place to earn some tips.

Spring is one of the best times of the year for hiring bartenders.  Check out our grads, and above all tip them well!!!!! 

Read Comments (2)

Bartender Jobs in Pittsburgh and Erie

January 25th, 2010

We are focusing on bartending jobs this year.  Our school is putting more emphasis on helping more grads land more bartending jobs, locally regionally, in WV and Ohio and around the nation.

Here are a few updates.  Steve landed a bartending job at the new hottest  Pittsburgh Nightclub Heat on 108 19th Street. Heat gave a preview on New Years Eve. Its huge. 2 floors, room for 1200, 2 DJ’s and a flavor like a NY or LA nightclub. The grand opening is this weekend. Check it out.

Our grads can land bartending gigs everywhere. Valerie just graduated and is already working at Sandbar Bar and Grill. This bar in Erie Pa is located at 2835 8th Street, Erie and is very very cool.

Meanwhile, we continue to learn all the time. We’ve picked up tips from this bartending school on getting grads hired. They are having enormous success. We can’t wait to spread this to all our grads in the Burg!!!

Read Comments (0)

West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania Bartending Jobs

December 7th, 2009

Our grads are landing bartending jobs.  Its the holiday season.  That makes it one of the prime periods for part-time bartending opportunities. 

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving up to twelve grads worked a major gala in downtown Pittsburgh, arranged by the Hilton.  Later, we had a request for a fill-in bartender by the Omni.  Looks like it is turning into a regular job for one fortunate bartender.

Meanwhile in West Virginia we learned that Bob landed a bartending job pretty far away.  He used his knowledge and bartending job hunting skills to become a 3 day/week bartender at Pete’s Bait Ranch in Sutton, West Virginia.  Bob does excellent web video work, so if you are looking for a drink or an expert web video expert in Central West Virginia, Bob is your man.

Nicole is an energetic go-getter.  That is the perfect type of person for Sauce in Bridgeville, South of Pittsburgh.  Sauce is just a couple of years old, but already popular and has developed a reputation for some  of the best burgers and sandwhiches in the Pittsburgh area.

Finally we provided some national bartending job placement.  Toya relocated from Maryland.  We found out at a bartender news site that Toya landed a Pittsburgh club job. Congrats Toya. Enjoy the Burgh!!

Speaking of Pittsburgh clubs, we learned from one of our grad/experienced bartenders that the post Thanksgiving 3 day bartending bonanza was an $800-900 weekend. Congrats. Good money!!!

Read Comments (0)

Bartending-National Job Placement Assistance

September 4th, 2009

Yes.  We provide national bartending job placement assistance.  We have been doing this for years.  We provide a very direct hands-on effort to assist you in what ever market you decide to move.

First, we have been doing this for decades, not years.  We have developed relationships with bartending school operators in virtually all markets.  This comes from years of interaction, and from operating a group of bartending schools in different metropolitan regions.  We know the operators and we know some markets in depth.  Better than that, we have actually owned a bar and built it into the largest bar in its market.  We understand the business and how and why new bartenders get hired.

Our relationships are extensive.  We recently helped a grad from a New Jersey Bartending School. We just got a call from a Connecticut Bar School operator for an old grad from the Atlantic School in Waterbury moving to this area. Of course we will help the grad and establish this relationship with the owner.

But we do far more. First off, we instruct all of our students in how to find a bartending job in any market. We actually give them clues on how to turn up bartending jobs before they are advertised. How are we able to do this? We’ve been in the industry for decades.

When moving to a new region, we provide our grads with insights and advice on how to crack into the bartending industry and how to take best advantage of their training and hopefully experience.

If you want in depth exposure on how and what we do, of course you will have to attend our school. If you want more explanation, come visit us. You will find we can talk the talk and walk the walk far better than most. Why? Because we have been in the industry for decades and know exactly what works and what doesn’t. Call us. We would be glad to help you.

Read Comments (0)

Bartending Jobs where you can earn more money than you ever imagined!!

August 18th, 2009

As owners of several bartending schools over a couple of decades we see many bartending jobs and bartending job opportunities.  We  see more than the bar managers in a single club or neighborhood restaurant who have never worked anywhere else.  You know, they are the one’s that say they never hire a grad from a bartending school.  Maybe they don’t.  But we contact and see the managers that do hire from our schools.  It provides us with a wide overview of the industry.

Over several decades we have made it a practice to simply contact thousands of employers.  We work at the process.  Our ownership owned and operated a bar, hiring, firing and promoting bartenders.  Between operating bar schools for decades and doing the actual hiring, firing, and promoting we have a broad perspective on opportunities.

Now here are two types of bartending opportunities that the vast majority of bartenders never even think about.  If you hit the right one’s they can be incredibly lucrative.  We aren’t saying there are tens of thousands of them, but we have found them in different cities and different markets….and they are ALWAYS a tremendous surprise to those that land those bartender gigs.

AIRPORT BARTENDERS

Not every bartender in every airport makes killer money…but surprisingly in many airports around the country there are killer bartender positions where you will make as much as bartenders in the hottest clubs. 

Okay, what works, and where are these jobs.

What we have found is that as the airlines have cut back on meals or priced them ever more expensively, airport restaurants are picking up the business.  Go to a busy airport.  Check out the waiting lines at the different places to eat.  Those lines can be monstrously long.

Which airport bars make money?  We will give you some clues that we have found in different cities and why the bartenders can do so well.

1.  The restaurants are a little airport upscale compared to the other restaurants in the terminal.

2.  The restaurants are near very busy terminals.

Here is what we have found and learned.  

  Customers come by all during the day.  Often there is as much bar seating or close to it as table seating.  The customers want to order.  They hate airline food.  The bartenders serve meals and drinks.  Hey that is great.  You are getting tipped on everything you serve. 

Here is the key.  Turnover (or turns in restaurant lingo) is enormous.  Over a busy 8 hour shift, you can have up to 15 customers a seat.  Wow.  That is a lot of ordering a lot of customers and a lot of tips.  If you get people standing by the bar and ordering drinks on top of everyone who is seated….whoa….you are making a ton of money.

You can be busy the entire shift.  That is incredibly different from most clubs or happy hour bars where you tend to make almost all of your money in a few frenzied hours of ultra busy-ness.

Business Hotel Bars at the beginning of the Week.

Experienced bartenders know they’ll make lots more money from Thursday till Saturday or Sunday.  Then the partying, the drinking, and the ordering all but stops.

But not at business hotels.  Not even close.  That is often when the bars get busiest.

Business hotels that are jammed with corporate business meetings see their biggest crowds from Sunday evening till Friday afternoon.  People fly in on Sunday during the day or Monday morning.  Corporate employees from out of town are hanging at the bar, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  They are almost always on an expense account.  Boy that is sweet.  Its not their money.  They can afford to tip!!!

Experienced bartenders often find this is a great way to make big $$$ early in the week when most of their bartending brethren are scraping by with few customers.

As an added benefit, if you are into Part-Time bartending…and you want to make some great extra money…look for those business hotels in your market.  There might be some killer opportunities there.

Over many decades we have learned of endless opportunities for bartenders.  You have to simply have the energy and the willingness to land the job.

 

Happy serving!!! 

 

 

Read Comments (2)

Great Long Term Part Time Jobs–Bartending

July 28th, 2009

We recently spoke with a number of staff and graduates of our bartending schools.  The resounding theme was that bartending makes for a great long term part time job.

Here are some of the stories:

Jennifer, a grad of about 11 years ago, recently added part-time work at one of our schools.  She took our bartending class in 1998.  She bartended in clubs part time ever since.  She has a full-time job as a meeting planner with a large institution.  She recently shifted to a new killer restaurant/bar/family restaurant with a killer fun theme that appeals to young professionals and families alike.  She is working one day a week, and ranging between $125-$350/night.  That beats watching television.

Patrick, one of our instructors, got one of his first bartending jobs at a killer restaurant/bar that has been popular for about 25 years.  Its got a very long large bar that is busy 6 days a week.  Its staffed by 2-4 bartenders every night.  Of about 20 bartending colleagues, 15 of them had been there about 10-15 years, every one of them working part-time, 1-3 nights a week.  Every one of them had full-time work, ranging from their own businesses to working for the “man”.  That is 10-15 years of non-stop extra money.  Patrick said the great bartenders there, ranged from $150-up to $4-500/night.  A killer bar.

Finally Steve, a graduate of about 12 years ago recently started picking up parties AGAIN from one of our schools.   We get lots of calls from throughout the region.  People are looking for bartenders to cater their parties and weddings.  Steve is a banker.  He was one of our most reliable and professional catering bartenders for about 7 years and then took a break.  Now he is back picking up weekend and weekday events.  He is averaging about 1 event/week.  The $100-$300/night doesn’t hurt.

Looking for a great way to make extra money?  Check out bartending.  It is clearly one of the best ways to make extra money….and hey…its fun. 

Read Comments (5)

Bartending Services-Pittsburgh/Catering Opportunities

July 6th, 2009

Working as a catering bartender is one of the easiest ways to make extra money through our school.  It’s relatively easy, its an amazing second job opportunity, and its extremely flexible.  You aren’t required to work every week on particular shifts.  You can get very busy over a specific period of time, slack off and not work for a period, and then once again start working all the time.  On top of that there are an incredible variety of ways to expand this opportunity for oneself and one’s friends. 

This past weekend over the July 4th holiday, we know that two graduates of our school split between $400-$500 working one party on Independance day.  Imagine that, work a couple of parties, and not only has the training paid for itself, but you are showing an incredible  profit.  Can you do that with any other type of training.

How do you get those catering/party bartending jobs?

First of all, our school is a tremendous resource for catering and special event party bartending opportunities.  We get calls all year long looking for catering bartenders.  We outreach to employers all the time.  This includes the catering companies, hotels, special event places, etc. that need staff.

Secondly, when people search for caterers, bartenders, etc, whether its on the web, in the Yellow Pages, in other sources of informaton–they find us.  We are always visible, and we have an enormous number of grads always available.  That makes us one of the prime sources for these calls.

Often, the people calling for bartenders want staff that is certified with regard to alcohol management.  They want bartenders who will serve responsably.  In fact across the nation, there are many halls and exquisite centers used for events that require an alcohol management certification.  Its an insurance requirement.  All of our grads are certified with two programs;  RAMP, the PA program; and TAM a national program.

Our experience with this opportunity will help you develop and grow a personal bartending service catering opportunity.   For years we have seen grads build their personal catering bartending business and income.  Its an absolutely great way to make extra money.  We are happy to share this with grads.

Of course, if you are looking for catering bartenders in Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia–call us;  (412) 921-9227.  We will be happy to help you. 

Read Comments (0)

Pittsburgh Bartending - Grads getting jobs

June 24th, 2009

Grads of our Pittsburgh Bartending School are landing jobs around the region.  They are in the city, in the suburbs, part-time and full time.  They are working at neighborhood places, fancy places, fine dining, sports bars, catering at parties…and everything out there.  Its a great opportunity to make more money, land a job, change careers, etc.

For instance:

Lierin has been working Friday nights and some other shifts at Olive and Twist downtown.  Its known as one of the best martini bars in the city and is a great happy hour stop off after work.  She has  a dynamic personality.

Jake has been bartending weekends at Ibiza in SouthSide.  Amazing place.  Unique tapas restaurant, wines from around the world, and special martinis. 

Totally different kind of environment?  Chris and Matt have been bartending at a neighborhood bar in Turtle Creek;  Tommy’s Bar and Grill.  This place has dynamite promotions…and is just great fun.

Another Jake graduated and landed a bartending job near his home in Yukon Pa at Jay’s Bar and Grill.  He landed the job within a couple of days of graduating.

Bridgett recently landed her second bartending job.  She got her first job directly off our jobs lead list this past spring.  Two months later Longhorne Steak House called off an initital application.  Bingo, she landed the Longhorne job on Robinson Street.  The initial experience helped her take the 2nd faster, busier job.

Will a grad with a bit more life experience has been weekdays at El Campesino in North Hills.  The bar also includes nearby bar tables and great TV’s.  Excellent choice for drinks and Mexican food after work.

Here is a late June update.  John is bartending on the balcony bar on Friday and Saturday nights at Charlie Murdoch’s/ a full concert experience

Meanwhile our event and catering bartenders have been picking up opportunities at weddings, parties, etc. 

Classes are fun.  Do you want to see what goes on in a bartending class?  Check out this video from a   bartending school in Arlington, Va.

Hey its a blast.

If you want to find out more check with us at (412) 921-9227.

Read Comments (1)

Turtle Creek Restaurants–Shoot the bartender promotion

June 3rd, 2009

Do any of you live near Turtle Creek?  Any folks hang out in that area and visit restaurants or bars?  If you do, you’ve got to stop by Tommy’s Bar & Grill one night.  Its located at 1513 Maple Avenue, Turtle Creek, PA.

Two of our recent grads are working there as bartenders, Matt and Chris.  They were great in class.  One thing that is so overwhelmingly obvious about good bartenders–you have to have a lot of personality-and Matt and Chris both have plenty.  They are fun to hang out with.

Matt and Chris and the new owner Jacki have come out with a very fun/very cool promotion–its called shoot the bartender.  Customers already love it.

We aren’t going to give away the secrets…but it is already cool.  In fact there is a piece in BarSmart about this very cool promo.

The article also lists some other promos for food and drink..and what is going on at Tommy’s Bar & Grill.

Go visit this bar and these guys any evening through the week. Its fun.

Now if you are also interested in bartending school…go ahead…ask questions of either Chris or Matt.

(and always remember—tip those guys.) 

Read Comments (0)