bartending jobs (3)

Can Bartenders Contribute to Pittsburgh

September 29th, 2008

In small and larger ways bartenders contribute to the fabric of a community.  Pittsburgh bartenders are like all others.  We have our part in making Pittsburgh a better city.  This blog is an effort to (okay–we gotta be transparent)  promote our school;  describe the job of bartending, focus on bars, restaurants, clubs, etc. within the region, and reveal job opportunities for grads and potential students.  Beyond that there is a rich world in which bartenders make their contributions. 

In terms of doing this we are going to mention some of the blogs that enrich the Burgh scene.  They describe uniquely Pittsburgh activities, Burgh folks, quirks and funny aspects of our way of life, and neat events around town.  Some of them are very personal and could be written from anywhere but intertwine their perspectives with life here, and others focus on Pittsburgh.  We’ll be adding some of these and others to a blog roll that will include local blogs of interest, bartending sites, restaurant/food beverage/club/and alcohol sites, and finally an eclectic mix of other interesting sites.

So here are some of the local blogs that have caught our eye:

Have a good sandwichby one of the co founders of the Pittsburgh bloggers (of which we are members). If you want to find out about different perspectives in Pittsburgh you should start here, and you might as well include the founder’s blog.

I’m not sure what a the perspective of a a Pittsburgh mom and her baby have to do with bartending….but we think its fun to read!

A must read for locals is The burgh blog by Pittgirl. She and her blog have been around for a while and they get around. Its good reading.

If you want to get a feel from some people engrossed in the business of promoting Pittsburgh and its businesses spend time at I heart Pgh. Great reading.

It appears we will be losing a lot of activity from Pittsblog. This writer will be winding down activity on this blog while busy elsewhere…but for a review of several years from Burgh perspectives, it can’t be beat.

Hopefully we will be enriching the scene with comments by and about local and other bartenders.

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Nude Bartender Gets Arrested–She didn’t learn that here!!

September 26th, 2008

Earlier this week, Janet Brannon was arrested at the Cabin Tavern in Delhi, Illinois.  She was serving stiff drinks in the buff in this small bar in Southern Illinois.  Police walked in for a standard check…..and bingo….they were pretty surprised to say the least.  Check out the story here.

She got out of jail on $8,000 bail. A few days later the bar was shut down for 30 days, fined $500, and lost its liquor license. Duhhh!!!!!!

We definitely don’t teach that in our customer service classes.

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How to Become a Great Bartender

September 25th, 2008

We aren’t going to lie to you and suggest that bartending school will turn you into a great bartender overnight.  That doesn’t happen at this school.   It doesn’t happen at colleges, doesn’t happen when you go to school to learn auto mechanics, and doesn’t happen after you get out of Harvard Medical School.  I deffo wouldn’t want a new grad from Harvard Med school to perform brain surgery on me….no matter how much I may need it.

Experience really works.  Watch others.  Trade stories with other bartenders.  Ask other bartenders how they would handle situations.  Practice, practice, practice.

We also know there is a world of great information out there.  Its especially available throughout the web.  Our goal is to collect as much great information as possible and pass most of it on to our students and a large part of it on to readers.

We’re starting a blog roll with sites that offer excellent tips and insights into the industry.  Here is one we found that offers the insights from someone with decades of experience in the food and beverage industry.  We’ve been reading through posts and comments.  Its getting a lot of commentary from others with lots of experience.  Try out                     http://waiterextraordinaire.blogspot.com/ .  The author, Steve Nicolle has over 25 years in the industry, has worked throughout the front of the house, teaches bartending, and describes the ins and outs of great customer service.  It applys equally well behind the bar, serving tables, or for being the manager.

Evolving from a bartender to a great bartender takes years of work, as with any work or profession.  Lots of luck ….and make those tips!!!!! 

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Hospitality Jobs in Pittsburgh–Start with Bartending

September 23rd, 2008

We just spoke with Meghan, a former grad, who developed from bartender to manager, to employer of bartenders.  Now she has a new exciting career in the hospitality industry.  Fortunately for us and for our grads she still hires graduates of the Pittsburgh Bartender School.

Meghan has a great career story and a neat profession.  We have seen this kind of career development again and again over many years.  It is always rewarding.

A few years ago she enrolled in the school looking to develop a skill and get work.  Immediately upon graduating she picked up a job directly off our job leads list in the Pittsburgh area.  She definitely made the most of it.

She took a job bartending at an American Legion Hall.  Yah.  We know.  Not many of you might think about this as an exciting bartending job.  But wait a second.  See how Meghan made the most of it.

Within a very short period Meghan’s skills and talents became apparent.  She started managing the American Legion Hall and became responsible for the many events they threw.  Not only was she bartending and managing, she was hiring bartenders to staff big parties.

Meghan found something she enjoyed and was talented at.  After a couple of years she enrolled in college level courses at the  Pittsburgh Technical School. She majored in business and hospitality. Within 2 years she had an Associates Degree.

While there she picked up a working internship. It turned out to be with one of Pittsburgh’s conference and event centers. Boy did she do well.

Meghan is now the operations manager. What a great job. They run events on a regular basis. It could be a corporate training session. It could be a wedding or a party. Meghan has to handle a myriad of details to get everything running for a wide variety of clients and needs. She hires caterers. Yup. She still hires bartenders. She has to oversee the set up and breakdown of the facility on a regular basis. When she is doing her job…..she turns satisfied customers into repeat users of the facility.  She is definitely winning a lot of friends and admirers.

A few years ago Meghan was trying to figure out what to do and how to get there. She took our bartending program. In a short 40 hours of hands on training she learned a myriad of drinks, customer service, and how to work her way through the big hospitality industry. Now she is a pro.

Congratulations Meghan.

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Graduates getting jobs–Very Fast Success Stories

June 28th, 2008

Two graduates had almost immediate success in finding jobs after finishing our program this June.

Mara graduated from the 40 hour program on June 27 and started a bartending job on June 28.  That is fast!  Brad graduated in mid June and by late June had 2 bartending jobs, both off our job leads list.  He might be sticking with both….he may move from one and work full time for the second job.  That is up to Brad.

Both of these students were looking for full time jobs.  Mara recently finished her military duty and was looking for new full time work.  Not only did she start her bartending gig the day after she graduated but its located in Penn Hills, not far from where she lives.  Fast and convenient, Mara.  Congratulations.

Brad had moved back to Pittsburgh after living elsewhere.  He also was very interested in finding work.  In fact he was very eager.  He really worked our system and leads to find a fast job.  Not only did he connect with a job virtually immediately after we received the lead from an employer, but he continued to work our bartender job placement process.  Now he has two opportunities.  Its a great way to pick up a skill in only 40 hours, and put it to immediate work.  

And a bit more good news.  On Thursday this week we had 23 job leads in total with some additional on call opportunities….and as of Friday we had 27 full and part time bartending opportunities plus the on call job leads.   We are adding job leads and helping grads find bartending jobs…both full time and part time.  If you are looking for bartending jobs or part-time or full time work, give us a call.  We will be happy to try and help you. 

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