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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!!!

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One bad driver can eliminate a lot of potential drunk drivers

November 2nd, 2009

Do you want to see how to flush $150,000 of vodka and cognac down the tubes?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stDWNam7RtE

OMG!  Do you realize if you lose money bartending  by waste, theft, under reporting, etc. they often take it out of your tips.  If that’s the case in this Russian warehouse….this guy will be paying off his employer for decades!!!  ugh.

OTOH.  With a $150,000 less of cognac and vodka I suspect there will be a lot less drunks driving on the road!! 

  

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Pittsburgh Halloween Parties

October 12th, 2009

Halloween may well be the holiday that generates the most memorable parties.  Crazy costumes, meeting people who are so well costumed you haven’t the faintest idea who they are, and outrageous behavior are all just part of the magic of halloween parties.  It brings out the “best or craziest” in all of us.

If you are going to host a halloween party, here are some ideas that may make that party a huge success.

1.  We wouldn’t be who we are if we didn’t suggest you hire a bartender to serve drinks at  your party.  LOL!!  Of course if you do…you know where to get them (hint, hint–call us at (412) 921-9227)  (hint, hint).

Seriously at a fun party with costumes and outrageous behavior a bartender frees you up to spend more and better time with your guests.  They’ll help you set up before and clean up afterwards.  They can suggest especially nifty drinks that work for Halloween.

You may want a bartender in costume like some of these characters: 

       

Better yet you might want a bartender with extraordinary skills:

Speaking of “extraordinary skills”  you may want to astonish your guests with a few magic tricks. Guests love these tricks. They are easy to master. Alternatively have your bartender perform them (you know the one you hired from our school -> hint hint).

Now for your costume. You’re the host. You’ve got to look dynamite. How about some halloween face tattoos

Of course we would be remiss if we didn’t suggest special   halloween drinks. This comprehensive list includes non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks plus halloween themed punches.

Now if you are going to take your party outdoors, what can we say. If that’s the way you feel get on over to the coolest haunted house in Pittsburgh. Its a blast.

Happy halloween Pittsburgh!!!!

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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.

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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. 

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Pittsburgh Bartender Jobs

June 30th, 2009

Do you realize that even in a down economy, bartender jobs are always coming available.  They are always out there.  How do we know?  We have owned a bar, and turned it from a tiny little place to the #1 bar in its market.  We have been bartenders, bar managers in every kind of establishment from ultra fancy to neighborhood places….and worse

We have operated bartender schools for decades and have helped 10’s of thousands of grads get jobs.  That means we work directly with employers of every type, from the simplest neighborhood place to the fanciest establishments.  We know what employers are looking for in new employees and why they hire.

I was reviewing our active updated bartender jobs lead list for the Pittsburgh market.  We work to get new updates and leads all the time.  We contact owners in so many ways over the course of every week.  We are looking for the jobs that will hire our grads, often totally new bartenders with no experience. 

Frankly looking for those opportunities is a job in itself.  We just keep working at it every week.  We do turn up leads.  It takes a lot of time and effort, but we do it.

Then I reviewed our bartender jobs guidance form.  It references so many points we have learned, taught and applied for decades.  BUT  It emphasizes and reinforces the single item that owners have been looking for in bartenders for years.  They look for the same quality in every market we have seen, and in every type of establishment. 

Of course you will have to attend the school to get a hold of this critical information.  I mean afterall, we can’t give it away for free.  

It is absolutely invaluable.  Do you think its simple to figure out?  I wish it were that easy.  For a long time while reviewing job leads and job searching methods with our most recent grads I would invariably ask them what is the most important thing to help them get hired.  90% of them would give the wrong answer.

If you want to get a better idea on how all this works call us at (412) 921-9227 and arrange to visit our Bartender School to see if we can help you.

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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.) 

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Networking in Pittsburgh–try a bartending job

April 21st, 2009

Okay, the Pittsburgh Bartender School is part of the great big blogosphere and the wide world of web networking.  Our school is a part of social media.  We network.  No kidding. 

Do you guys realize how great and easy it is to network while bartending?  It is one of the hidden benefits.  It works incredibly well.  If you are trying to expand contacts, meet new people, find new opportunities…you simply can’t believe how great bartending can be to open doors.

Here is the secret.  (shhhh…don’t tell everyone else)–and you have to be a good bartender to pull this off…you have to get customers to like you…(Its not hard at all)

Bartenders can find so many contacts in so many lines of work….its rediculous.  We have seen this happen hundreds of times.  In fact, I picked up business while bartending part time and holding down a consulting/sales job.  Its amazingly easy.

Here goes.  Customers really get to like their bartenders.  Its astonishing.  Do a good job of pouring beer, making gin and tonics, chilling martinis and treating your customers with respect…and they just think you are the greatest.  In fact they’ll love you.  (I’ve said for a long time–bartending makes you cooler)

Say you are a young professional, trying to find more opportunities.  Get work in a sort of upscale bar/restaurant.  In the Burgh try and get work in or near downtown where the after work crowd goes for happy hour.  Land work in other heavy employment centers.  Alterternatively get a  bartending gig at a medium to upscale restaurant.  During the hours when the bar isn’t packed and your not slammed you will have plenty of time to speak with your customers;  that is the critical time when you secure relationships and develop your network.  Its the ideal time to make contacts, learn about opportunities, get your resume spread around, get introductions, and find out where to make your next move.  Its simply astonishing.  The likeability factor increases 100 fold with the ability to consistently make a good drink, make your customers feel comfortable and build a level of trust that isn’t that available anywhere else.

Here is a prime example.  Years ago, while I was a professional in sales, one of my prime clients headed the regional offices of an investment firm.  He had been a semi-star football player at a local college.  He became a bartender after school.  He made friends easily.  One of those friends got him into the stock brokerage business because he had lots of personality and was reasonably intelligent.  Better yet…he already had this huge network of potential clients from bartending.  He advanced through the ranks.  He had a ready stock of clients, in part through the many friends through tending bar and pouring beers.  He rose through the ranks becoming manager of an office than regional manager by the time I met him.

Walk into a bar with him….and everyone knew him and loved him.  He easily parlayed bartending into an excellent high paying career.  He admitted to scarcely knowing a drink recipe…but he kept his bar customers happy. 

We have written about this earlier, specifically for real estate brokers.  Gee, I can’t count the times former students mentioned how they sold homes through customers from their bar (talk about a super TIP)…but it works for anyone looking to network into almost any field.  Its simply easy…being behind that bar is an invitation to get folks to like and trust you more easily….

Now get out there and land a bartending job….and if you want our help with the job leads we have at the Pittsburgh Bartender School–call us at (412) 921-9227. 

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Catering/Bartending Jobs–the ideal part time job

July 10th, 2008

Are you looking for that occasional part time job?  You know… something that isn’t regular or scheduled…but fits your needs when you need them.  Something that can be fun and profitable, and it might require hard work….but it pays off really well.

Catering /bartending at special events, parties, at hotels, receptions, etc. is a terrific part-time opportunity.  You’ll be surprised at how much money you can earn….how easy it is to master, the number of opportunities……and did we mention…..how much money you can earn!!

Just two quick examples to give you a feel.  One of the grads from our Pittsburgh  school recently earned……(drum roll)…..get this…..$60/hour catering for a large party.  She is experienced,  can work fast,  presents well, customers like her;  so she gets a lot of requests……and it is absolutely a terrific way to make great money.  The party didn’t take that long;  she had an assistant help her when things got busy.  She handled a very large crowd very efficiently during the event.  The size of the party was larger than she was told, but she took control and handled it well.   After all was said and done the party only lasted about 4-5 hours….and she still had plenty of time for the rest of the weekend.  Do you want to learn something else……many of these catering jobs are straight cash.   Its a coup!!!!

Meanwhile a new graduate from one of our other schools, with no prior experience, hooked up with a multi day event for a major caterer in a different city .   After 4 days of long work he averaged about $25-30/hour.   He was slammed at certain short intervals, but was more than trained.  He had the speed and efficiency and sufficient practice to be able to perform well.

The caterer loved him and has assigned him to two other immediate jobs.  They want him for major events when the season gets hotter.  And he enjoys it.  He had no job before he started class, had just returned after years in Europe, and is looking to get into bartending for a while. 

We have given him more leads to capitalize on catering opportunities, which he really enjoys.

By the way…that very first catering job more than doubled the price of the school.  It was a very fast payback.

Catering/bartending is easier than regular bartending…but does require a lot of flexibility.  Different settings will require you to adjust how you operate.  The bartending tools and equipment at your disposal will vary.  Set ups can be very diverse.  On the other hand you generally pour a limited inventory of drinks.  That makes it easy.  When the hosts and guests like you….you will be amazed at how many referrals you pick up.

We have a lot of catering opportunities through the school.  If you are interested in the classes and the opportunities give us a call at (412) 921 9227.

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Part Time Night and Weekend Jobs in Pittsburgh

January 14th, 2008

Bartending is the perfect part-time job.  Whether you are working 1,2,  or 3 nights a week it is one of the only part-time jobs where you will be smiling through your work.

In Pittsburgh and throughout the surrounding counties there are always, bars, clubs, restaurants looking for someone to fill a shift or three.  This isn’t just true for Pittsburgh but its applicable around Pennsylvania and the rest of the nation.

Bartending shifts enable you to make that extra money while enjoying yourself.  Get some experience and you’ll soon learn how to make more and more money.  Even at the most unassuming local bars and taverns you’ll get to work the regular customers over and quickly develop skills to earn larger tips.

Hotels, restaurants, local bars all see consistant turnover.  Bartenders don’t have a reputation for being the most reliable workers.  With constant turnover there are always opportunities to get use your skills to land a first part-time bartending gig, develop your skills, and start turning it into a tremendous income making/fun/endeavor.

Regardless of all else, the most important qualities are reliability and personality.  Every restaurant, bar, club in the nation has problems with keeping reliable people in the business.  If you have these qualities employers will love you.

Personality will make you and your bar a lot of money.  Get to know your customers.  Treat them well.  Make sure they are comfortable and having fun at the bar.

The more they enjoy the atmosphere, the more money you will make.

How much should you be earning.  We never like to overstate it.  At average bars on average weekday nights we have heard from thousands of grads they have earned in a range between $50-$150 an evening.  If it is consistantly less than $50 then don’t keep working there.  The bar is too slow.

The longer you work, the more you’ll start making.  At that point the sky is the limit. 

But remember one other thing.  Its the only part-time job you can imagine where you’ll be smiling through your entire shift. 

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