Bartending Blog (2)

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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Pittsburgh Bartenders

September 3rd, 2009

Are you looking for a bartender to serve drinks at your party, catered event, public meeting, business meeting, holiday event?  Look no farther.

Our school provides bartenders for catered events all over the region.  Our grads are well trained, certified, and know everything about bartending from A to Z.  They can set up a bar, break it down, suggest what alcohols to buy, how much ice you need, and all sorts of little critical tips.  They will help make your party a big success. 

You will have more time to spend with guests.  You will be free of the small questions and  and details that plague hosts.  On top of that you have an extra hand to set up and break down and clean up when the event ends.

We have grads from all over the region and can staff events on all weekends or weekdays.  Call us if you are looking for the best in Pittsburgh bartending.   (412) 921-9227. 

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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!!! 

 

 

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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. 

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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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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.

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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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Becoming a Great Bartender–An essential tip

June 1st, 2009

We recently finished interviewing a bartender who reached the top of his industry.  This is a guy who attended one of our bartending schools, later taught there, took a number of bartending gigs, worked his way up…and landed two of the best bartending spots at two of the hottest clubs in America. 

How hot?  He held down one of the busiest bar spots in a club rated among the top 20 clubs in the nation. From that position he moved to bar manager of a sleeker higher volume per person club, where he again handled one of the busiest bars in the venue. This guy knows how to ring up huge sales. With that, he generates enormous tips.

He gave us a list of the most important tips in becoming a great club bartender. We aren’t going to list them all here–but we will emphasize one of them.

BE FAST-AND EFFICIENT

This may seem like common sense, but in bartending there is a lot to being fast.  Nobody gets there automatically.  It takes time and practise.

Even more importantly than moving fast is moving efficiently.  Always use two hands.  That means pouring all drinks on the drip mat in front of you.  That allows using two hands for two different pours all the time.  Grab everything in front of you at one time and pour.  When you move to the back bar, grab two or more bottles at a time.  When setting up drinks grab as many glasses at one time as you can.  If you are pouring two drinks with the same vodka, set them up next to one another, so you can move the pour from one to the second in an instant.  Ice all your glasses at one time.  If your standard garnishes are set up next to one another, garnish everything at one time.  Above all don’t waste motion.

Working efficiently sets up bartenders to pour many many more drinks over the course of an evening than they could have otherwise.  Each action shaves milliseconds and they add up over the night.  Once you have this down, it becomes easy to pour an extra 50-100 drinks an hour, and easy to dramatically ring up additional sales and make dramatically more in tips.

Getting to that point is the hard part.  It does take practise.  Stop grabbing a glass in one hand, holding it up for show, and pouring from the other hand.  Get those glasses on the drip mat and pour pour pour.  Break every habit that slows you down.

There are three ways to get these habits down.

1.  Attend a bartending school that emphasizes these habits and practise, practise, practise.

2.  Pay attention to the fastest most efficient bartenders in your bar.  Watch what they do, ask them questions, and then practise, practise, practise.

3.  Some bartenders are smart enough and lucky enough to figure out how to be efficient.  They are very few and far between.  We strongly suggest you get training from someone who has already figured this out and knows exactly how to do this.

 

Good luck….and ring up big big money!!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

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