Bartending Blog (4)

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.

Read Comments (5)

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. 

Read Comments (0)

Bartending Jobs in Pittsburgh–23 New Job leads in June

June 26th, 2008

We have added 23 bartending job leads in Pittsburgh and the surrounding towns in the month of June.  They are exclusively available for our graduates.  On top of that we have a great list of part time and on call bartender positions.  These additional jobs are great part-time opportunities.

Its not just Pittsburgh, though.  Our lists include bartender jobs in all directions and throughout the region.  Our bartending school has obtained job leads in a variety of nearby towns including, Butler, Coraopolis, Penn Hills, Finleyville, Cranberry, Oakdale, and Mckeesport.   Some are full time and others are part-time.  In fact in one case the hiring manager is a graduate of the school.

More good bartending job news.  One of our sister schools has established a relationship with a bartending employer that hires periodically around the nation.  They are actually one of the major employers for events all during the year.  This means our network of contacts with bar employers nationwide is dramatically strengthened as we will be coordinating hiring bartenders in metropolitan areas nationwide.

If you want to see this list simply call the school at (412) 921-9227 and arrange a day and time to visit.

Serve em up with a smile!!!!!   

Read Comments (0)

Pittsburgh Bartending Job Leads

June 3rd, 2008

The bartending schools we have owned and managed have always focused on one element that is surprisingly different from many other bartending schools around the nation.  We generate actual hard bartending job leads exclusively for our graduates.  We are doing this in Pittsburgh.

We develop and contact thousands of bars throughout the market.  Its typically every kind of employer.  It could be neighborhood bars, the hottest clubs, or the fanciest establishments in the region.  We contact these employers regularly over the course of the year to generate hard and specific job leads specifically for our grads.

The employers know its a free service for them.  They don’t need to advertise, spend money on web or newspaper ad placement, and specifically know that our graduates come trained with basic bartending skills.  These graduates have a fall back source at our school to come back and practice, ask questions and get on-going help even as they start their initial jobs.

Our leads come directly from responses from the employers.  We don’t copy leads or scrape data from the web.  Sometimes those job leads reflect employers who might want people with experience and specifically don’t hire new bartending school grads.  Our leads could be the same as job opportunities published elsewhere, but you will know that if it came from the school it was specifically given to our staff.  Those employers will specifically hire grads from the school.

…..and then we do more.

Along with these leads we present possibly the most complete manual on how to land a bartending job.  We have developed this over many years.  It reflects our own experience in the industry as former barowners, managers and bartenders.  We have done the hiring and firing and we have been hired and fired.  Still it is more than that.  It reflects all we have learned from interacting with employers over decades of effort.  We’ve reviewed this manual against the best advice we’ve seen on the web….and our system is more thorough.

Having said all that, we can’t guarantee jobs.  At any place, at any time, a bar owner might not find a grad as the perfect candidate or might have other candidates he or she prefers.  That is why we subscribe to the idea of the largest possible bartender job search using our hard leads and our advice.

In any case, if you want to find specific hard job leads give us a call or arrange to visit to see all we can do to help you develop bartending job skills and find a job. 

Read Comments (0)

West Virginia Bartending School

May 27th, 2008

We have been providing bartending training for people for West Virginia for years.  We are extremely convenient for the Northern part of West Virginia and have seen lots of students in our school who wish to be bartenders, especially from Morgantown and areas near it.

Here is additional great news for those from West Virginia that wish to be bartenders.  You can take classes at our Pittsburgh location.  Our phone number is (412) 921-9227 or visit us at our website at http://www.bartendingschoolpittsburgh.com. 

 Alternatively, you can visit us at our sister school just outside of Washington DC in Virginia.  That location is particularly convenient for people living in the West Virginia panhandle.  The website is http://www.bartending-school.com and the phone number is (703) 841 9700.

Take training in either school and both will provide you with excellent bartending job placement assistance in their market areas. 

In fact, with both schools operating we are simply going to add to the massive lists of employers we maintain  and contact on behalf of students.  We will add bars, restaurants, and clubs throughout both Northern West Virginia and Western Maryland.

So feel free to contact us either in Pittsburgh or Virginia.  We will be happy to help. 

Read Comments (0)

Hey Bartenders What do Pittsburgh Penguin Fans Like to Drink?

May 21st, 2008

Of course like everyone else in the region we’ll do whatever it takes to help the Penguins take the Stanley Cup this year.  Sports writers and some hockey followers believe that the outcome of the game is decided solely by what happens on the ice.  We know differently.  We KNOW that if we the fans take all the right actions, think all the right thoughts, and cross our fingers our Penguins will kick @ss over that Detroit team. 

So we were trying to figure out how we could help.  We know mostly about bars, and bartenders and drinks  so we thought if we could just figure out or learn what most Penguin fans drink in most bars….and if all the bars in the region knew it….and all the Penguin fans got served faster and better…..then our Pittsburgh karma would be sooooo much better.  Then all those drunk happy fans would take the Penguins over the top.

So we started looking through the web with all sorts of searches for all sorts of phrases for combinations of Penguins and Penguin fans, and drinking and getting drunk, and favorite drinks…etc.   Couldn’t find anything. 

We looked up the same thing for hockey fans and found this blog from a Canucks fan who plays hockey, likes to drink….and wrote about his 10 favorite drinks here.

But come on….this guy does not sound like a Penguins fan. He likes Mojitos and Margaritas, Pina Colladas and…..come on now…..Bellini’s. Okay….the guy drinks beer too…..but Bellini’s.

We know Penguin fans don’t drink like this guy. What do they drink, bartenders? And how can we serve the fans better, keep em happier, create better karma that the Penquins take their first Stanley Cup since what seems like forever!!!!

So….if you can tell us what Penguin fans drink….you’ll be helping the Penguins kick butt!!!!!!!!

Read Comments (1)

Part time jobs after school -in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and everywhere

April 25th, 2008

Our staff in Pittsburgh, in other bartending schools around the country, in a bar we have owned, and from the experience of so many grads, confirms that one of the best part time jobs after school is as a bartender.

The opportunities are even better in Pennsylvania where the legal age to bartend is 18. Its especially great in and around Pittsburgh, as one of the great college cities in the United States. Pittsburgh has a large and active bar/club/restaurant environment that hires all the time and has many establishments close to the large popular area colleges and universities.

Bartending jobs offer flexibility. You can work one to five shifts a week. They are predominately at night after classes. If you have a free afternoon though, there are a tremendous number of hotels, and all sorts of restaurants and pubs that look for day shift bartenders.

The job is easy. You never take it home with you. Its one of the few jobs where most of the time your smiling. Think of that the next time you face a mindless office job.

Far and away most of your income is tip income. In finer restaurants, hotels, and chains, the base salary is higher and the tip income is still significant.

At Barsmart’s forum we estimated there might be as many as 10,000 opportunities for full time and part time bartenders in the region. That doesn’t even include the huge volume of catering opportunities or banquet bartenders that hotels require. These catering and banquet bartending jobs are absolutely ideal as a part time job.

The nice thing about bartending jobs is that you can take the skill where ever you go. Over 25 years in running bartending schools we have yet to see a time where there hasn’t been a demand for good bartenders.

Read Comments (3)

Pittsburgh Bartending –Promote Promote Promote

February 22nd, 2008

We were looking at some information on Pittsburgh bars and noticed a tiny little fact that provides a tremendous opportunity.

There are very few bars in the region that provide Sentanta Sports.  It is a premier soccer/rugby/European sports network with either live or delayed top quality soccer matches and Rugby matches from Europe and Australia.  Its one of the great soccer channels available.  In fact we were amazed at how relatively few such bars there are relative to the population and compared to some other cities where we have operated bartending schools.

Now maybe Pittsburgh isn’t the center of fandom for British top notch soccer….but you know something there are a ton of soccer teams in the region, lots of soccer fans, overall sports fans, and people who can get intrigued by the special European style of cheering and rooting that is so different from American sports phenomena.  Its exciting.

With so few bars offering this entertainment we looked at a portion of the population to try and see where we could get customers.

Did you know there are over 40 or 50 adult soccer leagues in the Pittsburgh area.  They recruit players.  People advertise to join them.  They range in age from probably teenagers to over 40’s.  There are men’s and women’s leagues.  And that is just from a quick view.

On top of that there are 10 colleges in Allegheny County and over 30 colleges in the region.  Many of them have male and female teams and they probably have intramural teams on top of that.

These players have friends, fans, and families that probably also like the game.  That is several thousand potential customers, a chance to get them to network to other potential customers…and a tremendous opportunity to attract them to the very few bars in the region that show Setanta sports.  (by the way…we have no association with Setanta sports)

If I were showing those games I’d be marketing into these crowds and groups regularly.  They aren’t that hard to reach.  We found some of this information in about 1/2 an hour.

You know what else is great about these games, from the bar owners perspective?  The games are often early in the day.  That means that if you either operate a bar or are a bartender you can bring in a crowd at a time when the bar is often quiet.

Now if I’m a bartender at one of these establishments, or more realistically an owner, I’d be specifically marketing into these and other groups in the city and region on a regular basis.   

You can’t stop the marketing effort.  With ten local colleges and universities in the region and over 30 universities–with about 50,000 students in the County and over 130,000 in the greater Southeast PA region, there is a lot of turnover.

But with so little competition for this premium specialty sports network its an amazing opportunity.

We know there are endless promotion opportunities.  Bar operators explore them all the time.  Great bartenders learn how to promote their shifts and build business.  Frankly one of the great experiences in the business is to turn a slow shift or a slow day into a busy profitable day where the crowd is having a lot of fun.

Having operated bartending schools, bars, been bartenders, managed and owned we have seen a lot of opportunities and experiences over the years.  We just found this one to be a potential gem.  Contact us if you want to explore other ideas.   

Read Comments (0)

Bartending Jobs in Pittsburgh and every city in the Country

February 14th, 2008

We always get asked about National bartender job placement assistance.  In fact we were asked today about helping someone get a job who might move to Lancaster.

Here is what we have developed after years and years of working on this.

As an independantly owned school not aligned with any chains and also not stuck with rivalries and disagreements we have always made the effort to be the MOST cooperative school in the business when it comes to national job placement assistance.  It has worked we have established relationships with bartending schools in many many markets across the country, in Canada, and across the world.

We do several things for you if you are moving to another area:

1.  When you go through our program you will get an A-Z….how to get a bartending job anywhere, anytime, in any market for any type of place.   We have worked with owners/managers of clubs, formal places and everything in between.  In fact we owned a bar, hired, fired, built it from nothing, cleaned the bar, slung drinks, scrubbed the floor, developed promos….and built it into the premier college bar in its city  ( alot like Pittsburgh). 

Its funny, we have had people from other parts of the country come to one of our schools and mention exactly how or why the managers would hire them….and its in our review. 

We strongly urge our grads to use this system.  It has worked for decades.  One day a grad stopped by one of our schools and told us he used one of our tricks/suggestions on a Saturday….and by the end of the afternoon he had a job.  He described it in a very funny way.  Just cracked us up.  Really great to hear from grads.

2.  We will hook you into relevant bartending schools in that market that will provide cooperative job placement assistance.  We have spent years contacting other owners, emphasizing our cooperation in our markets, reported back to them, and created the environment so that our grads get the same level of service in other markets.  We never stop doing this.  It ensures a high level of service and reciprocity.

These efforts work.  By example we recently reinforced and cooperated with schools in a couple of regions including a chain of schools in Los Angelos National Bartenders Bartending School, a chain with a school in Sacramento and elsewhere Bartending College Schools, and an operator with a NYC bartending school  

In fact we first started cooperating with one of them in 1984!!!

We have worked out agreements with partial training in one school and finished training in a differently owned school in a different market. We found that if we go the little extra mile we can help our grads way beyond what they see elsewhere.

So if you want to find out about bartending anywhere in the nation….even internationally….check us out.

Read Comments (0)

Best Bartending on the Web

February 13th, 2008

We have been so active in bartending, bartending schools, operating bars, staying current, helping people get bartending jobs and promoting the bar business for decades.  There is no better way to learn and develop your bartending skills and knowledge than by accessing more information on the web.

In our opinions and experience here are the best starting points for more information and more access to better skills and knowledge than any other sources on the web.  On top of that they both offer comprehensive lists of other resources on every aspect of bartending you can think of in every part of the world.

The Webtender

The Webtender is simply the largest, oldest, very useful and most comprehensive list of bartending recipes in existance. It was established in 1995. (whoa…that is a long time for the web!!)

Beyond that the webtender features sources to buy equipment, information galore….and the most active forum on bartending commentary for every person. Have questions about new jobs, how to develop skills, new drinks, or any other issue about bartending–check out the webtender forum. In fact some of the various people who have developing popular bartending websites and have deep experience will often be found commenting in the webtender’s bartending forums. Check em out. Join and get in on the Conversation.

Miss Charming

Miss Charming simply has the most fun, most entertaining, most comprehensive bar site imaginable. Cheryl Charming is so well named. She knows this business upside down and backwards. She has interacted with the most knowledgeable experts out there. She has written books, entertained, staged shows, and of course bartended, bartended, bartended. (She estimates having made over 1.5 million drinks!!!!)

Like the Webtender, Cheryl’s site is also an enormous and great source for finding out information about bartending from around the world.  One other thing.  Cheryl Charming is the real deal.  She is lots more than a webmaster and designer of funky bar related design.  She has been bartending for years, she has interacted with the best in the business and she knows how to turn a simple bar into a vibrant exciting hot center of action. Visit and enjoy.  You can’t help but pick up valuable info from Miss Charming.

Extreme Bartending 

Extreme Bartending is the bar tenders guide for flair bartending including videos, seminar instruction (we travel anywhere), online mixed drink recipes, job listings and more. They are absolutely terrific for flair bartending. Well worth the visit. Like the sites above they also have been around forever and have a mountain of leads on the best bartending resources in the business. But when it comes to flair….go on over to EXTREME.

Read Comments (0)