Post: #1

So, right now, I'm in grad school and will be for another ~8 to 12 months. Prior to this, I was a geologist at a gold mine. I've never worked in any sort of service industry job before. In highschool, I found jobs doing labour. In college, I worked up north in the summer.

I'm done all my classes now and have a pretty relaxed research schedule this summer. I've been thinking about getting a job at a bar. I only want to work 2 or 3 nights a week; mostly just for fun and to meet new people.

How would you recommend that I go about finding work? I don't really want to be a server or a bus boy. I'd like to work as a bartender; though, I'm sure that's something you don't just walk right into.

Is it even something worth doing? I don't really need the money; although, a little extra never hurts. I just think it would be fun as it's something completely foreign to me.

Post: #2

Do you live in Toronto? I might have some information for you.

Post: #3

No, in Edmonton unfortunately.

Post: #4

I'm my case, I'm wondering how one could get jobs at foreign bars.


say you move to a random country and a location independent income and you just want something extra to do during the week.

how easy could it be to get a job as a bartender at a bar club working one or two nights a week?

Post: #5

(04-30-2014 05:45 PM)cmrocks Wrote:  So, right now, I'm in grad school and will be for another ~8 to 12 months. Prior to this, I was a geologist at a gold mine. I've never worked in any sort of service industry job before. In highschool, I found jobs doing labour. In college, I worked up north in the summer.

I'm done all my classes now and have a pretty relaxed research schedule this summer. I've been thinking about getting a job at a bar. I only want to work 2 or 3 nights a week; mostly just for fun and to meet new people.

How would you recommend that I go about finding work? I don't really want to be a server or a bus boy. I'd like to work as a bartender; though, I'm sure that's something you don't just walk right into.

Is it even something worth doing? I don't really need the money; although, a little extra never hurts. I just think it would be fun as it's something completely foreign to me.

1. Get your servers licence
2. Get a mixology book

Now, because its summer you've got some better seasonal/low key options. They won't fall into your lap and you'll have to hustle a bit they include:

1. Hitting up elks lodges/legions/ halls where they host weddings, get on as an event bartender. Work is irregular but you don't have to be a good bartender.

2. Hit up restaurants that have seasonal patio bars/volley ball courts, again, its only summer so you aren't doing anything regular.

3. Hit up golf courses and marinas (I don't know if edmonton has anything water related?)

Option #1 and #3 is what I'd go with.

Post: #6

(04-30-2014 06:34 PM)cmrocks Wrote:  No, in Edmonton unfortunately.

I used to be a bouncer at one of the bars on Whyte Ave. Funny that you mention that you just wanna try something new and meet new people because that's exactly why I did it...

Until I got fired when the boss found out I was fucking his girl.

At the minimum, you need your ProServe. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) requires this for anyone who works in an establishment that serves alcohol.

If you wanna try being a bouncer, you'll also need your ProTect.

You mentioned you wanna be a bartender. There is a bartending school on 103rd and Whyte. Pretty cheap, short duration and definitely worth your investment as being a bartender is a geographically transferable skill. The majority of bars and pubs in Edmonton recognize this school.

As a bouncer, I had no problems getting laid with the other servers. Bartenders... well that's a given.

Once you get all that, just go into the bars/pubs and ask the manager if they're looking for bartenders. Same premise if you were to look for any other type of job.

Post: #7

(05-01-2014 11:27 AM)Albertron Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 06:34 PM)cmrocks Wrote:  No, in Edmonton unfortunately.

I used to be a bouncer at one of the bars on Whyte Ave. Funny that you mention that you just wanna try something new and meet new people because that's exactly why I did it...

Until I got fired when the boss found out I was fucking his girl.

At the minimum, you need your ProServe. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) requires this for anyone who works in an establishment that serves alcohol.

If you wanna try being a bouncer, you'll also need your ProTect.

You mentioned you wanna be a bartender. There is a bartending school on 103rd and Whyte. Pretty cheap, short duration and definitely worth your investment as being a bartender is a geographically transferable skill. The majority of bars and pubs in Edmonton recognize this school.

As a bouncer, I had no problems getting laid with the other servers. Bartenders... well that's a given.

Once you get all that, just go into the bars/pubs and ask the manager if they're looking for bartenders. Same premise if you were to look for any other type of job.

Hey,

Thanks for the info. I've actually seen that bartending school that you're talking about. I'll go check it out in addition to ProServe. I don't want to invest too much in this. Once I finish my masters, I'll be back to work full time. This was mostly just a thought for something fun to do over the summer and perhaps into next fall.

No interest in being a bouncer, I'm too small.

Post: #8

To become a bar tender, you just have to start by collecting the glasses and cleaning the bathrooms for a couple of weeks first.
In many countries you will need some kind of Responsible Server of Alcohol licence or some shit like that.
Just get some experience pouring beers and making cocktails and then try to get a job in some fancy cocktail bar. It pays a couple of bucks / hour more.

But then you have to deal with drunk cunts all the time. Plus those bitches who walk up, and all of them order 5 different (most complicated) cocktails on the menu, and then want to pay with 5 different credit cards.
Fuck! That is the reason people go crazy and shoot up schools!

Post: #9

Maybe I'm delusional about the entire thing but I'm picturing working 2 or 3 nights a week and, doing so, making an extra $500 a week between wages and tips. It would be nice to be able to pad my measly grad school income with an extra couple grand a month.

Post: #10

Start out as a barback. The barback is kind of the bartender's bitch. They keep the bartender stocked with clean glasses, ice, booze, mixers. I forget what portion of the tips they get but maybe it's 25-33%.

Here's the advantage of working as a barback rather than going in as a bartender. You show up as a bartender and you're most likely going to be the FNG (Fucking New Guy). The FNG has a lot of proving to do; lots of bars and restaurants have pre-existing hierarchies and alliances and you coming in there can put you under a lot of scrutiny. This is fine if you're experienced and know your shit, but that's not the case with you. Even if you've gone through bartending school, you haven't put in the hours or been in a serious grind with packed bar that's 8 deep. You've got some stripes to earn.

Being a barback however, automatically puts you in good favor with the other bartenders. You're there specifically to help them out and keep their bar stocked. If you do a good job then they'll play favorites and they'll start to request you. As you're barbacking, you watch and learn the whole time. There's a lot of turnover in the service industry and when one of your knucklehead bartenders calls in sick, guess who takes his spot? You.

If you're decent looking you'll get plenty of numbers from customers, and there's a high chance you'll be fucking your female coworkers too.

Go for it!

Post: #11

(05-02-2014 11:43 AM)thedude3737 Wrote:  Start out as a barback. The barback is kind of the bartender's bitch. They keep the bartender stocked with clean glasses, ice, booze, mixers. I forget what portion of the tips they get but maybe it's 25-33%.

Here's the advantage of working as a barback rather than going in as a bartender. You show up as a bartender and you're most likely going to be the FNG (Fucking New Guy). The FNG has a lot of proving to do; lots of bars and restaurants have pre-existing hierarchies and alliances and you coming in there can put you under a lot of scrutiny. This is fine if you're experienced and know your shit, but that's not the case with you. Even if you've gone through bartending school, you haven't put in the hours or been in a serious grind with packed bar that's 8 deep. You've got some stripes to earn.

Being a barback however, automatically puts you in good favor with the other bartenders. You're there specifically to help them out and keep their bar stocked. If you do a good job then they'll play favorites and they'll start to request you. As you're barbacking, you watch and learn the whole time. There's a lot of turnover in the service industry and when one of your knucklehead bartenders calls in sick, guess who takes his spot? You.

If you're decent looking you'll get plenty of numbers from customers, and there's a high chance you'll be fucking your female coworkers too.

Go for it!

Thanks!

That's the type of position that I had in mind for starting out.

Really, I just want a fun job for the next 4 to 8 months that earns me an extra couple grand a month.