Im looking to start bartending ASAP. (Virginia Beach/Norfolk/Chesapeake area)

I don't want to work in a chain, def. prefer either a club/bar or nice private restaurant.

I recently turned 21 and have been wanting to start for a while now, but with school and everything I just never had the time.

So, if anyone knows of a place that's actually looking (not accepting applications, but actually actively hiring) or anyone that I should contact I'd really appreciate it.

Please note that I do not have any experience behind the bar, but have 7 years of food service management behind my belt.

Thanks everyone.

 

You need to go to bartending school. It is about to be summer time and all the kids are coming home from college. Restaurants/Bars/Clubs are not looking to train someone.

http://www.barmaster.com/location.htm

 

Virginia Beach Virginia
1141 Independence Boulevard
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23455
Telephone: (757)-464-0500

Yeaaah i was going to suggest the Bartending Academy of Virginia buuuut thats up here in Richmond and aint no point in you travelling if you got one down there.....riiiiight...

 

I was going to go to bartending school, but most of the bartenders/bar workers that I spoke to said that it was a waste and all you really learn are how to pour properly and what's in certain drinks.

Basically, anyone I spoke to that went to Barmasters said it was a waste of time and money, that's why I havent considered it.

Thanks for the responses though.

 

The Cavalier Hotel

 

thanks

 

when I became a bartender in College I had to work my way up the ladder from crappy restaurant bar to a nice german pub in houston that had 48 different beers on tap that constantly changed.

Its easiest if you are not going to bartending school to get a bartending friend to recommend you for barback/bartender in training at the bar/restaurant they work at so you can learn the way a bar works and you can watch and learn how drinks are made and how to handle a busy crowd/and drunk people. (bartending you have to be a people person! People come to bars during the middle of the day love to tell you everything that is going wrong in their lives!)

Most likely a nice club or upscale bar will not hire you unless you have previous bartending experience.

Learn drinks! for the first 2 years I bartended I made a promise that I would learn at least 3 new drinks every shift (this is after you learn the core drinks that every one orders). I kept index cards that i used as flash cards at the bar and would write down new drinks I found in bartending guide books and during setup and breakdown I would quiz myself over and over. If a customer came in and requested a drink I never heard of or had one they made up I would write it down and learn/memorize it the same day.

 

Thanks for all the info, def. a help.

I pretty much figured that I would have to barback first, which is fine with me. I wouldn't want to get behind a bar without knowing what I was doing.

I am trying to get a job at Coastal Grill on Great Neck Rd., a buddy of mine works there and I've already spoken to the manager and Im now just waiting for a response from her.

Any more current or ex-bartenders with advice?

 

I worked my way up from Security, then to barbacking, then to bartending, then on to ABC Manager @ Have A Nice Day Cafe' in Norfolk.

Bartending isnt hard to learn and basically with that company they promote you if your "eye candy" status. You could be the biggest retard in there but if they think you can pull in girls left and right they will put you behind the bar.

Mostly that happens with girls though.

But I forsee you having to work your way up from wherever you start, barbacking is the hardest job in the bar ... period. If you can do that with no problems then you can handle bartending.

 

you aint lyin!