How to be a good bartender

To be a good bartender you need experience in the restaurant and/or bar industry, the skills and knowledge to make great cocktails and other mixed drinks, and the ability to socialize well with customers.

A bartender is a food services professional who makes and serves alcoholic beverages to customers of a restaurant, bar, or event.

Here are some more details on how to be a good bartender:

• Experience

  Experience is a key element to being a good bartender. Many bartenders start off in other positions in the food service industry. They might be waiters or waitresses, barbacks, hosts or hostesses, or even cooks.

  Here are ways to gain relevant experience/training in bartending:

  • Work in a bar or restaurant

  • Take a bartending class

  • Enroll in a mixology course

  • Work as a barback

  Most new bartenders will have worked in the food industry in some way. When they become a bartender they are given on-the-job training in mixology. Meaning you need to get the proper experience to be a good bartender, whether it's on-the-job experience or training from a bartending program.

  There are no formal education requirements needed in order to become a bartender. However, you can attend bartending classes to help you gain skills and knowledge in the field.

  For those with little or no experience, there are also mixology classes available in certain locations. This can give you the skills and knowledge needed to make great mixed drinks and even cocktails of your own invention.

  Not all bars and restaurants require a bartending license, however, getting one can help a bartender stand out when seeking a job. This license also helps to familiarize them with common bartending practices and etiquette.

  You also learn about the laws and penalties regarding minors, spotting the stages of intoxication in customers, and how to handle and prevent alcohol-induced disturbances. Online classes are also available to achieve a bartending license, but they should be state-approved.

• Socializing with customers

  This is a critical component of being a bartender. Since this professional relies heavily on tips from customers, you need to know how to properly communicate with them.

  Being personable and engaging in small talk are skills that most bartenders need. Even those that work in busy night clubs still need to know how to talk with customers and keep them happy.

  You also need to know when not to be overly communicative with your customers. If a patron is in a bad mood or seems to want to be left alone, you should not try to converse with them, unless they initiate it.

  The better you can communicate with your patrons, the more likely you are to receive generous tips as a bartender. Also, you should try to remember your customers' names, even if they are new. Steal a glance at their debit or credit card, if they open a tab, and memorize their name. Bar patrons appreciate this personal touch.