Bartending Courses and Classes

Bartending is not as simple as it seems. Some people go through years of on-the-job training, starting out as waiters or waitresses before they become full-fledged bartenders or mixologists. One way to quickly gain experience as a bartender is to study bartending courses.

Bartending Courses: Online or Live?

There are two types of bartending courses you can take: live and online bartending courses. Live bartending courses are done in brick and mortar bartending schools or academies, while online bartending courses are done on the Internet. Brick and mortar schools are generally better than online schools because you’ll have face to face interaction with the expert instructors. The advantage of an online school over a brick and mortar school though, is that it’s much cheaper and more convenient, because you can do classes at home.

The courses covered in both types are generally the same, although the method of instruction is different. Brick and mortar schools rely on hands-on education of their students, while online schools use downloadable e-books, video tutorials, simulation programs, chat, e-mail, and phone conversations to teach their courses. Many people find brick and mortar schools more effective because of the face-to-face interaction, while some prefer online schools because they’re inexpensive and provide flexible schedules.

Live Bartending Courses: Master the Art of Bartending

Brick and mortar bartending schools offer their students complete equipment and facilities, so they’ll get a real feel of what it’s like being a bartender. The following are just some of the courses that you have to take when you attend a brick and mortar bartending school.

• Customer Service: Bartending schools try to produce bartenders that give customers a sense of satisfaction. The best bartenders are those that can talk to any customer. Some bars are known for their wise bartenders that advise customers on their problems. Not all customers want a shoulder to cry on though, and the bartender has to know who needs his counsel and who doesn’t.

Another skill that bartenders have to learn is remembering the favorite drinks of regular customers. They must also have good recommendations for local nightlife outside the bar. You must be well-rounded on many topics if you want to become a bartender, because customers will ask you everything from road directions, sports trivia, to the marital status of other customers.

• Basic Bar Equipment: As a bartender, you’re in charge of taking care of the bar equipment; and you have the responsibility to use them properly. Bartending courses will teach you the different bartending tools, and their purposes. Here is a list of basic bar equipment that you will have to master:

• • Cocktail Shaker: A cocktail shaker is a device that’s used to blend cocktails. Bartending courses typically include shaking techniques for cocktails.

• • Electric Blender: Not all cocktails are possible to blend by manual shaking. You have to learn how to properly use an electric blender in order to mix ingredients smoothly.

• • Scoops and ice tongs: Simple things like handling scoops and ice tongs should be thoroughly learned to avoid mistakes in the bar; for example, the minor mistake of using glassware as a scoop can have disastrous consequences if the glass chips or breaks, and you spill blood on the liquor and ice.

• • Juice extractor: You may know how to use a juice extractor, but do you know how much of a particular juice is needed to make a specific cocktail? Bartending schools teach you the details of cocktail preparation so you can satisfy your customers.

• • Measuring cups: Some drinks rely on exact measurements of ingredients to taste right. Bartending courses discuss the correct use of measuring cups, and what drinks need exact measurements.

• Types of drinks: There is almost an endless variety of drinks today that customers can choose from. A bartender has to know most, if not all, of these drinks so that he can concoct them perfectly. He has to know all the popular wines, beers, champagnes, and liquors; and which brands are good, and which are not. Some bartenders even develop expert noses that can tell the exact ingredients and age of wine. Some of these skills can’t be learned in just two weeks of bartending training, but taking bartending courses can get you a long way toward mastering such skills.

• Drink mixing: Flair bartending or flairing involves doing flashy mixing techniques that entertain customers. It’s hard to learn these techniques on your own without breaking lots of bottles and injuring yourself. Flairing includes flipping, juggling, handling liquors on fire, and even performing magic tricks. Flairing competitions are also widely popular; and you can’t enter these competitions if your mixing skills are just average.

• Job interview techniques: The best bartending schools guarantee their students job placements when they graduate; which is why they include job interview techniques in their courses. You’ll learn how to properly showcase your skills as an excellent bartender during a job interview, so you’ll get hired immediately.

Online Bartending Courses: Quick and Easy

Most online bartending schools require their students to read a book that discusses various topics about bartending. The book covers the responsibilities of a bartender, bar equipment, liquors for different situations, and other bartending basics. The book may have exercises that you need to answer in order to complete the course.

The drawback in studying online bartending courses is that it’s difficult to learn bar tricks, flairs, and bar magic just by watching video tutorials. You may get tips from the instructor online or over the phone, but it would still be difficult because he won’t be there to closely supervise your training. Instructors in brick and mortar bartending schools work with their students face to face, which means they can point out their unique mistakes in doing various bar tricks.

Some online bartending schools offer simulation programs that let the student imagine what it’s like to work in a real bar or hotel. The program may have animated games to teach the student what to do next in different situations. While these games help familiarize you with bottles, drinks, and other simple things, you’ll find little use for it in real flair training.

At the end of the online bartending program, the school asks you to finish a bartending exam that covers all the previous topics that you’ve read and discussed with your instructors. Most online schools require their students to pass with a certain grade to complete the program. If the student fails the exam, he’ll not be able to download the certificate; and he may have to retake the courses again.

Bartending Classes: Your Key to Success

Bartending classes usually last for just one to two weeks; then the school gives you a certificate stating that you’ve passed their requirements and standards. The schedules of brick and mortar schools are more regular than online schools, but some of them also accept adjusted schedules. Some schools ask their students to attend four hours of bartending training Mondays to Fridays in order to complete the program. Online schools, on the other hand, give you as much time as you want to read their book and complete their exercises. You have all the time you need to master everything that they have to offer, before taking their certification exam.

Increase your chances of working in a well-respected and popular bar or hotel by taking bartending courses now. Get that edge in bartending that many applicants lack, and make your dream career come true.