1- Get fast Bartending Training - You don´t need to know a 100 recipes or how to flip 6 bottles to get into bartending. Learn the foundations on cocktail making and serving a beer correctly, learn how to master a POS terminal and the key tasks at a bar and you are as ready as 99% of applicants are. If you have no training at all and no time to attend bartending school just sign up for our Online Bartender Training and be ready in a week

2- Create a killer resume with a professional photograph. You must be able to catch the attention of a hiring manager in 4 seconds

3- Research for the kind of venues you would like to work at. You prefer the fast paced environment of a nightclub or the intimacy of a cocktail bar_ Find the one that suits your personality best and write down a list of at least 50 targets places and the contact info of each of them

4- Craft your pitch. Practive every word you will tell the hiring manager, how you will respond to his questions and objections and how will you project so much value he won´t have an option but to say "When can you start"

5- Go direct and go big. Don´t be afraid to go for a job at the fancy, exclusive locations, while it is true that the process might be a bit more complex the potential reward of getting hired by a high volume nightclub are inmense. If you want to make $10,000 you must go for a venue where it is realistic to make at least $500 in tips per night. Also, don´t limit yourself to your own town; if you are serious about making money in bartending apply to international positions, destinations like Dubai have high demand for international, qualified bartenders and hospitality services workers. Try cruisers and resorts worldwide, they are always in need for highly motivated staff and that can be you. Just make it a matter of numbers if the shots are 1 to 10 then try a 100 applications. You can´t control what the response of a hiring manager but you can control how many hiring managers you talk to.

Now, go get that job! 

Getting a job at a cocktail bar can be challenging. Unlike a nightclub or a pub where speed and efficiency can suffice, cocktail bars appeal to a more selective clientele, usually with a more trained palate. Your average cocktail bar regular will enter the bar knowing exactly what he wants and how he wants it, even more, every once in a while he will look at you to give him a new recommendation. 
However, cocktail bars are also great venues to make great, even extraordinary tips. The intimacy of the relationship between a bartender and the guest is unique and this often results in significantly better tips. 
So how you get a bartender job in a cocktail bar?
1- Know your recipes, specially the classics.
You must master the cocktails that are a classic all around the world such as Martini, Old Fashioned, Manhattan and their specifics and variations. You don't need to know a 100 recipes but you must feel confident with at least one cocktail from each of the major spirits.
2- Learn Mixology
Mixology is like bartending with steroids. Where bartenders usually stick to the basic recipes and their respective bar menus, mixologists go way further and bring their own creations to the bar. A mixologist knows the different compositions of spirits and how they go along with each other as well as with mixers and garnishes that highlight their respective properties. A mixology can take a simple Negroni and turn it into his own infusion with spectacular results. 
3- Be Classy
Hiring Managers at Cocktails Bars are among the pickiest in the industry. The reason is quite obvious, the clientele's expectations are way higher than the average drinker. Dress impeccably, demonstrate style and class and prove to your manager that you can handle sophisticated clients. He will appreciate it and give you an opportunity.
If you want to be a Cocktail Bartender or even better a mixologist, check our iPour Online Bartender Training and get top cocktail making techniques. The Mixology Training will be available soon and you will get privileged access
​Go get that job!

One of the biggest challenges among aspiring bartenders is the odds they face when entering an industry dominated by attractive staff. Entertainment places huge value on the looks of the staff for obvious reaons and many guys feel there is no point in going for a job where they will very likely be pushed aside by a more attractive aspirant. 
While this situation happens, it is possible to turn it around with skill and attitude.
No matter how attractive your male or female competitor can be, it cannot compensate an absolute lack of skills, specially if the hiring manager is under pressure to get efficient staff and can´t afford investing the time in training the good looking aspirant. Here is where your training comes into place, if you have the foundational skills you can very evidently demonstrate enough value to be selected. If you don´t have them then just sign up for our iPour Online Bartender Training and be job ready in a week.
Attitude is the second piece of this puzzle: outstanding work ethics are something an employer will always value. Sure, an attractive staff can bring tips but someone with an absolute commitment to get the job done fast and efficiently will be 10 times harder to find than a good looking gal. 
So the lesson is dont let the idea of only good looking guys and girls get hired in bartending" get in your way. Go out, get those skills and get that job. 

When you think of a Bartender you usually picture him behind the busy bar of a nightclub or a sports bar, however there is another, less known type of bartender who is also making big money and with less pressure: the event bartender.
You will find Event Bartenders at upscale condos serving private parties, at wedding receptions and at corporate events. Even Bartenders can also be Mixologists putting up incredible combinations of their creation or Flair Bartenders flipping up bottles to give a unique experience to guests that would have never imagined such thing existed. You can be an Event Bartender working for an events company or on your own as a free lancer, the key things you need to be a flair bartender are:

1- Know the basics of bartending. You will have no boss behind you but that doesn't mean you won't need any training at all. Sign up for the iPour Online Bartender Training and be ready to start working as an event bartender in a week.
2- Have your own bartending kit. Since you won't have to usual tools a bar would provide you with, you will need to arm yourself with the basic tools you need to do your job. Strainers, boston and shaking glasses, muddler and speed blade among them. Learn more about the different tools and how to use them here.
3- Get your business cards and website ready and start promoting yourself! It will be hard in the beginning since you basically will depend on mouth to mouth recommendations and the advertising that you can afford. However, as your reputation increases and if you make the effort to give your guests a great experience soon you will find yourself getting more requests than you can handle. Congratulations! You are an Event Bartender

NOTE: It is important that you are aware of regulations and licenses you might have to get. Be careful to learn about safety regulations, you are on your own now, and a big power power, means a big responsibility. 

Think of the following scenario: wake up at 7 am, get to work at 9 am, sit in front of your computer for 8 straight hours with only a brief break to eat a sandwich (still sitting in front of your screen) go home, prepare dinner and get ready to go to bed knowing that you just left a precious day pass you by without enjoying it. Now multiply that by 52 weeks and a year is gone. Now multiply it for the average 30 years the average human spends working.... Is this the kind of life you wanna live?

Now, we are not saying this scenario is true for everyone. If you are among the lucky ones who can make a living doing something they like, congratulations! the world needs more like you. However, if you feel you need to change careers for something more stimulating, which gives you the possibility of having a social life without giving up on a decent income, bartending may be the opportunity you were waiting for

Making this transition is not easy, but we will give you the 5 steps you need to take to transit from frustrated desk slave to a bartender free soul.

1- Get Basic Skills Training - Either through bartending school or online but you need basic skills such as free pouring, shaking, stirring and cocktail preparation to be able to go for a bartending job. In case your job doesn't allow you time for school check our iPour Online Bartender Training

2- Get Field Experience - Since you won't likely give up on your job outright (bills must be paid) you must approach lower traffic venues like pubs and sport bars and ask for a chance to do a shift or two on weekends. You can tell the manager that you will work only for tips, no wage. The whole purpose is that you learn the feeling of real bartending 

3- Go for a high end bartending job - The reality is getting hired by a low profile bar is almost as hard as getting a shot at a top nightclub. What makes the difference is what you can bring to the table and how you can communicate it. As we explain in our Get the Job Seminar, you can use your basic skills and experience in a high end venue as long as you can demonstrate you can be an efficient producer. The best part is you can apply to these high end bartending jobs even online and only quit your job once you got a solid offer.

So procrastinate no more. You only have one life and you have the duty to yourself to live in a way that is satisfying and fulfilling. Go get that job!

Flair bartenders are the rockstars of the bar.  With the only possible exception of DJ´s, there is no other position at a bar that commands such powerful attention from a crowd and brings more cash per night than being a Flair Bartender.


Why flair bartenders make so much money?
Well, first and foremost flair bartenders are top entertainers. When the average person goes to the nightclub only expecting to get alcohol, music and dance, the shock of getting a full flair show behind the bar just skyrockets  the general experience. Venues that can provide entertainment both in the dance floor and behind the bar attract larger crowds that spend and tip more and managers know it, so good flair bartenders are always in demand.

How to become a flair bartender? The obvious answer is learn a few basic moves and then PRACTICE. Although flair bartenders can put quite complex shows involving multiple bottles, fire and more, you can captivate a crowd with well executed basics such as a Martini Waterfall or a RedBull Pour. You can learn basic, intermidiate and advanced moves at our iPour Online Bartender Training and practice with real bottles at a safe location such as a park or a matted room. 

A final advice: a bar manager will NOT appreciate you affecting the productivity or speed of the bar by showing off to your guests. iPour advocates for a philosophy of Working Flair: moves that make it fun for the guest but that accelerate your efficiency making both your guests and your managers happy. You can learn more about Working Flair here.

So, start flipping and practice, practice, practice. Living the life of a Flair Superstar is at the reach of your hand... literally. 

Nightclubs are unique. The fast paced environment is something you either love or hate and the potential for tips is unlimited, which makes this a very competitive environment. However, you can get a nightclub bartender job if you follow the next tactics:
1- Master the art of serving a client in 7 seconds. Yes, you heard right, whether you are shaking a margarita or pouring a pint of beer you must be able to do it in 7 seconds. This is known as Speed Bartending which is basically he perfect execution of the serving process. If you have no idea of what we are talking about check our iPour Online Bartending Course
2- Learn flair bartending. This is the difference between just pouring alcohol for a living and giving your guests an entertainment experience that can be larger than life. 
You don't need to go for a full Vegas like show with multiple bottles and fire, flair bartending can be as simple as flipping a napkin or tossing a glass behind your back in the right way. Working flair allows you to both increase your efficiency and add a cool touch in every drink you serve.
3- Be loud, be fast, be friendly. Nightclubs are louder and more crowded than bars and pubs, the guest is only a few seconds with you before going back to the dance floor. This is why you have to be extraordinary, smile, high five your guest, set the bar on fire (on a calculated way of course) do some flair. Point is you make an impression that makes your guest reward you with a tip, over and over. This is how you make money in nightclub bartending and now it's your turn to go out and get that job!

1- You have absolutely no notions of bartending. it's ok to not be an expert but any employer will at least you are able to differentiate between a rocks glass and a Boston glass.  (If you need to learn the essentials of bartending sign up for our iPour Online Bartender Training) 

2- You are not talking to the right person. Sending out a bunch of resumes with no strategy is as productive as throwing darts in the dark hoping to hit the target. You need to make a conscious effort to find the name and contact info of the hiring managers you where you want to go. Save some trees and only hand out your resume to someone who will read it

3- You are not giving out the right first impression. When you dress for an interview you should keep in your mind the concept of the venue in mind. Is it a cocktail bar? Show up impeccable like you could jump behind the bar and start serving in the spot. Is it a sports bar? Dress accordingly. The hiring manager must be able to see you  as someone he wants for his team. Hint: Dressing in black always works. 

4- You are talking too much. Remember all those lawyer TV shows. First rule is don't answer anything you haven't been ask for. The hiring manager hasn't dwelled on the fact that you have virtually no experience? Great! Keep your mouth shut and move the conversation into more safer waters. 

5- You are not talking enough. The previous rule doesn't mean you should stay quiet. On the contrary, talk, make the conversation interesting, show value, create rapport just make sure that every word you say conveys value and attitude. The hiring manager must finish the inverview knowing he found the perfect match for this team. 
​

In 2013, two Russian billionaires engaged in a three-hour drinking contest to see who could splash the most cash in Kitsch, a fancy London Bar.  

The challenge ended up with a combined bar bill of more than £130,000 which included more than 84 bottles of Dom Perignon and countless bottles of Crystal champagne, Belvedere vodka and all different types of cocktails
The Service Charge servers and waitresses attending received was an eye-popping £17,000!!!

What's the key to make this a reality? Talent? Maybe Luck? Definitely you need some luck to be on shift on the night the neighbourhood Russian billionaire decides to engage on a drinking contest. However, the real secret to making this amount of money is TO BE THERE

You need to get training, then get the job, then make the money. Simple as that

If you want to start making money like that get started today with the iPour Online Bartender Training and be ready in one week to go for that job.