For current/former bartenders: do/did you like bartending and would you recommend it as a side job?

You would definitely have to have serving experience as a waiter before you'd ever be taught to bartend. There are literally 1000's of drinks out there and new ones being invented everyday. Most places don't just hire bartenders you have to work your way up, and they definitely don't hire anyone that's never done it before. There's ALOT to learn. Pick up a book or take a class before trying to get a job.

Bartending is more of a career than a job, its very fun but lots of work. I've been doing it for 5 years and absolutely LOVE it. but there is no steady pay, its all tips, which can be good or bad. I wouldn't do it for a side job, your heart has to be in it. Its not like waiting tables or any other "side job" its a living. The money is only as good as you are.

And to the firefighter! I too was an EMT-B and made way more money bartending and waiting tables so I only did it for a couple months. EMT pay is crap and the hours are worse.

I did it for almost 10 yrs. Most of that was as a full time ,part time job. that means I got a full time pay check and benefits for part time work. At one point i was making $400 per week for 25 to 30 hours of work most of that in tax free tips. I paid a flat 8% in tax for the tips. So if i was making that working 3 nights per week. that gave me 4 days to party, why work full time at another job. the down side is to make the good money you work every weekend. You meet a LOT of girls and if you are like me, you will take full advantage of that. Its hard to keep a girl friend when you have a new opportunity every night. Like you i worked in a collage town and you would be surprised how many people with BS,MS and even some PhD. tend bar full time. Where else can you make this kind of money without the headaches of an office type job. Watch the movie Cocktail sometime.

It all depends on where you're at. At a class bar, you can expect larger tips, but at a typical bar you might have more people coming in and out. I would go out barhopping and see which bars seem to busy, and apply at those. It's a really good job, because your in a job that requires good people skills, and if you're a cute bartender, you'll have a lot of people talking to you, so you'll meet a lot of people... and meeting people and connecting with people is a good way to open doors for yourself in life.

I would like to say its the best money making job I have ever had. I work part time and go to school and I am still paying my bills. Yes its a great job. I make great money. I ordered a bar tending book/course on line it cost me 37.00. Bartendingexposed.com Great bar tending book . If you want to learn how to bar tend and drink recipes bar set up etc. This bar tending book will teach you everything that you need to know to get a bar tending job. I am glad I ordered it..com is a great way to learn how to bar tend. I saw the bar tending site on yahoo answers that's how I found it. Really happy with this site! Good luck with your bar tending career

Bartending is great way to supplement your income... Im a firefighter and I tend bar on my nights off. I find it more lucrative than my full time job.