This is one of the questions I get asked the most from people looking to break into the bar business. A lot of people still think, if they want to become a bartender they have to first become a barback so they can “learn” the job. This is one of the biggest mistakes I see people make when trying to get that first bartending job. I highly advise that you don’t take a barback job if you really want to become a bartender.
Whenever I tell people this they always seem a little shocked that this is my advice. As a barback you really learn very little about how to be a great bartender. The barbacks job is a tough one. It often requires heavy lifting and physically demanding work. Depending on the bar you work at, you will be restocking coolers, changing kegs, clearing/washing glassware and helping the bartender out any way you can. The problem with all that is your never really learning how to be a great bartender. Your not learning how to make drinks, how to work the register, and how to effectively interact with your customers. The only way your going to learn how to bartend is to get behind the bar as a bartender! You are not going to learn how to be a bartender by stocking the bud light cooler 5 times a night.
Another problem I often encounter is that I have seen barbacks wait years before being promoted to bartender. Some actually wait years and never get promoted at all. Management jobs in the bar industry have a very high turnover. The promise you got as a barback from the manager is gone once he quits or gets fired. Then you’re starting from scratch with the new guy who doesn’t know you from a hole in the wall. Some managers have told me they don’t like to promote barbacks because it’s much harder to find a good barback than it is to find a good bartender. Don’t get sucked into the trap.
The only time I would recommend you take a job as a barback is if you have a strong desire (I mean really strong) to work as a bartender in a busy nightclub. If your willing to work for years as a barback and roll the dice this may be the route for you. I have seen some barbacks get promoted to bartender in the nightclub setting but I don’t recommend you take this route. I have also seen a lot of barbacks NEVER get promoted and get screwed over big time by managers/owners.
It will always be a lot easier to get a barback job instead of a bartending job. When you go and apply to jobs, managers will say they don’t have any bartending jobs open but they have a barback position. That’s just a roundabout way of saying they don’t want to hire you as a bartender. Don’t get sucked into that trap. With a little hard work and perseverance you will get a bartending job (not to mention you’ll make a lot more money). I have worked in almost every different setting in the bar industry and I never worked as a barback. I have nothing against guys who have gone that route but I think it’s a waste of your valuable time. If your goal is to be a bartender then don’t settle. The only job you should take is that of a bartender.
Cheers
Pete

2012-05-21 22:10:55 | Augustine
2013-03-05 10:19:22 | colin
2013-03-30 23:39:01 | John
2013-04-04 14:00:27 | Brett Boresow
2013-04-15 18:02:32 | payday loans
2013-05-06 05:34:13 | MamiStimi
2013-05-06 07:49:23 | MamiStimi
2013-05-06 13:29:58 | Traigrach
2013-05-06 15:53:42 | SellOntotte
2013-05-06 15:54:52 | Queeneimb
2013-05-06 16:04:48 | lloyd irvin
2013-05-06 16:48:12 | Queeneimb
2013-05-06 20:35:49 | payday cash
2013-05-07 05:45:16 | MamiStimi
2013-05-07 06:23:04 | Celia L. Leach
2013-05-07 07:12:07 | Traigrach
2013-05-07 18:04:22 | Traigrach
2013-05-07 18:18:26 | Traigrach
2013-05-08 02:47:05 | rbufd9329
2013-05-08 02:59:55 | voyance
2013-05-08 07:57:02 | Traigrach
2013-05-09 01:19:49 | Boyroiviolf
2013-05-09 04:10:47 | intiliahainof
2013-05-09 06:10:47 | ilaen9098
2013-05-09 07:55:11 | Traigrach
2013-05-09 15:47:52 | Arjun Kanuri
2013-05-09 19:27:14 | powVoriEnrino
2013-05-10 03:55:38 | intiliahainof
2013-05-10 07:12:10 | Traigrach
2013-05-10 10:25:43 | airmax1mhwbn
2013-05-10 14:48:55 | pozycjonowanie
2013-05-10 16:58:46 | Traigrach
2013-05-11 07:42:45 | s7m4pqdq
2013-05-11 08:17:57 | Zolpidem Tartrate
2013-05-11 10:44:53 | bnuoyj6n
2013-05-12 02:14:30 | irralpOpilE
2013-05-12 02:14:59 | irralpOpilE
2013-05-12 02:18:21 | irralpOpilE
2013-05-12 02:37:04 | irralpOpilE
2013-05-12 02:56:49 | the tao of badass
2013-05-12 06:20:06 | CrireeLef
2013-05-12 14:20:05 | SellOntotte
2013-05-12 22:46:49 | Sussmertsor
2013-05-13 03:05:39 | mirena recall
2013-05-13 04:25:51 | bblgs2551
2013-05-13 05:06:37 | irralpOpilE
2013-05-13 07:52:29 | Michael Kors Tote Bags
2013-05-13 13:56:10 | ares gratis
2013-05-13 16:08:41 | Traigrach
2013-05-14 01:50:21 | SellOntotte
2013-05-14 08:44:22 | MamiStimi
2013-05-14 12:42:40 | Traigrach
2013-05-14 16:23:17 | MamiStimi
2013-05-14 23:23:17 | imprezy integracyjne
2013-05-15 09:31:54 | Traigrach
2013-05-15 11:21:55 | alkarltem
2013-05-15 11:33:21 | cyjpnuce
2013-05-15 11:52:35 | alkarltem
2013-05-15 14:52:12 | SellOntotte
2013-05-15 16:26:40 | Queeneimb
2013-05-15 19:49:47 | wholesale ralph lauren
2013-05-16 01:43:42 | Phimenuh
2013-05-16 02:32:22 | Cheap Michael Kors Bags
2013-05-16 04:11:57 | intiliahainof
2013-05-16 04:43:14 | agencja detektywistyczna warszawa
2013-05-16 04:57:13 | MamiStimi
2013-05-16 05:57:05 | baidu censor
2013-05-16 08:58:19 | nowndxzp
2013-05-16 09:30:09 | Traigrach
2013-05-16 09:46:32 | Traigrach
2013-05-16 09:50:12 | CrireeLef
2013-05-16 10:24:09 | christian louboutin peep toe
2013-05-16 12:05:20 | arqvekywg
2013-05-16 13:37:09 | polo outlet online
2013-05-16 14:33:31 | intiliahainof
2013-05-16 17:05:14 | CrireeLef
2013-05-17 04:09:17 | polo factory outlet
2013-05-17 08:31:41 | ochrona obiektów lublin
2013-05-17 08:50:58 | Traigrach
2013-05-17 11:42:02 | Traigrach
2013-05-17 15:29:04 | payday loans
2013-05-17 15:32:18 | payday loan
2013-05-17 17:44:57 | CrireeLef
2013-05-17 18:45:30 | how to spot fake versace sunglasses
2013-05-17 19:15:07 | alkarltem
2013-05-17 19:59:02 | alkarltem
2013-05-17 20:24:51 | alkarltem
2013-05-17 21:05:38 | drinks for weight loss
2013-05-18 02:23:35 | SellOntotte
2013-05-18 03:07:22 | CrireeLef
2013-05-18 04:14:20 | Roma
2013-05-18 10:26:44 | fitqatrui
2013-05-18 11:35:12 | payday loans
2013-05-18 13:18:36 | nautica watches|raymond weil watches
2013-05-18 17:08:16 | CrireeLef
2013-05-18 21:18:49 | cause back pain
2013-05-18 22:05:42 | PexyBrexent
2013-05-19 00:50:35 | acrylic hexagon fish tank
2013-05-19 02:19:11 | CrireeLef
2013-05-19 02:41:21 | fish4payday.co.uk
2013-05-19 03:44:58 | Anya
2013-05-19 05:45:53 | make real money online
2013-05-19 16:24:09 | intiliahainof
2013-05-19 16:55:10 | MamiStimi
2013-05-19 17:17:18 | webpage
2013-05-19 17:29:18 | webpage
2013-05-19 17:39:53 | cheap payday loans
2013-05-19 17:54:12 | instant payday loans uk
2013-05-19 19:12:47 | online pokies
2013-05-19 21:08:28 | مترجم عربی به فارسی
2013-05-19 22:30:13 | pay day loans uk
2013-05-19 23:50:25 | organizacja wczasów
2013-05-20 01:01:29 | Make fast money online
2013-05-20 03:52:45 | how to make easy money online
2013-05-20 08:24:19 | Traigrach
2013-05-20 10:42:29 | Traigrach
2013-05-20 11:15:19 | payday loans uk
2013-05-20 11:22:01 | payday loans
2013-05-20 18:47:08 | online pokies australia
2013-05-20 23:10:02 | Karol
2013-05-21 01:45:16 | make money online
2013-05-21 05:56:53 | SellOntotte
2013-05-21 07:46:23 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig-6TJmuZKo
2013-05-21 08:33:26 | Traigrach
2013-05-21 09:16:59 | horse stall mats for home gym
2013-05-21 10:32:36 | jutropitur
2013-05-21 12:43:24 | bluehost review
2013-05-21 13:39:53 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSrlZpvHFjs