Bartending may be fun and exciting, but there is more to the job than hanging out all night in a bar. To be taken seriously in an interview or with your employer, you need to know the laws about serving alcohol in your state and what your liability is as a bartender.

Creativity need no longer be attributed to being a prolific painter or an expert reviewer of Puccini's operas! If you have ever heard of 'flair bartending', or 'extreme bartending' then you know what I'm talking about. It takes immense skill, 'flair' and precision to be at the top of the game when it comes to the world of flair bartending. When performed well by the 'artisan', flair can be truly magical to watch, deserving a big cheer and, I think, a gratuity tip!

The customer does not want to see the bartender reading the ingredients as they mix the drink. A good bartender knows these off by heart. As your experience develops you must be constantly expanding your repertoire. The bigger the bartender's repertoire the classier the bar they can work in and the better the pay will be.

It is a good way to acquire knowledge required to become a bartender and gives you the cutting edge in the market. It not only helps you to earn better, but also earns you the pleasure of your customers, and happy customers means better tips for you. The training helps you create your own special recipes to attract customers and increase your chances of receiving good tips. Creating an original drink gives you recognition and larger clientele even if you switch bars. Having knowledge about different drinks and being able to create unique drinks according to the various customer's taste and preferences will help increase business.

To make their career successful, bartenders need to have good knowledge of beverages and drinks. They should possess excellent capabilities of mixing drinks accurately without wasting any of it. When it comes to beverages at the bar, there are recipes as well. The bartenders, therefore, need to know about various drink recipes and be able to create new recipes to serve customers with the latest and attract them. It is also the bartender's job to look after the stock of garnishes. These professionals need to look after the bar supplies as well. Besides doing these work, the bartenders also have the responsibility of maintaining and cleaning the bar area, serving food at the bar and washing of utensils among others. An inventory of liquor and other bar supplies also needs to be maintained by the bartenders.

These are all great examples of how anyone can recession proof their income. If you are part of the pay-for-performance workforce and would like to try to stabilize your income a bartending job may be just what you need. When your day job slows down your bartending job will pick up. This is a great way to mitigate your risk and stabilize your income.

Many bartenders simply work 2 to 3 nights per week and make more than the average Canadian or American household. Often bartenders at busy night clubs can make upwards of $500 per shift, but the norm is closer to $200-$300. Regardless of which way you look at it, bartending is a rewarding job. A bartending job allows you to sculpt your own schedule to ensure you still have time for your hobbies, friends and family. Not many jobs offer this type of freedom while still offering great pay. So next time you show up to a bar on a weekend willing to spend a hundred dollars on overpriced cocktails, consider being on the other side of the bar... The wining side of the bar.