Bartending & cocktail - a popular career now

Updated on: Thursday, June 02, 2011

If wine and beer lift your spirits, and so do night life, why don't you make a career of it? Bartending, according to Matthew Pomeroy, a cocktail creator, trainer and presenter, is increasingly becoming more professional and a popular career option.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The career options in the field are varied — ranging from the beverage industry to the hospitality sector. Starting as a bartender in hotels, resorts, restobars, pubs or nightclubs, one can walk up the career ladder to become a bar manager or even corporate bar manager for chain hotels and restaurants.

One has also the option of doing freelance work without being employed by any of the restaurants.

Working for parties and event circuits, this gives one the freedom to choose what events he/ she wants to work for. He can tie up with an event management team and attend events they take up including promotions.

In the beverage industry, the work includes creating and demonstrating cocktails and mocktails using alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages/syrups and much more.

Among these, the most glamourous one is the life on cruise lines where a bartender serves on passenger cruise ships. Beverage consultant or trainer are other options available.

JOB PROFILE

It's a lot of glamour and fun behind the bar counter. The bartender primarily has to mix the cocktails, make the beverage menu and serve it.

Apart from mixing drinks that one usually associate with bartending, there's a lot more that a bartender needs to do.

He is responsible for everything that is part of and happens in and around a bar. From checking for cleanliness in the bar to getting stocks (fruits, garnishes, lime juice and sugar syrup) replenished, checking sales summary and briefing the bar team on any specials, offers and new arrivals, he does it all.

"It keeps you young and contemporary with the rest of the world. You get the flexibility of creative process, a chance for direct interaction with the guest and to showcase your knowledge and skills. If you have a passion for all this, pursue it. As a bartender, you are a person in your own right. Not just one of the crew," said Shatbhi Basu of Stir Academy.

DEMAND CURVE

For serious bartenders who go beyond just circus performance, opportunities are huge both in India and abroad. Apart from just bartending, once they have grown and upgraded in about five to eight years, they have the opportunity to start their own outdoor bartending business, or work with alcohol brands in activation and training. The demand curve will continue to rise in India given the growth potential of the mini metros adding to the boom in the metros.

PROSPECTS

"Hotel management students who earlier preferred to opt for kitchen and MT programmes are recognising the benefits of specialising in the bar. A lot more specialised bars and nightclubs have come to be and that market will continue.

Our bartenders are also doing extremely well internationally as their product knowledge is both high and contemporary. Once our market opens up some more, there's no looking back," said Basu.

"In India, it's just booming as the social taboo over alcohol is slowly seeing a drift. I even see a few girls in my school. With the government opening up the sector, the market is still booming," said V Jayakumar of Turnkey School of Bar and Beverage Solutions.

The field is still a male dominated one. Ask them what is the worst part about the job, they would say the hours you work, having to work on every public holiday/festival, you have less time for yourself.

COURSES AVAILABLE

There are courses available in many places for bartending. The course usually starts from scratch including the basics of spirits, wines, beer, essence of mixology, glasses used, billing, pricing, brands, bar ethics and alcohol awareness and licensing laws.

MOOLAH MATTERS

A trainee - Rs 3500 - Rs 5000 One year experience - Rs 5,000 - Rs 7,500 Senior/head bartender - Rs 10,000 - Rs 20,000 Tips - Rs 2000 - Rs 6000 Freelance - Rs 500 - Rs 15,000 per-night depending on the kind of event and calibre of bartender Dubai - 1,000 Dirhams - 3,000 Dirhams Cruise ships - $400 - $1000 plus tips which sometimes are just as much as the salary. UK - 750 - 1200 Pound Sterling

1. Why are there less women in the bartending field?

This is true for not only India but abroad as well, though the percentage definitely is much more in the west.
Bar tending has always been a male-oriented business. Also, the market is not so mature and there's a notion that the job is similar to that of a waitress'.

Also, the job involves unpredictable timings, which is a big hindrance. Being a bartender is more a lifestyle choice than a career. However, with the changing trends and more respect towards alternate careers and better awareness, it is inspiring more and more women to take it up as a profession.

2. What qualifications do you need to become a bartender?

A qualification is not mandatory for becoming a bartender. A passion and fervour are what is required. However, vocational training can be useful. Most people coming into this profession however, come with a marketing degree or qualification in hospitality management.

Times of India

Bartending & cocktail - a popular career now

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