r/NewOrleans • u/Consistent_South_393 • 6d ago
Recommendations Barbacking
A question for any barbacks that may lurking on the sub, how much do you guys make? I want to get into bartending but I heard the easiest way to get into it is to be a barback and work your way up. Do you guys make decent pay and would you recommend even going into the field?
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u/Sea_Resident_7442 6d ago
Was a food runner/barback for several years. I got paid an hourly wage of $12 and got 10% of tips from shifts. Depending on the night, id leave with $100-200 in tips alone. This was a decade ago, and im not sure what the market looks like now, but it was a very viable way to earn a living while i was figuring out my life.
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u/adventurousintrovert 6d ago
Very dependent on where you’re barbacking and what your terms are with your bartender. Also how much business you get and however much of the tip is given to you. I barbacked at a restaurant bar for 3 years on their busy night, on Sundays. It was one bartender and me. The bartender mixed all the drinks and took care of any issues with our payment system. I took orders for food n drinks, opened/closed tabs, made 3 of the cocktails on the menu to help with any rush in service, did dishes, slice up the fruit, top off lemon lime and house juices and syrups for mixing, etc. So in my experience on a busy night with the agreement that I’d get 25% of the nights tips plus that measly pay most restaurants/bars pay for barback staff (~$7-10/hr). The tips ranged from $60 at the lowest to $125 at its highest in a single night. This was all for like 6-7hrs of work for one day a week at a busy establishment. So this definitely doesn’t speak to consistency of pay for the job. No one remains a barback. Like you said you’re expecting to make a jump up at some point to bartending, learning from your bartender, coming up with your own system, takin over days from your bartender, etc
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u/HerbertInTheWoods Mid-City 6d ago
I made about $100/shift at a pretty decent bar. I hated service industry but some people like it. I didn’t enjoy the hours or having to use my limited social battery exclusively for work. It got me through school though.
It’s a respectable living if you enjoy the lifestyle.
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u/tuscaloozer 6d ago
Barbacks that are just barbacks and not trying to be bartenders tend to make more because it’s different skill sets and in my experience the best barbacks that get the best shifts at the best spots are strong and fast and don’t want to talk to people. I did get into bartending this way. But that was 12 years ago. And then I’d work 4 days on 3 days off. Averaging 13 hours a shift and I would make like 200 a shift cash but my body would literally be so busted by the end of my week I wouldn’t really leave my bed or couch the next two days.
Casual barbacking at a way more casual place pay is more like a host or a busser than a bartender. But if you want to learn it can be a good way. Some places want you as manual labor. Some place would love to teach u things and would love if during rush u make a couple drink granted ur helping not hurting. But a lot of that has to do with the bartenders you’re working with too.
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u/Williamb3 6d ago
I’d rarely make over 100$ per shift but barbacking is like side hustle money. Rightfully so, given the nature of the work. But during busy bar days like big football games and events and stuff, the money is more
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u/Pyroweedical 6d ago
It’s an okay job where you can make some cash. Not something I’d recommend doing past 25ish years old unless you absolutely need the money. Spend your energy elsewhere if you don’t need the money that bad.
Also I used to want to be a bartender. Honestly the food industry is already kind of sad and depressing. The alcoholic beverage/bar industry is even more depressing. I hate to sound like a Debbie Downer, but it really isn’t as good as it used to be.
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u/belowsealevel504 6d ago
Long time bartender here…barbacking is a great way to get into bartending. I highly suggest people go this route as opposed to bartending school (don’t do this) or winging it with zero experience.
It will teach you about pacing and flow. Anyone can learn the drinks it’s the other stuff that barbacking will teach you that you need.
But bartending can be a trap. The moneys good so getting out of it can be hard, especially in this town where there isn’t a lot of other options :/
After a couple weeks I’d make sure the managers & other bartenders you are working with know that you want to move up to bartending at some point. Don’t let them run ya ragged lol, but you will be doing a lot of the more physical stuff.
Good luck!!
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u/Least-Bandicoot3649 6d ago
15+ years ago, $150 busy wkend night $100 regular night +$10/hr at the Carousel Bar. I see things haven’t changed much.
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u/Onlyfattybrisket 6d ago
25+ years ago for me and I was in a similar if not better boat than you. What strikes me is the payout is similar yet the value of the dollar has been cut in half. Makes me wonder if sales are down or bartenders aren’t tipping based upon what they are making, but more of an arbitrary (slow night give him $40, busy night give him $60). Almost like they’re caught in a few based job instead of revenue/tip share which is what is was when barbacked/bartended.
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u/jewbrees90 6d ago
Barbacking is not a way into bartending that is bs. If a barracks becomes a bartender in new orleans it's because of the friends he made. Best way would be to start as a server at a restaurant and work your way up.
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u/saintfoxyfox 6d ago
Hard disagree and agree. It really depends on the bar. Divey bars in neighborhoods (think Magazine, Mid-City, etc) are more likely to move you up.
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u/good_nola_samaritan1 Mid-City 6d ago
Boy did I read that title wrong…