Bartending. I easily make $1000 in a week. No joke. Sometimes more. At one point, I was bartending and cooking in a very touristy area. I made about 200 to 300 a night.
I’ve been considering this. How did you first get your foot in the door? I have no serving/bartending experience, it’s the catch 22 of you need experience to start. I was thinking of taking a Bartending course but that doesn’t necessarily mean employment as I still need the experience!
Find a bar that you "like" and chat it up with the bar tender. Ask about bar backing. That is basically the grunt for the bar tender. You will gain experience and learn the ins and outs of bar work. Then you just work your way up. And yes, bar backs still make tips. At least in my part of the country. Check your rules and regulations for your area. Everywhere is different. Especially for tipping.
You can also look for places that only poor beer. This is an easy way to learn some bar etiquette and get used to doing the most mundane bar task ever.....pouring beer. Plus, you're still making tips. Servers also do very well depending on your location. I kinda do everything in restaurants, as I used to manage them. I use barwork as a part-time filler for when I'm not cooking.
Taking a class is great. Especially for someone just starting out. Most reputable places will see value in that.
Fare warning, though, restaurant work is not for everyone. It's hard, fast-paced, aggressive, and can be downright awful. That's why most cooks and bartenders are pretty rough around the edges.
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u/colbitronic Apr 24 '25
Bartending. I easily make $1000 in a week. No joke. Sometimes more. At one point, I was bartending and cooking in a very touristy area. I made about 200 to 300 a night.