Tending the Bars

Alternative Careers | July 23, 2010 | Share

As one approaches the end of school life thinking it is going to be easy now, it gets even tougher. One of the most important decisions of life lies ahead. One has to decide regarding their career path on which they plan to walk ahead. Apart from the normal options, there is plethora of fancy career choices that one can make these days. There are opportunities like Stand-up comedian, fitness trainer, magician, freelance journalist, fashion photographer and so on, which are so-called cooler options for today’s youth. One such cool option is that of becoming a professional bartender.

Bartending has never been so professional a task in India. But, like every other field, here also our country is catching up with global trends. This profession involves mixing the drinks, engaging the customers in conversation to ease them, doing some fire tricks, and keeping the overall energy of the bar high. All this indeed seems to be so much of fun. This fun does not come so easy to everyone. To reach the levels of good bartending one needs not only skill and knowledge but also honesty, professionalism, presence of mind and creativity. Great patience and passion is also needed to work as a bartender.

Anyone can make an entry into the field after the age of 18 and completion of 12th standard. Although it’s the hands-on experience in the industry that makes you excel. A short-time course in bartending is definitely an added advantage. Courses provide you with the theatrical knowledge needed as well as the practical knowledge. Many graduates of hotel management also prefer to do a specialisation in bartending afterwards.

Many young enthusiasts enroll in these courses in summers as well. There are many institutes offering courses in the same such as STIR academy of bartending in Mumbai, Indian Institute of Bartending in Chennai, Institute of Bar Operations and Management in New Delhi, Flame Academy of Hospitality Management in Kolkata, Cocktails and Dreams in Delhi and many more.

Initially Bartenders get only about Rs. 7,000-10,000 apart from additional tips. With the passage of time, however, one can dig a lot of money from the industry. Better the skills that you learn with time, heavier gets the pockets of your trousers. Experienced bartenders easily earn rs 20,000 per night in India and around Rs 1,00,000 per night abroad. Still, a major amount of earnings comes from the tips that one gets, which is entirely dependent on the connection that you are able to establish with the person in front of you.

The profession lets you meet different people, listen to good music and stay in a jolly mood. All this helps you keep young. But, one has to face challenges as well. It is not necessary that people feel lighter after a drink. They might get a bad mood as well. People might not like your drink and look down upon you. People forget to drop tips. You will be booked for festivals and holidays and maybe free on the regular days, which can make you miss out almost all the quality time with your family and friends.

Even then, the hospitality industry is booming these days and assures that the future prospects are high for bartenders. Food and beverage industry too has many openings under it. If you have a good taste for drinks, you can surely move on to some easier regular job in the industry. This industry is like any other, possessing its own pros and cons. It is your passion and dedication towards the profession that can make you go places.

Anjum Dhamija