Weekend Bartending

[Daniel Ornelas]

I was wondering if anyone knows how much the average bartender can makes an hour. I was thinking of possibly getting a license to bartend possibly nights and weekends on the side.

Thanks!

[Vic Doke]

Bartending

It depends totally upon the caliber of the place your working at. A high end bar, whether in a restaurant or a pub-type place generally has better tips. A neighborhood bar will have less.

Hourly wages are low. Your income will be largely tips.

Dangers are many. Risk is high. Many become their own best customer. Relationships are at risk in such an environment. There's a high divorce rate. If you have a couple 'pops' after closing time to 'unwind' there is the risk of getting tagged on the way home -or, worse). There is a risk of being accused of 'over-serving' someone if he gets tagged for DWI, or worse. There is always an argumentative customer that you will need to match wits with. Some are nitwits when sober. When drunk all bets are off.

Bar tending has a perceived glamour attached to it by some. It has it's dark side as well.

I have never been a bartender but have observed many from the opposite side of the bar over the past 45 years.

Hope that helps.

Vic

[GrimJack]

I used to tend bar on the weekends at no-host bars for a catering place. The tips were better than the wages. I had a lot of fun - are you married? This is a serious question - the rumors about bartenders are true.

You mention getting a license - I did not know that you needed one, that must be a local thing. Do you have a local bar where you hang out? Maybe you could apprentice locally. Are you in a 'right to work' state or a union state? Wages are generally a local phenomena so you should probably check locally.