Q: Why do I need bartending school?
A: To be a professional bartender you don't need to just memorize drink recipes. Bartenders need to know the proper techniques to prepare cocktails, interact with customers, handle difficult situations, operate cash registers, maintain beer and soda systems, and most important learn to serve alcohol responsibly. You may be able to get hired behind a bar without attending bartending school, but the training you will receive will allow you to keep your job. The Bartenders Academy® of New York has trained over 16,000 bartenders since 1988, has consulted on many bar openings, and has helped bartenders get jobs from Montauk to Manhattan and as far away as Australia and England. Before you get behind a bar, get the proper training so that you may feel comfortable, knowledgeable, and ready to make lots of money.
Q: What about Bartending Agencies (A.K.A.: "Employment Agencies")?
A: Many "Bartending Agencies", pose to be bartending schools by offering you "free" training and a "membership fee". These locations are NOT licensed by the New York State Education Department. They will advertise as a "bar looking to hire with no experience necessary" and when you show up, they will tell you if you pay them they will get you a job. Anytime you shop for a bartending school, first ask to see their NY State Education Department License which must be displayed by law. If they are not licensed, you should think twice about spending your money on them. To find schools that are licensed by the New York State Education Department, click here. Find out how their job placement works. Job placement over the phone during certain times of the day is ancient and ineffective; what if the phone is busy because someone is talking to their friend for 45 minutes? Most bartending schools offer students a web-based job placement so you can see the places that are really hiring anytime it is convenient for the student.
Q: Can I just Learn On-line or Out of a Book?
A: Learning to bartend on-line or out of a book at home, is like learning to ride a bike without a bike. Any person can go buy a book full of drink recipes at any book store, but to truly be a professional bartender, you must learn with hands-on training. Don't waste your time.
Q: Why go to the Bartenders Academy® of New York?
A: The Bartenders Academy® of New York has been training aspiring bartenders since 1988, has trained over 20,000 students and has job placement assistance from Montauk to Manhattan. Every instructor of the school currently bartends to keep track of the changing industry and new drinks. The Bartenders Academy® offers the TIPS alcohol awareness program to all of its students, offers a flair program to its graduates and allows all of its students to guest bartend at a real bar prior to, or after, graduation. The Bartenders Academy® of New York has been voted Most Valuable Bar Establishment in New York for three consecutive years, one of its instructors has been been voted Long Island's Most Valuable Bartender in 2006 and 2007, it has been hired by Bacardi Rum, Captain Morgan Rum, Alize and the Jacob Javits Center for various promotions or shows and was chosen by Dave Attell of the Insomniac Show on Comedy Central as the bartending school he visited and showcased during his New York show of 2003. Do you need any more reasons?
Q: Do you use real liquor?
A: No, we use colored liquids that resemble the exact color and consistency of the ingredients being used.
Q: How do you know the drinks are made properly if you don't use real liquor?
A: The ingredients in all recipes are carefully measured to insure consistency, just like a real bar.
Q: How do I learn if I'm not at a real bar?
A: Our facility is set up exactly like a cocktail lounge. All components of the bar are fully operational including soda guns, beer tap, blenders, cash register, ice machine, bottle openers, wine re-corking station, and sound system. The only thing we're missing is the town drunk.
Q: How do I remember all the drinks?
A: Our easy to follow class structure is designed to make learning recipes simple and fun. Our study manual is designed to double as a recipe index to make finding recipes quick and easy.
Q: What happens if I don't learn everything in 1 or 2 weeks?
A: Graduates of our school represent us. We are committed to keeping our reputation as the top bartending school in New York. Our staff is dedicated to working with each and every student until they feel comfortable enough to bartend on their own. If you need more time, you may simply stay longer, free of charge.
Q: What happens if I miss a class?
A: We offer makeup classes on Saturdays. If Saturdays aren't convenient our staff will work out a more suitable time to makeup any classes that were missed.
Q: What if my schedule conflicts with the class times?
A: Special schedules are available. We will work with you to fit us into your busy schedule.
Q: After I graduate, how long does it take to get a bartending job?
A: It depends on your motivation. Job placement assistance starts the day you graduate. Some of our students begin lining up jobs while they are still in class. Our job placement assistance program goes from Montauk to Manhattan, the North shore, to Fire Island. We have relationships with bars, restaurants, lounges, nightclubs, strip clubs, catering halls and private parties. Our on-line job placement assistance program makes it easy to look for jobs at your convenience. No more having to call up an answering machine or go down to a job placement advisor.
Q: Can I use your job placement assistance more than once?
A: Graduates of Bartenders Academy® are welcome to use our job placement assistance service as often as needed. If you aren't comfortable at your present job you can always use the job placement assistance service to find a new one.
Q: What does lifetime membership mean?
A: As a graduate of Bartenders Academy® you have full access to our facilities as long as you want to be a bartender. Graduates can always retake classes, stop in and practice, use the job placement assistance service, or re-attend the entire program free of charge.
Q: What do I learn at Bartenders Academy®?
A: Training consists of a lesson period each day, and hands on training. You can't learn to bartend sitting behind a desk. All students prepare each recipe they learn under the instructors supervision. You will be introduced to over 250 cocktail recipes and the techniques to prepare them. All aspects of the beverage service industry are covered including, customer service, liquor and beer knowledge and service, wine and champagne knowledge and service, cash register operation, interacting with wait staff, and best of all TIPS.
Q: What does Bartenders Academy® think about Flair Bartending?
A: There is no doubt that Flair Bartending is a positive notch to have on your belt when you are looking to get a job, increase your following or just increase tips. But, if you are going to do it, do it correctly. Take a seminar and learn to properly flip those bottles without spilling or dropping. If you don't represent yourself correctly, you will not only get fired but you will make flair bartending look bad, be professional and know your limitations and skill level. Practice makes perfect, but don't practice in your bar. Buy a couple of flair bottles and practice at home and only use your best moves when you are working.
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Bartenders Academy® of New York would like to give you some common-sense advise:
1- Don't be impressed by smoke and mirrors, if you have any doubts, ask to see the school facilities.
2- To be a school, it must have a location that students can visit and must be licensed by the New York State Education Department.
3- Don't fall for "Bartending Agencies", posing to be bartending schools. If they aren't licensed by the New York State Education Department, They Are NOT A Bartending School.
4- No Bartending School or Agency can legally guarantee you a job. If they do, report them to the New York State Education Department.
5 - If you can't find the school with information (411) or a website. BE CONCERNED
6 - If you have any questions, speak to a live person. Don't wait for an e-mail.
7- If you are considering learning bartending for your home . Owners won't consider it work experience.
8- Don't send your money to a P.O. Box in New York without a phone number to it!!
9- Don't be afraid to compare schools.
10- You cannot learn to bartend in 4 or 8 hours. Why spend money on an 8 hour program when you can learn 32 more hours of info for approx. the same cost?
If you have any questions feel free to call us. We are here to answer all your concerns.
(516) 777-1800 or (631) 579-3366
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