Wise or stupid: Attend bartending school? (Torrance: hotel, find a job, schools)

[Manning1980]

So I'm a freelance journalist here in the midwest and I'm wondering where my career is going. (Print media is dying in case you haven't heard)

I've always admired LA's beauty and sass, so I was looking at Pacific Bartending School in Torrance and it almost seems too good to be true. $395 for a two week course and they virtually help you find a job afterwards. All the reviews of the school praise the hell out of the program too.

Does anyone think heading out your way to do this would be foolish or perhaps even sensible? Any bartenders in the house? It wouldn't be long term, and it may be the recipe I need to get me out of my winter rut. Here's the link to the school:

Pacific Bartending School | When you're a Bartender...Everyday is Payday

[Naomi Manischewitz]

From what I understand, if you know how to make a variety of drinks, are good looking, and people in bars and clubs like you, you could get a job without going to bartending school. However, if you don't know how to make many drinks and need help with work, it might be helpful.

[bigdumbgod]

Second-hand knowledge says yes, this has historically been a good choice, especially in terms of using their contact network to land a job. Pouring a drink isn't nearly as hard as finding a place that will pay you to do it.

[PSBlows]

I'm also interested in this..though I'm not the most social person. People say I sometimes talk a lot, but that's mainly in small groups(2-4) or one on one.

I've heard that some employers scoff at bartending school/licenses..and that the best way is to start as a waiter or barback at a restaurant/bar.

[Burbankhotty]

I've never heard of any restaurants or bars using a bartending school to get employees. Catering is good out here, if you look like you can handle it just tell them in the interview that you want to bartend you've studied all the drinks and understand being fast efficient and most of all customer service. THey may start you off as a waiter, but just keep asking about bartending. you may start off at a hotel, which is pretty good. Lots of food service jobs out here.

[KnoxTown]

I don't know a single bartender in LA who went to bartending school(and I know ALOT of bartenders here).

[PSBlows]

I'm sure we all know that there traditionally, most bartenders don't go to bartending school. They start out working in some restaurant/bar as a bar back, waiter, dishwasher, whatever...and then from there they could gradually move into bartending.

But times are changing. Now employers look for every little thing that could give you the tiniest advantage over other candidates.

The question was whether or not this would be helpful for someone who isn't lucky enough to already be working in a bar/restaurant.

[Sanya Mariam]

Bartending School is dumb. Best to get hands on if you want to bartend. You could start out as a cocktail server or bar back. The schools can't compare to hands on training. If you do decide to go, little advice don't put it on your resume

[wanderlust123]

If you haven't already figured it out firsthand if you didn't decide to go to Pacific Bartending School, let me tell you that I payed for the course summer 2011, enjoyed it, but it did nothing for me in terms of getting a job. All of those reviews you see are fake- they say the same thing and I highly suspect theyre probably all written by Dan, the instructor. You learn some of the basics here, and given minimal help in finding a job. Basically an "online database" with a bunch of listings straight from Craigslist, where you chase after interviews like any ordinary person. Bartending school = total waste of money. I looked for months with no luck. My guess is what others say, start as a busser or host and work your way up. But even in this city with jobs being as they are, I haven't even been able to get a host or server job. Sucks.

[CA4Now]

My nephew (early 20's) went to bartending school last fall and got a certificate. They didn't help him find a job at all! I wouldn't do it.