Hi! Just a question about bars (renting, living in, move) - Maine (ME) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

elston · 10-12-2011, 06:49 PM

When one of my sons moved to maine....he worked as a waitron and then a bar tender for several years.....he did well and always had a job. He had a college degree but found he could make more tending bar than in his field. He ended up getting a professional job....but I have never heard him put down his time as a bar tender. He worked in Portland and vacinity.

Nix3 · 10-12-2011, 06:53 PM

Thank you so much! I always joke about how the good thing about my profession is I can go anywhere for work, because if there's not a bar, you can build one. Of course that all depends on the liquor laws but still! Any suggestions on towns? I don't want to be completely cut off from people but don't mind driving to things like malls. Also, are certain vehicles better than others in Maine? For instance I have a 2009 Nissan Rogue, I'm assuming that when we finally make it to Maine that I will still have this car. I don't want to have a car payment, plus a house payment. I'd like to get most of my stuff paid off, and build my credit up before I move, not add to my bills lol. My car does well in the Oklahoma ice storms mostly, but I don't want my kids to get in trouble with school if it's snows and my car can't get them to school. Where I live we have snow days for schools, not all the time, but we had quite a few last year. My mom grew up in CO though and said that it didn't matter how many feet of snow there was, you went to school, they didn't have snow days.

Nix3 · 10-12-2011, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elston

When one of my sons moved to maine....he worked as a waitron and then a bar tender for several years.....he did well and always had a job. He had a college degree but found he could make more tending bar than in his field. He ended up getting a professional job....but I have never heard him put down his time as a bar tender. He worked in Portland and vacinity.

I tell people when I get attitudes that I'm lesser than them due to being a bartender that I make at least twice the amount of money that they do in about half the time. I also have fun doing it, and typically have more flexible hours. Of course theres exceptions to every rule. My sister makes quite a bit more money than I do, but she's on a salary, and in a field that has absolutely nothing to do with her Business degree.

cebdark · 10-12-2011, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nix3

Where I live you can still smoke in bars as long as there isn't any food being served for profit, like a bar and grill can't have smokers, but the bar I work at can. There's a vending machine, and occasionally we'll have real food where we do a pot-luck, or order from a local bbq place, but it's all free to the patrons, so ashtrays stay on the tables. The only way restaurants with or without bars can have smoking is if it's in a separate room, with separate ventilation. I remember when Oklahoma went to no smoking or at least when Kay county went to no smoking, the people complained more about not being able to smoke in the bowling alley than in the restaurants. They haven't gotten the bars yet, it keeps getting voted out lol. Apparently you don't mess with a rednecks alcohol and cigarettes. Is it the same way in Maine or is it all non-smoking now?

Heh, heh, heh...the only place "social lepers"

can smoke now is 9,000 feet from any entrance to any building anywhere, and even then they have to contend with people giving them dirty looks and complaining about a waft of smoke blowing near them. After all, it may clash with the 12 gallons of toxic cologne the nonsmoker is wearing.

Kidding aside, smoking has been banned in bars and I believe the only place drinkers can smoke inside is at private clubs such as the Elks or Eagles clubs, but that may have changed recently. I haven't kept up on the laws as I no longer smoke.

If there is one 'recession-proof' if-you-will business there is in this country (IMO) it's the bar/restaurant industry. Good luck in your venture.

mainebrokerman · 10-13-2011, 02:41 AM

yep- you cant smoke in public bars, with or without food, the smoking section is outside, somewhere between the dumpster and outhouse

Bartending always looked like something I wanted to do....im sure their will be jobs available- casinos are being built now, and in a down economy, people do like to drink

Newdaawn · 10-13-2011, 05:48 AM

As far as kids going to school and snow days, I was amazed at how many times last winter they called off school last season. It seemed that every time snow was even predicted they would call school. Back 15 or 20 years ago it was rare that they had even 2 snow days a year. I guess they are concerned with suits. You should be fine with your vehicle in Maine.. People here drive all kinds of cars and not just 4 wheel drives. They do a good job with the roads most of the time.

Westernfrog45 · 10-13-2011, 06:13 AM

just make sure you get studded snows, and practice skidding around an empty snow covered parking lot the first couple storms to get used to how your car handles.

Submariner · 10-13-2011, 06:56 AM

I volunteered as a bartender for about 6 months at my VFW, it was a learning experience for me. [smoking is allowed inside there too.]

One of the professional bartenders had previously worked in a local golf-course / country-club. She said that they paid minimum-wage and that their customers did not give tips. So her take home was strictly minimum-wage salary.

At the VFW they also pay minimum-wage plus the tips tend to run about double the minimum-wage.

So my observation is that there is a wide array of incomes that a bartender may earn in Maine. When choosing which establishment to work in you need to make an assessment of what kind of place is it, what kind of clientele go there, and do they tip.

JC3 · 10-15-2011, 04:12 PM

Back in the early 70's I was laid off for a few years. I ended up bartending at a nice restaurant and at a seasonal club. Both were along the ocean down in Mass. It kept me afloat and they were paying $1/hr back then. If you enjoy the work, do it. From that experience, I find that I now over-tip. Many folks don't realize that is how a lot of people in that line of work really make their money. Then again, the tip is based on service too. If you have experience, there should be places up here that would love to get a professional to work in their establishment. I would make some calls, even try the casino and enquire at places along the coast. Good luck in your search and although you aren't a babysitter, you can play a part in keeping someone from going overboard.

Nix3 · 10-16-2011, 10:16 PM

Thank you for the replies! I've got 2 1/2 years actual bartender experience, plus I grew up in one, but I don't ever count that. I'm actually moving to Orlando, FL first, even though I absolutely despise warm climates, and am not looking forward to no snow/hurricanes, but there are reasons behind the move that I need to take. So after I'm there for a few years, I'm not sure how long, I should be able to save up the money for a move to Maine :-D of which I'm SUPER EXCITED!!! I've even possibly talked my sister who lives in Orlando to coming there too. I think it's a good trade off personally. I move to a state that she lives and for the most part likes for awhile, then she can move to a state that I want to live in. I'm moving after tax season, so next fall we're going to make a trip up to Maine for a few days with my kids. She said she's been to the very southern part of Maine, and thought it was nice, but she couldn't really comment on it because she was only there for a few hours for dinner. She was on a business trip to Boston.