Bartend Around the World
Pretty much every town in the world I have visited has had a bar of some sort. Some classier than others! And in the bar, or behind the bar I should say, there usually was a very friendly bartender quite willing to pour me any drink I wanted. Now if you are looking for work while you travel, a travel job as a travelling bartender is a good option. It not only pays a way to top up your bank account but can often bring free accommodation and food with the job. Sound appealing? Then read on and find out how you could bartend your way around the world.
What does a Bartender do?
In a nutshell, a bartender mixes and serves drinks plus stocks and prepares beverage garnishes and bar supplies while maintaining ice and ensures glasses and utensils are cleaned. And, often serves food to customers who eat at the bar. To expand on all this:
Mixology
At the heart of a bartender’s role is the art of mixology. They curate a diverse array of beverages, ranging from time-honored classics to innovative, signature creations, embodying the essence of liquid craftsmanship.
Customer Service
The bartender doubles as a frontline ambassador, providing impeccable customer service. Creating a welcoming atmosphere, engaging with patrons, and ensuring their satisfaction are integral aspects of this role.
Inventory Management
Beyond the bar counter, bartenders are entrusted with the meticulous management of inventory. This involves ordering supplies, tracking stock levels, and minimizing waste to ensure operational efficiency.
Maintaining Cleanliness
A clean and organized bar is more than an aesthetic requirement—it’s a hallmark of professionalism. Bartenders must adhere to health and safety regulations, maintaining a hygienic environment for both staff and patrons.
What You Need to Know About Pouring and Making Drinks – Drink Knowledge
A comprehensive understanding of diverse alcoholic beverages, mixers, garnishes, and glassware forms the foundation of a bartender’s proficiency. This knowledge is the palette from which they draw to craft a spectrum of drinks.
Techniques
Bartenders are artisans of technique, mastering the intricacies of pouring, shaking, stirring, and layering. These skills are the brushstrokes that ensure each drink is a masterpiece of flavor and presentation.
Attention to Detail
Precision is paramount. From measuring ingredients to meticulous garnishing, an unwavering attention to detail is the hallmark of a skilled bartender, guaranteeing consistency and quality in every pour.
Why Bartend?
The first bartending job I got while travelling the world was in a little country pub in the English countryside. My travelling companion and I had actually called in for a Sunday roast and noticed the sign at the bar that staff were required. I spoke to the manager and next minute, I’m working behind the bar without any barmaid skills.
My friend and I decided to stay and do a summer bartending. The job entailed serving the customers drinks, mostly it was pouring beers or lagers as the Brits like to call them. Other duties were to keep the bar clean and tidy, pick up empty glasses from tables and put them in the dishwasher. Also to empty ashtrays and occasional help out serving meals. For this, my friend and I got free accommodation, well, we had to share a room plus our meals while on duty. As we were in a small town there wasn’t anything to spend our wage on, so I was able to save heaps. In fact, what I was able to save over the summer paid for a 3 month rail jaunt through Europe. So that is why, I bartend. And there are plenty of other travelling bartenders who would say the same!
What are the Pros and Cons of Being a Traveling Bartender?
Pros of being a Traveling Bartender
- Social Interaction and Networking: Beyond merely serving drinks, bartenders become social catalysts, forging connections with a diverse clientele. This not only refines interpersonal skills but also establishes a valuable network within the community, opening doors to unforeseen opportunities.
- Cash Tips and Competitive Earnings: The allure of cash tips transforms bartending into a financially rewarding pursuit, especially in bustling establishments where a charismatic bartender can significantly enhance their income through tips. So if wondering how much do bartenders make, it is hard to say. Do bartenders make good money? They can if prepared to work hard. They will reap the rewards, even if that is a free bed in a hostel dorm room.
- Creativity and Expression: Bartenders emerge as mixological artists, sculpting liquid experiences with each cocktail. The ability to infuse creativity into the craft, producing visually stunning and unique drinks, distinguishes skilled bartenders and elevates them within the industry.
- Flexibility: The flexibility of hours in bartending caters to those seeking unconventional work schedules. This adaptability makes it an appealing choice for individuals desiring autonomy over their time.
- Travel Opportunities: Seasoned bartenders often discover a passport to global adventures. Job opportunities around the world allow them to explore diverse cultures and destinations, transforming the profession into a lifestyle of perpetual exploration.
Cons of being a Traveling Bartender
- Irregular Hours: The irregular hours, including late nights, weekends, and holidays, disrupt the conventional work-life balance. Bartenders must be prepared for a schedule that operates outside the typical 9-to-5 framework.
- Physical Demands: The physical demands of prolonged standing, maneuvering heavy kegs, and handling cases can exact a toll on a bartender’s physical well-being, necessitating resilience and stamina.
- Dealing with Difficult Customers: Exceptional customer service is paramount, but bartenders often find themselves managing intoxicated or unruly patrons, testing their emotional and mental resilience.
- Job Stability: Job stability may fluctuate, especially in seasonal locations or during economic downturns. Bartenders need to cultivate adaptability to navigate the ebb and flow of employment opportunities.
Do You Need a Qualification to be a Bartender?
I never had a qualification to be a bartender. My boss showed me how to pour a beer and explained how to mix some drinks. It was pretty easy really. In some countries you may need a qualification to be a bartender. In Australia you are required to have a RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) Certificate. This can be done online and is pretty easy to get, and is a must to work in a bar in Australia. Needing a qualification will also depend on what kind of establishment you get a bartending job in. The English pub I worked in didn’t require a qualification or experience. However, it would be different if I went for a job in a cocktail bar in a 5-star restaurant. So if you want to do bartend around the world I’d suggest getting some experience, rather than a qualification to take with you. Travel bartenders are needed everywhere and it is one of the best backpacker jobs you can get.
Why Bartend Your Way Around the World
- Often don’t need a qualification or any experience.
- There is a bar of some sort in every town so easy to get work.
- Can be a lot of fun and you will meet lots of people.
- Get paid to top up your travelling funds. Or get accommodation, food and cheap drinks in return for working.
- Great way to work and travel abroad.
What Visa do You Need to be a Bartender
Yeah, to legally work you will need the appropriate work visa. You could do this type of work on a working holiday visa or even a digital nomad visa to top up your money. Some employers will sponsor you, such as cruise lines. If you cannot work legally, maybe work in exchange for accommodation and food. Hostels that have a bar often let you work in exchange for a bed in a dorm and discounted drinks while on duty. If legally you cannot work, working in exchange of accommodation and food will allow you to travel for longer and spend less money. I did meet other bartenders who had been sponsored by the bar owner for a work permit – you just never know! This happened to a number of people I met in the Canadian ski resorts.
How to Get a Job Bartending
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Acquire Relevant Skills: Enrolling in bartending courses is not just about learning the basics; it’s a holistic approach to gaining practical experience and building a solid foundation of skills. Comprehensive training sets the stage for a successful bartending career.
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Network. Get yourself out there. Arm yourself with a CV and talk to everybody you can. Walk into different bars and ask. Tell them you are looking for a bartending job. All they can say is ‘no’ or hopefully ‘yes’. Leave your CV with the manager, yes, the manager, not the staff, as they may forget to pass it on. Maybe frequent the place to get to know the manager.
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Answer ads both hung up on hostel notice boards and in establishment winds. And if these establishments have a bar – head to the bar and ask can you work for your stay if you don’t legally have the right paperwork.
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Check out the classifieds in newspapers both printed and online.
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Consider websites such as Workaway and Worldpackers.
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Contact employment agencies for cruise ship jobs and superyachts.
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Check out Facebook groups for travelling bartenders.
Where Are the Bartender Jobs Abroad?
It was only after I became a bartender that I realised that bartending is a great career path. You can work in backpacker bars hostels, casinos, holiday resorts, on cruise ships, on tropical islands in the Caribbean (remember Tom Cruise in Cocktail!) and other exotic and fun places. You can literally go anywhere in the world and find a job working as a bartender to make money to further your travels.
Work for Stay Bartending
One of the most popular options for travelling bartenders is to work for accommodation, food and drink discounts. This is where no money exchanges hands, so as you are not being paid, you are not technically breaking any laws regarding work visas. Receiving somewhere to stay, food and drinks is definitely a bonus to keep your travel costs down. And if you receive some cash or tips, more the better – just don’t get caught. Hostel jobs for bartenders can be found by asking around at hostels or searching online. Work for stay positions are typically 15-25 hours of work per week for a bed in a hostel dorm. And there is usually not too long of a commitment required either and because of such a high turnover of staff, this is one of the best jobs for bartenders with no experience.
Seasonal Jobs for Bartenders
Have a look where you are and what season it is. There are many seasonal vacation spots for bartenders to work such as in ski resorts, summer beach destinations, party boats and special events. So if winter is coming on you may want to head for the hills to a ski resort for a job. Or if there are special events happening such as Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany you could get a hospitality job. So consider the seasons of where you are to get a bartending job. It is common for seasonal bartenders to work the winter in one location and the summer in another.
At ski resorts, bartending jobs are highly coveted because they allow you to work in the evening while skiing or snowboarding during the day – unless you’re on day duty! And I’m sure, just like Tom Cruise in Cocktail, if working at a beach resort, there will be plenty of time to dip your toes in the ocean!
Bartend on a Cruise Ship
If you have a couple of years bartending experience on land, you may qualify for a job as a cruise ship bartender. You will need to commit to a season. I think you could handle sailing the Caribbean for 3-4 months at a time! Working on a cruise ship as a bartender is often lucrative as you won’t be spending your money while onboard.
Bartend on a Super Yacht
Super Yachts are massive yachts that require a number of staff for it to run efficiently. Depending on its size and clientele it may require a bartender to serve the guests. You will need to commit to a season and you may not see land for a while, but you will be working and travelling abroad. And being paid to sail the world.
Bartending on a Working Holiday Visa
Being a bartender is a popular job for people on a working holiday visa. Obtaining a working holiday visa varies by nationality and popular destinations for bartenders on a working holiday include Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK. Remember at the beginning of this post I told you how I had a live-in bar job, well it was during my UK working holiday.
Are You Ready to Bartend Your Way Around the World?
Bartending is a universal profession. While brands and local tastes may vary, a bartender skilled in making cocktails and pouring draft beer is needed everywhere. And the best thing about travel bartending is that anyone can do it with hard work and the right work ethic. If asked, is bartending a good job – I’d definitely say yes. So if you are looking for a fun backpacker job, that pays, and you can do anywhere, consider bartending! Have you been a bartender somewhere? I’d love to hear in the comments following.
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