Curmudgeon!

It sucks that my first post in quite a while will be a rant, but so be it.

For those that know, I spent money taking bartending courses so I could learn the trade and perhaps get a job doing said bartendering.

In fairness, they did warn us that a man becoming a bartender was difficult, but at the time, with all  was learning, I couldn’t see how my knowledge of the subject couldn’t ensure some kind of job.

So cut to nearly a year later, and numerous experiences in which I failed. I got a “connection” nudged my way to work as a bartender at a popular nightclub in the city, when I went, I got the run around and somehow landed a volunteer job of walking around the city promoting the club. Nuts to that, exit stage left. I don’t *need* a job, I would like one that I would enjoy.

But what’s really started to get to me, is the preponderance of situations in which female friends of mine have heard about my new found (and paid for) skills and simply say to themselves “I should do that” and immediately have job offers.

I’ll be completely honest about this next part, and it’s not meant to be derogatory (which pretty much ensures that it will come across that way): For the last year, I’ve not had stellar service at any bar/lounge/club I’ve went to, and at first I thought it was just me being elitist. Back when I didn’t know the standards of courtesy and whatnot, I guess I just took my drink and drank it with the goal of getting drunk.

These days, I want to appreciate whiskey and I find myself considering the drink I’m in the mood for. How am I supposed to feel when the bartendress doesn’t know whats in a fuzzy navel or a screwdriver and even after I give the hint, she is slow in figuring out where everything is?

How am I supposed to feel when I myself can look at a bar and identify the drinks needed for a certain concoction and still be met with a confused look and an insistance that they don’t make that here (I’ve been dying for an Old Fashioned).

My friend recently asked a bartender friend of his about any job openings, cause he knew a guy who was good at bartending who was looking for work. The bartender’s reply was “Don’t really need guy bartenders”

Of course not, he’s already got a job, fuck anyone else.

I expected competition, but many of these subpar bartenders I can’t even begin to see them as effective competition in the realm of knowledge or skill.

I admit, I got suckered into the idea of making tip money and being able to be happy with that. I didn’t count on the fact that it’s nearly impossible to get hired since I’m a guy.

Still, I at least have the knowledge, and I’m thinking of going back for the free classes so I can brush up on my learnings. I feel they’ve been getting dusty since I haven’t been practicing. Also there are still steps I can take with them, apparently it’s lifetime membership, so I can go with job placement assistance if they have spots open. We’ll see.

I just felt like ranting about it, cause it seems like everywhere I turn there’s an inexperienced bartender behind the bar, fucking up my drinks (never making a red devil in the same way twice) and expecting a tip out of the deal.