Girls Barback-ing /bartending Question for a pro

[Bigdee]

first thing, I grauduated from a bartending school. Then I go looking for jobs as a bartender (LOL) everybody wants some experience. So I figure I will start at the bottom and be a barback. That did not work out, because I am a Female. I even had a club owner who was honest with me, Mexicans , elsalvadorians, ect. work really hard and they are willing to work for less. Plus they never hire "girls" to bar back!

I am not your average girl, short story,( Boyish looking Lesbian) but most women and men find me good looking and cute :) So I know it's not my looks!
I am not afraid of hard work either, I am just tryna get my foot in the door, so I can tend bar, so I am willing to bust my a** to get there.

Now I am an African American, All these places in and around Dc, who do you see Bartending? White guys, white girls, or your token black guy. All the black chicks get stuck in the hole in the wall night clubs, I am just going on what I see, not tryna start anything.



The question is would you hire a female to barback? I really don't know what to do :confused:

These bartending schools promise you plenty, but they can't get you a job.

Ok while I was in bartending school, I seen why clubs ect. don't hire right out of school. I did really well clear across the board. Bartending school is not hard at all. But I did see some people who had no business being there, and the school had no business taking there money!!!!!!

[Michael Black]

Bigdee-

As you know, education isn't everything in the real world and yes, every moment somewhere the race cards, sexual orientaion cards, and beauty cards are being dealt and played. I can only suggest to you to hold on to your determination and pride and realize that it is also a numbers game.If you apply to 1000 places, and keep your head up, you are bound to find at least one manager/owner who is not a narrow-minded racist, sexist, or gay hater with his/her own insecurities. However, understand that beyond this, their business, job, or life savings may be on the line.They may be targeting a certain market and while you may disagree, they often first think of the employees, especially ones behind the bar who will present an image of the type of customers they wish to attract. even very experienced and even good looking white guys are often beat out to a 21 year old blonde with big XX's with no experience or education.This is the way it is. Unfortunately, that blonde will usually be forgiven for numerous mistakes wile her male bartender co-worker or an uglier female co-worker picks up her slack, but the blonde often brings in more customers and tips. That being said, I can only further suggest that it's all how you present yourself. If you give respect, you usally get respect regardless of the mentioned variables.And if not, the other person & place probably are not worth it. Consider waitresssing too.Show your eagerness to try to barback & learn from the ground up.Offer a trial period for free and at no risk to them.Or,ask later why you did not get hired, respectfully, so you can learn for the next job application.Also ask if you are not right for that job or place, if they know of any other leads/friends that may work with you. Be persistant and be strong enough to accept much rejection as it is also a learning process. Understand this too: it may not be to any of the perceived factors.Sometimes 500 people of all wallks of life while in different clothes, are in the same boat as you fighting for the one postion. A position that may very well go to someone who who knows somebody and not to what they know.Are ther any gay clubs,bars,restaurants there that you could cold call or approach even if they don't have an ad out? By the way, there are plenty of woman in my experience that do far more labor than many weenie guys and some of them have even been pretty little blondes. Don't judge a book by its cover:) -it's a mad planet!

Keep a positive, determined, open, and respectful mind and good luck!

Michael Black

Ps-it wouldn't hurt to post your position wanted and qualifications/willingness on job sites or even in the paper and here on this forum if you have not done so already.

[TJRash]

If you are really trying to work your way up, maybe you should try working at a resturant first.
I walked into a club yesterday and was hired right then, as a busser/bar back. I'm not the biggest dude and I'm white. And the Magaer wasn't i don't know what he was. so i don't think its a race thing, i saw all different sorts working there including a girl with short hair who looked like she might beable to kick my butt.
But I have worked in food service before and I've got some experence under my belt which is better i think than bartending school... they have a book with every drink ever behind the bars all you have to do is read. So bartending school isn't the end all of end alls.- I mean common in the army they don't send west point graduates out to command a brigade. they give em small jobs first becuase the 2nd Lutenits down have any idea what is going on... sort of like you would be on a saturday night at a club where you have a line at the bar and orders form 10 people at once and you can't hear anything have so you have to read lips and still get the drink right.
-so I've worked at a few resturants before. that counted for something and i got hired. they didn't ask what sexual orentation i was either. I don't think it matters in club world.
Maybe its your attitude and the fact that you feel like your sacrificing something by going after a barback position. good managers can tell that when you walk though the door... i wouldn't hire someone with a chip either.

[Cmcmillan]

To cut right to your question. "would you hire a women to bar-back"

I would love to tell you yes, but its untrue. This is going to come off sounding like a dick thing, but ever manager has had to deal with this. You hire a girl to do a heavy work job, and they start to flirt and forget the job, or they whine about the lifting. (not all women are like this) just the ones I seem to hire for a job like this. So I stopped getting women to bar-back for us.

as far as you becoming a bar tender. Relocate - if you want to sling drinks, and your unable to find a job in your area then move to a city and pound it out. find a shit hole in the wall bar and work your way up. I am shocked to think you would be unable to find a crap bar job in D.C

[Skellies]

As a club manager I would hire anyone who could lift and hussle as a barback. Go to a lesbian bar and you find girls barbacking many times.

Starting at a restaurant is also a good idea. Perhaps a smaller bar. The bartending cert. is good, but the experience is better. I've met people who are club/bar managers in different cities and they feel the same.

If you're honest, and dependable and you can lift and hussle you can atleast be hired as a barback.

Good luck.