Bartender to Bar Manager, What is Your Career Path?

Published
17 Jan 2020

17 Jan 2020

Picture the scene. You’ve been working in a bar for nine months, you’ve formed some great friendships and you now work within a family, not a bar team. You’ve been performing consistently well for a while now, and your general manager takes you to their office and offers you a promotion. Success! You’ve been promoted to bar manager. You’re in charge. You’ve got more responsibilities. You’re getting more money (hopefully). What’s going to happen next?

Quite a few things will change during the months after your promotion to bar manager. Check out our advice below and get a headstart in your new position.

The difference between a Bartender and A Bar Manager

There is a huge difference between being a bartender and being the bar manager. Being a bartender is a lot more hands on and your job description is much more simple. You make drinks, serve customers, change kegs, prep the bar, etc. It doesn’t get too complicated regardless of where you work. You still work hard, but once you get the hang of it, bartending is pretty simple.

When you progress into a bar manager, you’re still expected to do everything you did as a bartender plus a lot more. Being the bar manager means you could be doing anything from training the staff, to cleaning the beer lines, to visiting wineries in search of great products!

Of course, the extra work means you have to do extra hours. It depends on what country you live in, but in general, full-time bartenders will work on average 40 hours per week. Bar managers will do quite a few more hours than this..

The Career steps to Bar Manager

Work as a Bartender

Bartending experience provides individuals with a thorough understanding of beverage preparation and serving. Bartenders might take on management duties, like checking inventory, ordering supplies, running promotions, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Gaining bartending experience might lead to a promotion to bar manager.

Though bartenders usually receive some on-the-job training, completing an official program, which might last just a few weeks, can give one an edge in securing a bartending job or lead to more prestigious jobs. A bartending program can teach one how to create a variety of cocktails and signature drinks, interact with highly intoxicated customers, and maintain the bar.

So, there you have it, an overview of how you can become a bar manager. The process may not seem too large but in reality, its huge. From serving drinks to customers and completing basic tasks to then taking on the managerial aspect of the establishment as well. It’s a career defining step and if you’re ready... go for it!