Posted by TamaraJ on March 5, 2005, at 14:04:49
In reply to Help me figure out if I could be a bartender, posted by PhoenixGirl on March 4, 2005, at 23:51:15
It can be a good way to make money, there is no doubt about it. I have always been very shy (less now that I am bit older) and, like you, felt odd around people (mostly strangers and people I did not know very, very well). I bartended for a while. But, I was a "service" bartender at a small italian bistro. That meant that I mostly dealt with the wait staff and the occassional customers that sat at the bar when no tables were available. I also waitressed for at the same restaurant after a while working as a bartender. It was nerve-wracking at first, but once I got used to it, I found my shyness subsiding a bit. I would say that if you are looking for a way to try to overcome or manage social phobia, it can be a step in the right direction (kind of a baptism by fire approach). If it is something that you want to pursue, you might want to start as a service bartender. That way you could get your feet wet and ease your way into a bartending job where you would have more direct and constant interaction with customers.
It can be a lot of fun, particularly if you end up working with a good group of people who like to socialize after hours.
Good luck to you.
Tamara
> So I need a part-time job. Bartending seems like fairly good money. However, I don't know if I have the personality for it. How can I know? I'm rather shy and always feel odd around people.
> I ordered a training booklet with supplies for bartenders. Maybe I should return it for a refund, I don't know. I'm wondering if it's worth it to learn all the stuff in the book if I would hate bartending.
> I wish my social awkwardness wasn't such a handicap, damn. But I gotta be realistic....
> Thoughts anyone?
poster:TamaraJ
thread:466777
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050305/msgs/467000.html