text: I have friends that are currently bartenders and questioned a number of other bartenders regarding this in the past.  They've all had the same general statement:  Avoid bartending school.  While they might be able to teach you the drink recipes, you can do the same on your own just by picking up a book.\n\nNever aim for a high-traffic bar as your first place to work.  If you can't keep up at a fast pace, you'll be fired.  If you choose to start at a restaurant, you usually have to be a server first.  In some cases, the only way to be involved directly in the bartending process at a restaurant is to have all the bartenders vote to have you trained when a position is available.\n\nA hotel might be your first place to start.  I used to work in a hotel, and knew the bartending manager.  Someone with a good personality and a willingness to learn was all it truly took to be hired for the job.  He did on the job training, and gave material for the employees to study.  Anyone that could outshine the other bartenders (adapting and re-inventing drinks to improve upon the basics) were sure to move on to other venues.\n\nFrom there, you would want to move into a night club if at all possible.  The traffic is much heavier, and the tipping tends to be better.\n\nOverall, I wish you luck in your endeavors!  It's been a job that I've always been a bit interested in, but felt that my life's path was leading me in a different direction instead.  :)