Poor?
Pour!
BEHIND
THE BAR AT BARTENDING SCHOOL.
BY
BOBBIE WILLIS
Eight students sit around a huge conference table
in the lecture area of Premium Pour Bartending School, downtown
at 10th Avenue and Oak Street. While school isn't required for employment
as a bartender here in town, school director/owner, instructor and
veteran bartender Zorah Rose believes formal instruction instills
"management mindset and work behavior" that make the students better
qualified candidates in today's competitive job market.
Rose stands before the students explaining issues
of legality and liability in the bartending business. "When you're
serving people," says Rose, "and you've got a VIP — Visibly
Intoxicated Person — you are accountable for them.
It's called third party liability." The students nod earnestly and
Rose moves on to tactics for cutting off the VIP and giveaways of
the fake ID.
After the lecture part of class, the students go
through some hands-on practice in an actual bar set up in the front
part of the school — "The bottles are filled with colored
water, of course," says Rose. But the layout of liquor bottles,
glasses, bar equipment and drink garnishes is pretty much like anything
you'd see at a club or watering hole around town. Half the group
gets behind the bar to make drinks, and half the group sits around
the bar to order and act as customers. Students focus on measuring
and mixing accuracy, as well as on juggling a variety of orders
coming in at once. As you might guess, everyone seems to be having
fun. At one point, Rose picks up a couple of empty bottles, and
begins juggling them in what's called "flair bartending," just like
Tom Cruise in Cocktail.
For Rose, the aspect of fun is only part of what
keeps her in the business. "I love working with people. Anyone who
loves working with people will thrive in this business. And there's
a lot of freedom — if you want to work and travel, bartending
is the perfect way to do that." Rose realizes that bartending is
"a very transitional career," but she also believes that there is
room for achievement and progress. "It's all in how you approach
it," she says with a grin.
Premium Pour offers day, evening and weekend classes.
For schedule and information, call 485-4695 or visit www.premium-pour.com