San Francisco School of Bartending (SFSOB) Review

So in June, I attended San Francisco School of Bartending. and on June 19 I graduated with my Bartending Training Certificate. Now I know, "Daniel being a bartender? why?". Well I wanted to learn a new skill. Bartenders make GREAT money off tips. And it looked like so much fun. I didn't know where to start to look for a job bartending. Now I am 20 years old, not 21 but I would like to get behind the bar when I turn 21. I thought the school was fantastic. 3 hours a day. 2 week course. They taught you EVERYTHING you needed to know behind the bar. History of liquors, customer service, cash handling, and everything else you need to know while working behind a REAL bar. And of course you learn how to make 150 drinks. Yea it sounds like a lot but it was not that bad. It was a bit pricey for $420. That included all tuition and materials. The course was great, I had lots of fun and met really cool people in the class.

The school offers a database that graduates can use for a LIFETIME where they can find jobs at their local bar. I read reviews about it on Yelp and people were saying how it sucked and how they couldn't find a job. Now be real, finding a job is up to YOU! They provide the training and they give you the resources. But all in all you need to find that job. SFSOB provides GREAT training and has the database for you! You need to find the job. SFSOB even offers guest bartending nights where you can go to Azul or Etiquette and bartend there for around 30 min. You don't get paid and you don't get tips. (They go to the bartender thats supervising you) but you do get experience and you can use the bar manager as a reference and you can use them on your resume. Talking about resumes, on tuesday nights they offer a FREE resume writing workshop from 5pm-6pm. One last thing they offer to their graduates is that they can come back and practice! So if you ever need to practice making drinks, just call and refresh.

Now in all I thought it was FUN and a great experience. Do I recommend the class to people? YES! If you really want to be a bartender and are serious about it. Do it! Its pricey but it will pay off after you get that job! I did it for fun, and to learn a new skill. I do plan on trying to bartend when I am legal. The only thing I wish I did was wait until I was 21. I guess with all the services they offer, it makes it a little more worth it! =) 

Funny Customer Stories

So some of you know that I work at Fung Lum. Fung Lum is a chinese restaurant located in San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Ive been working there for a good 3 months and I love it. I love the pay =), my co workers, the work load is pretty light, and it isnt hard. Some things I dont like is paying BART to go to work, and some very weird customers. Here are just a few, Ill post a few more on a later entry.

So this post is to share some of the nice and the not so nice customers I had before, also the interesting ones as well.

*I love how AFTER I ring up their meal, and the customers see the price they get so shocked that its so expensive. Now I don't know if they forgot they are in the airport but EVERYWHERE is expensive. Hey if you have the money to travel, you can kick in the extra buck or two to eat. If not then bring your own food! (I do it all the time, just don't bring in bottle drinks.. I learned the hard way) But if you really don't like the prices, bring in your own food! Don't take it out on the employees, we don't set the prices!

*I love it when customers come back to me and tell me that they had a great dinner. Knowing the food isn't that good and that they are getting ripped off, they come back and compliment us. And I LOVE that.

*So at the place I work at, its similar to Panda Express. You get rice or noodles and 1 entree for $8.50 and $3.50 for any additional entree. Easy? WRONG! Everyday people ask "How does this work?" The menu is like right in front of you. I move it right in front of them and they still have questions. Its pretty self explanatory. Maybe its just the whole tourist thing. Some people see it right away and get it. Some people take a few minutes of explaining.

I used no names in this post. It just a lot of things I see. Its pretty funny though. Im not mad. Everyone who works in retail or food services has to deal with it. You get the really cool customers and your grumpy customers. But its all good!