Does anybody here have a bartending license? Is it worth it, at least monetarily wise? I feel like it be a useful social skill, but would I be able to turn a profit by working as a bartender? More importantly, does the license carry over in other states? I'd hate to get my bartending license at home and then find out it's no good at school.
It's not worth it. Just work your way up from the door. Learn a bunch by yourself. Oh, and the official Texas bartending "license" doesn't really teach you anything about making drinks. It's just certification from the TABC that you need to legally work in a bar: https://www.tabc.state.tx.us If you're talking about one of those bartending schools, it's a total waste of time. I've never met a bartender who went to bartender school, and I've met a lot of them. You can definitely make decent money, but it will take time to reach that point. Learn as much as you can on your own, and try get a job as a barback.
Branching off what thadeus said, the "license" is nothing more than a certification from TABC. It doesn't teach you much of anything about actual bartending. It's more about the consequences of overserving, not checking IDs, etc. The legal stuff. But if you are just wanting to be certified to get some side gigs to supplement your income, it's not a terrible investment. I know some folks who got in good with a person who owns a wedding venue and they got a bunch of side jobs basically pouring beer and wine for a few hours.
If I'm not mistaken, anyone serving alcohol (waiters, waitresses, bartenders, etc.) are required to be TABC certified.
I've met bartenders who went to those schools. Some other areas (Milwaukee off the top of my head) do require a separate bartender license, but Texas is just TABC certification whether you're a server, bartender, or cashier at a gas station. If you really want to make money as a bartender, invest in fake t***.
You could just call Jon Taffer and see if they'll do a special episode of Bar Rescue where they teach you how to be a pro and overcome your social anxiety.
