Bar Certifications - Are they as hard as Smokey Bones?

I once tried to do a Smokey Bones shop that was a bar integrity situation. I signed up and then read the bar observation guidelines. It seemed outrageously difficult to perform with having to notice very technical details of drink pouring and having a familiarity with various drinks.

I don't usually drink at the bar when going out. Maybe once a year. I am not alcohol literate. I order simply drinks (mojitos, ciders, margaritas, etc.).

I am not bar certified for any projects currently, but have been thinking of branching out into them. Are there companies/clients/projects that are bar integrity types, but easy to master for someone who is not a frequent social drinker and bar visitor?

What types of knowledge and observations are typically required?

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I do one in my area, you have to have two drinks, I can make it home the 3 miles....you watch for the bartender to card anyone looking under 30, putting tips in right place, how many pours go into a drink. I don't like to mix drinks which you have to do, one (say) vodka and tonic and Margarita, making sure they upsell. Directions are specific if you apply. The bartender should offer the appetizer menu and recommend, must have exact timings and when you get bill, should be in a glass and so on.....

Live consciously....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2019 08:43AM by Irene_L.A..

Look up confidential consumer. They are a small MSC that does a lot of bar integrity and restaurant shops. They want you to look for the obvious but they're not overly complicated.

To date, I stand at eight for the year. The first two were returned to me to address issues I had neglected to notate. Fortunately, it was an MSC for whom I had completed in excess of 200 jobs over a 13 years period and they were quite understanding. As we all are aware, shops beings easier with repetition.

The positives of Smokey Bones are a $20 fee, which, predicated upon my experience, is quite unusual for a dining assignment and a relative freedom in ordering. The only negative for me is the shop hours, which in my area are 23:00 to 02:00.

If a non-hotel eatery is involved, as in this case Smokey Bones, give it a whirl. The problem with hotels is the food is so overpriced and those jobs seem to be demanding, if the work goes south on you, it is a much greater loss. After you have experience, that would be the time to consider hotel work.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I do one in my area, you have to have two drinks, I can make it home the 3 miles....you watch for the bartender to card anyone looking under 30, putting tips in right place, how many pours go into a drink. I don't like to mix drinks which you have to do, one (say) vodka and tonic and Margarita, making sure they upsell. Directions are specific if you apply. The bartender should offer the appetizer menu and recommend, must have exact timings and when you get bill, should be in a glass and so on.....

I think that sounds okay. The only part that might be hard is "how many pours go into a drink."

I think one of the projects I saw required you to be familiar with drink types and then how much alcohol was put into them. I guess that's the part that I'm scared of.

Not a drinker usually. And having to learn new stuff + watching intensely worries me.

Watching for people getting carded and if tips are stolen is easy for me, though.

@shopperbob wrote:

To date, I stand at eight for the year. The first two were returned to me to address issues I had neglected to notate. Fortunately, it was an MSC for whom I had completed in excess of 200 jobs over a 13 years period and they were quite understanding. As we all are aware, shops beings easier with repetition.

The positives of Smokey Bones are a $20 fee, which, predicated upon my experience, is quite unusual for a dining assignment and a relative freedom in ordering. The only negative for me is the shop hours, which in my area are 23:00 to 02:00.

If a non-hotel eatery is involved, as in this case Smokey Bones, give it a whirl. The problem with hotels is the food is so overpriced and those jobs seem to be demanding, if the work goes south on you, it is a much greater loss. After you have experience, that would be the time to consider hotel work.

I've been to Smokey Bones pretty late before for dinner. We sat down (non-bar) and never saw a server come by our table AT ALL for 20 minutes or so and then saw a server immediately serve a group of young people who just walked in and sat across from us.

So furious that we just left. That was my first experience and last.

Hotel bars I like. They are classier, "safer," and do usually pay more. I wouldn't mind trying one of those.

@foodluvr wrote:

Look up confidential consumer. They are a small MSC that does a lot of bar integrity and restaurant shops. They want you to look for the obvious but they're not overly complicated.

Thank you for the rec. I will look them up.

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Bar Certifications - Are they as hard as Smokey Bones?

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