“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
We’ve all heard this saying before. While it may not be 100% accurate (your skillset is still valuable!), it’s true that knowing the right people leads to new job opportunities and helps you advance your career. How do you get to know the right people? By networking, of course!
Our list includes six essential networking tips for bartenders to help you get the most out of your mingling. Which tips will you use to build lasting professional connections?
Why Is Networking Important for Bartenders?
Networking is one of the most effective ways to generate word-of-mouth referrals, which are a massive boon to your business.
Referral clients have a 37% retention rate and are four times more likely to recommend you to someone else than any other type of client. If you aren’t getting referrals, you’re missing out on potential revenue.
Networking allows you to expand your professional sphere, which increases your chances of getting referrals.
Pro Tip: You’re more likely to be referred to new clients if you’re insured. Protecting yourself with bartender insurance signals to clients and connections that you’re financially prepared for accidents that could happen. Plus, it means you’re ready to pick up gigs at the drop of a hat because clients don’t need to wait for you to get insured.
6 Networking Tips for Bartenders
1. Build Relationships With Coworkers and Clients
The best starting point for bartender networking is strengthening connections within your existing network, including current and former coworkers and clients.
Follow these networking best practices:
- Make a good impression: Be friendly with everyone at and behind the bar. Arrive early, work hard, and be willing to stay late at every gig — clients and coworkers notice this!
- Stay in touch: Exchange contact information (phone number and email) and add them on LinkedIn. Interact with their posts and celebrate their successes.
- Follow up when appropriate: If you see a previous client post about an upcoming event they’re throwing, shoot them a message! Let them know you’re available and interested if they need a bartender.
2. Join Bartending Associations
Bartending associations are exactly what they sound like: organizations of bartenders that offer support and services to their members, including professional development, career resources, and networking opportunities.
Two of the most popular bartender associations are:
- United States Bartenders Guild (USBG): Part of the larger International Bartenders Association (IBA), the USBG supports its members with career development tools, networking opportunities, and the Hospitality Assistance Program: a unique benefit with mental health, legal, and financial aid. They also offer a steep discount for members on all USBG events.
- Bar Professional Membership: $125/year
- Industry Associate Membership: $250/year
- Flair Bartenders Association (FBA): Focused on the art of flair bartending, the FBA hosts competitions and trainings and connects its members with an international bartending network.
- Basic Membership: Free
- Premium Membership: $35/year
3. Attend Industry Events
While you can network quite a bit within your workplace, going to industry events helps you connect with people you otherwise might not meet.
Some of these events include:
- Brand-sponsored pop-ups: Beer, wine, and liquor brands often host trainings and events to showcase their products. They’re excellent places to meet brand ambassadors and other bartending peers.
- Food and beverage trade shows: Trade shows are full of brand ambassadors showing off their products, as well as alcohol-serving businesses looking to expand their offerings and connect with bartenders.
- Wedding conventions: If you’re a wedding bartender, these conventions are the place to be. Hundreds of vendors, from caterers to event planners, set up booths and meet couples planning their weddings — and looking to hire.
- Workshops and trainings: Certification courses aren’t just crucial for meeting requirements or looking good on a resume; they’re also fantastic opportunities to network with other bartenders (particularly if you attend them in person).
Pro Tip: To find in-person networking opportunities in your area, search for “bartender networking” on sites like Meetup.com and Eventbrite. If you belong to a bartender association, keep tabs on their website bulletin board and socials, in case they post about any events they’re organizing or sponsoring near you.
4. Partner With Local Businesses
Working with other businesses in your area is mutually beneficial. It introduces you both to each other’s audiences and sets the stage for future recurring partnerships.
Caterers are the most obvious choice because they often hire bartenders for events that include alcohol service, like weddings or corporate parties. But, you can collaborate with other businesses in a variety of ways, including:
- Hosting a pop-up event
- Example: You partner with a local bookstore to host a special Books & Brews event where people come to buy and discuss books while sampling craft beer. You gain exposure to the bookstore’s customer base, and they generate intrigue and excitement around their business.
- Teaching a class or hosting a tasting at a venue
- Example: After meeting a venue manager at a wedding expo, you agree to host a signature wedding cocktail tasting at their location. This draws in a crowd of engaged couples scoping out venues for their big day, as well as a bartender for the reception.
- Volunteer at community events
- Example: You offer free bartending services at a professional development conference hosted by a small, local business association. They get your services for free, but you get exposure to their attendees and demonstrate your dedication to your community.
5. Maintain an Active Presence on Social Media
Networking in person is always preferable to doing it digitally, but having a solid social media presence should still be a high priority.
Some of the best platforms for bartenders are:
- TikTok
Instagram and TikTok allow you to showcase your skills and demonstrate your knowledge in a visual manner. Facebook and LinkedIn also allow you to post pictures and videos, but they’re particularly great for displaying your credentials and establishing yourself as an authority in the bartending industry through text posts.
Whether it’s a tip for making the complex Ramos Gin Fizz or red flags to look out for when booking a holiday party gig, sharing your knowledge is an effective way to leverage your social media presence. It shows clients and peers that you know your stuff, which can easily lead to more gigs.
6. Pay It Forward
People helped you get where you are, so when you reach the point when others are trying to network with you, be sure to return the favor.
If someone trying to become a wedding bartender reaches out to you because they noticed on Instagram you book a lot of wedding gigs, give them advice you got (or wish you got) at the start.
This can also look like:
- Putting them in contact with someone in your network
- Recommending them for an upcoming gig hosted by someone in your network
- Being a professional reference for them during job interviews
Plus, as the people you help grow their careers and make more connections, your network grows, too. It’s a win-win!
FAQs About Bartender Networking
How Can I Network Effectively If I’m Shy or Introverted?
- Remember that the quality of the connections you make is more important than the quantity. Instead of casting a wide net, be selective about who you try to build relationships with.
- Find a coworker or friend in the industry who will join networking events with you and make you feel more comfortable (especially if they’re extroverted!).
- Don’t be discouraged when people aren’t interested in connecting with you. Hang in there and keep trying!
- As corny as it sounds, be yourself — you can only make meaningful connections if you’re being authentic.
How Can I Network Without Seeming Too Pushy?
The best way to network without coming across as salesy or aggressive is to intend to truly get to know others in your industry, not just to get something out of them.
Show genuine interest in the people you meet, even if each connection you build doesn’t result in a new job opportunity. People don’t want to work with someone who only seems to be trying to use them to advance their own career.
What Should I Say When Introducing Myself at Networking Events?
Prepare an “elevator pitch” before you head to your first networking event. This is an intriguing introduction that highlights who you are and what you do in less than 60 seconds (about as much time as you’d have to pitch someone while riding in an elevator with them).
Your elevator pitch should tell someone:
- What sets you apart from other bartenders
- What you want out of your career
- What you have to offer as a bartender
- What you want them to remember about you
Alex Hastings
Seattle-based copywriter and (WA) licensed insurance agent Alex Hastings leverages her experience as a lover of fast-casual food, baked goods, and iced oat milk lattes. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Western Washington University. Before working at Veracity, she was a retail copywriter at Zulily and an English language teacher in South Korea. Alex is fully trained on FLIP insurance coverages and writes content that connects food and beverage business owners with the policies they need.
Seattle-based copywriter and (WA) licensed insurance agent Alex Hastings leverages her experience as a lover of fast-casual food, baked goods, and iced oat milk lattes. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Western Washington University. Before working at Veracity, she was a retail copywriter at Zulily and an English language teacher in South Korea. Alex is fully trained on FLIP insurance coverages and writes content that connects food and beverage business owners with the policies they need.
