Authentic Bartending School

Oh boy…
Not the best experience and certainly not worth the $ 475.
In short:
–Photocopied nonsense of a «textbook»
–Unprofessional admin that cannot seem to get graduates on the job placement site
–WORTHLESS job placement site! You’re better off walking to establishments and applying via Craigslist.
–Takes WEEKS for them to set you up after you graduate. My friend and I are still waiting on our certificate. AND you don’t get TIPS certified with the program which they conveniently forget to mention in the interview.
–They just moved to a smaller space which I find totally inconvenient for just showing up to practice (which is actually a nice perk but I wouldn’t have to if I had a job already!).
Nice people but they run a business, so money first, graduates last kinda scenario.

I was referred to this place and spoke to a rep in philly for the school in NY. I informed the person upon already in June attending a school and they told me I will make money in no time. I received a call right back asking $ 45 for educational credit. I was told one time only. After this i was researching online and did not see good things (too late for 45 bucks) I was called today ¹⁰⁄₁₀ upon upcoming class and interview, I explained I will be out the country (in which i will) the same lady in philadelphia with a non customer friendly tine told me that the 45 was to hold my spot and they been holding spots for me and no one was able to get this spot (i do not believe, customer service fail #2)
I told the individual that i need to speak to a manager as I never heard this and was told a different thing upon the $ 45. Now I was told that if I do not attend the class i will be charged $ 595 for the class. As the rep over talked me and was basically like (your word over ours) I still have no documentation of this.
Also she does not know when the manager will come in today. I have never heard about being charged and furthermore I never received any information upon keeping my account info on file to later charge (without documentation of receiving so)
This is not professional and how a business should be ran.
I took a bartending class and have never experienced something like this.
Do not go any further with this company. Bad business. I will wait until they take the 595 out of my account and handle everything the proper way.

Authentic Bartending School IS a lot of hype.
The $ 75 textbook was some photocopied bullsh-​t.
They ARE NOT running out of space. And you ARE NOT one of the lucky few who was chosen. (I mean you’re special and all, but in that everyone’s special therefore no one is kinda way… sorry, hate to pop anyone’s daily affirmation bubble)
They will take the $ 13 you steal from your little sister’s tooth fairy money if it means you enroll, because then they know they’ll milk you for the rest (it’s about $ 500)
You might make about 25% of the drinks you learn. However the ONE SINGLE DAY they dedicate to learning about wine & beer afterwards you’ll realize you know pretty much the same as anyone who’s ever had a B.A.C.
The instructors WILL make crude dirty jokes, often in the form of fratboy-​type acronyms/​mnemonic devices for drinks you’ll never make.
You might leave class everyday stinking of the weird colored water in bottles that they use (and use and reuse and rereuse) as alcohol substitutes.
And when it’s all said and done if you get a job, you still might end up just working at some dive in Kensington.
BUT
You will get behind a bar. If you go to the Copa Cabana bar trainer night. And realize you can’t keep your own tips. Ouch!
If you’ve never ever made a drink you will learn how to make a few, and how to make-​up a few more.
If you pursue it you’ll get free TIPS certification, which some bars actually give a flying rats… about.
You’ll at least think you know what you’re doing if you do land a job. But as in most new professions if you think you know what you’re doing, most people won’t realize you’re learning on the fly.
BUT ONLY IF
You realize you’re going to have to find your own damn job.
The job placement is a bit of a help (I’d rate it 1.5 stars), they send you emails every so often and there’s a database (however most of these postings can be found on your own through Craigslist).
You hound, harass and haggle them about the TIPS class. It’s already paid for and you’re not coming up offa any more dough so they’re not inclined to help you out much.
You lie on your resume. Hey, it is what it is. No restaurant, no matter what they say, wants a bartender who’s never bartended, and one fresh out of school to them holds about as much promise as Michael Jordan’s baseball career.
You’ve got $ 500 to spare. This for me is the biggest flaw in this operation. This course is really worth about $ 150-​$ 200, tops. Did you read what I said about there not being real liquor in the bottles? Shoot, anyone who can stick it out without biting sarcasm deserves a drink, on ABS.
FINALLY
It’s overpriced, and a lot harder to get a job then you’ll think, and it stinks, yeah, literally, that colored practice water is FOUL. But if you’ve got no other way to become a bartender than it’s not a total loss. What it did give me was some confidence to walk into a bar and feel like I could make drinks. And that’s what I did. I made not terrible money (not including my stint at the dive in Kenzo), but I DID have to work long hours, my feet hurt and drunk people are annoying, however I bartended, and that was the goal. So in THAT ABS did fufill their purpose.

My lord, this place is so useless.
First I heard claims that I can make $ 200 to $ 400 a shift. What they fail to mention is that you most likely have to work a double and that’s before you tip out your bar back or have to split the tips with any other bartenders working with you. One recruiter was telling me how she was happy to win money at a casino because she’s so broke (why aren’t you bartending broad?) They don’t teach the down side to bartending (aka grunt work, i.e. cleaning, polishing glasses, stocking, dealing with douche bag guests.) They are also teaching the most useless crap (no one drinks Irish Mist or orders a Tequila Sunset; a tequila sunrise with the grenadine floating… POINTLESS!) and avoiding focus on the necessities (how to properly open & serve wine, creating drinks & proper beer knowledge.)
I’m pretty sure Kayla works for Authentic and if not, she lost the job to someone with either more experience or who was a friend of an employee.
Also, that word ‘Mixologist’, please stop using it! It’s like secretaries wanting to be called assistants. You’re a bartender, get over yourself. Anyone can mix a drink, but I believe real talent comes from someone who takes the time to learn the history of the craft, background & manufacture of liquors and can create new libations rather than spewing out the outdated crap these people are teaching.
One instructor didn’t even know half the liquors I had named. Bartending school (specifically this one) really is pointless. You don’t need a license! Save yourself some time; buy a decent bar book, some useful bar tools, some pourers and hit me up for a couple websites you can check to outshine all these hacks!