What does it take to be a bartender in LA, and do you need a license? | Party Shakers Mixologist/Bartenders

LA Bartending is a profession that has experienced many ups and downs in the last few years due to the pandemic. Now that things are coming back to a relatively normal life, it is important to know what is needed to become a bartender.

While there is no official license requirement in order for bartenders to work in LA, there are some exceptions. For example, your employer could require that you acquire a license from the Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs program (LEAD). You could also be requested to enroll in the Serving Alcohol Program.

A few things to keep in mind when it comes to LA bartender jobs in California

You need to be at least 18 years of age in order to be serving alcohol in the state. This means any kind of alcoholic beverage in the state of California. You would need to be at least 21 in order to work at a bar in the state.

This means that if you are 18 or less than 21, you could work at certain events as a bartender, but not at bars as a permanent employee. 

How long is the LEAD program?

This program is free of charge and it is a 4-hour program that can be taken online and in person. This is very important because it can be requested by the employer and this is unrelated to any specific state laws or requirements. 

Do you need to be attractive to be an LA Bartender?

The question alone could trigger a very insulting feeling for most people, but there is a reason for it. The profession of bartending is a very social one and there is no question that looking good help. For example, someone is more likely to hire a good-looking woman or man for an event. 

Good-looking bartenders are also more likely to get better tips from buyers. This is the reason why so many people ask this question. The answer is no, you don’t need to be attractive to be a bartender, but the appeal of your physical appearance can help your bartending career.

With that said, many bartenders who may not be considered good-looking or attractive based on standards are very successful. The reason why they are successful is due to their charismatic personality. They also make sure to look their best at all times. Those two elements will also go a long way in this process.

Looks only take you so far

There are people who have facial features and body types that are universally appealing. This is going to help them achieve great results when it comes to getting more tips and being requested for parties.

Then, you have people with average facial features and bodies, but they may have amazing personalities. They could also be the type of people that are very easy to work with and very reliable. Most importantly, they could probably have a very friendly personality.

This is the kind of thing that matters the most, but perhaps this gives you more insight into that question. Looks seem to play a role in bartending in some situations, but they are not necessary for success.

The physical aspect is relevant for some types of events

Perhaps it is normal for us to see how there are many people who are good-looking and get more attention. When a bartender for hire is out there looking for work, this may influence some jobs. Some bartenders for private events may be required to meet a specific look.

That is probably the only time when this is going to be a factor. The good news is that most employers are looking for efficient people. They are not looking for people who look any specific way.

This means that the most common issue that bartenders face is not their looks, but their experience. It is likely that the main thing people will look for is the experience level of the bartender.

How do I promote myself as a bartender?

We are living in the digital age and this means that most promotional efforts should be focused on the web. It is very important to keep in mind that the internet makes promotion much easier.

There are several ways for a bartender to promote their services if they are competing for keywords such as bartenders near me. There are many ways to do this, but the best is to use all aspects of digital marketing.

The first thing that any bartender service should do is create a website. Be it for one bartender or for a team of bartenders, you need a website. The reason why this is important is that it gives you credibility.

Using the right platforms as an LA Bartender

There are many bartenders out there and bartender teams that only use social media to promote. Social media is great, but it is not good for you to have no official website. This shows the potential client that you lack commitment to the business. 

Once you have your own website and domain name, you are going to be able to get much better results. You have to keep in mind that this is going to be a very important process. Your entire business model is going to depend on your ability to promote online.

Your website is going to serve as your main digital headquarters. This makes it a perfect place because you can decide exactly how you want it to look. You can also decide exactly what you want it to contain. This level of freedom is not available when you use free blogs or social media pages.

The good news is that website domain names and hosting plans are very accessible now. You are not going to find yourself having to spend a fortune to have your own website. To make this even easier, you can even build your own site with simple drag-and-drop website builder interfaces.

This may take some time to get used to, but you can create a good-looking site. All it takes is some basic knowledge and it is possible with a relatively quick learning curve. Even if you decide to hire someone to do it, the cost of web design is much lower now.

Creating your Search Engine Optimization campaign | Party Shakers

Creating your Search Engine Optimization campaign

The next step is to make use of the best strategies to ensure optimal Search Engine Optimization. Content marketing is one of the best ways to achieve that result in the fastest time possible. 

For example, if you are offering a bartender service with photo booth services, you should be writing content that relates to those topics. This is going to be extremely useful and it will give your content a boost in the ranks.

You have to create content that is reliable and useful to the reader. You are going to find this to be the best way to handle content creation. It is ultimately the most relevant and important decision that you can make regarding your efforts.

Do not forget that the idea is to place keywords of relevance that people will be searching for. Let’s say that someone is looking for photo booth services. You need to create a blog post or article that talks about photo booths and the many advantages that they offer.

This is a great way to create valuable content that people will enjoy and it will lead them to your website. You need to be able to handle this process in a way that makes sense to you. Look for the keywords that are most popular in your niche and make sure that you use them.

Uniqueness should always be present for an LA Bartender

It is also important that you make sure that all your content is going to be unique and easy to read. If the content is copied from other sources, it will likely not rank on Google. This is why you need to ensure that your efforts are both consistent and reliable in every possible way.

It is also advised that you take the time to create quality content for social media. A great advantage of having your own website is that everything you publish works for social media. All you have to do is share that content on your social media channels and this creates more presence online.

Last but not least, you need to consider short-term results. This means that you can think about investing in paid advertisements. The good thing about this is that it offers much faster results. With that said, you should have our website ready in order to redirect people to your content.

Keep in mind that this is going to be very important when you are promoting keywords like hiring a bartender near me. The consistency you have and the time you spend doing this will play a huge role in the results.

Make use of influencers for your LA Bartender career

Many people have managed to achieve influencer status for many reasons. The great thing about bartending is that it fits very well with many influencers. You can always negotiate the process of getting some promotional shout-outs with an influencer. This can lead to a larger number of people contacting you to hire your services.

The great thing about influencer marketing is that you can use something like a specific URL that people will visit when hearing about you from that influencer. The costs of the influencer will depend on how many followers they have. 

The great thing about this method of advertisement is that it can really help boost your online presence fast. So it is always a good idea to keep this option in mind.

Consistency is very important

The amount of time and the intensity of your efforts in digital marketing are both important. You have to take the time to commit to this process and you should always aim for excellence. The more quality content you create and the more you engage your audience, the better. 

There are many people who start using digital marketing, but they quickly grow impatient. You need to manage your expectations and have patience. Most marketing efforts are challenged by a large number of competitors.

This is reason enough to be patient and to make sure that your efforts are optimal. Do not expect results within days or weeks with SEO. You can get results faster with paid advertisement, but SEO and organic growth are essential for longevity. 

Hire the best

If you are looking for the best mixologists and bartenders, Party Shakers offers everything you need. You will find the most qualified bartenders who also look at the part and know their mixing. This is the kind of bartending team that reminds you of the value of good bartenders for events.

Just send us a message and let us know what you need. We are always looking for ways to enhance our services and guarantee the best results for your next celebration or party in Los Angeles.

Questions and answers on the LA Bartender

Do you need a license to bartend in Los Angeles?

Just as we mentioned at the beginning of this article, this is not necessary for California or LA. With that said, your clients may request certain certifications such as LEAD. This is the reason why you need to consider any specific needs of each client.

Do you need to be attractive to be a bartender?

There is absolutely no need for someone to be attractive in a specific way to be a bartender. While good looks do help with tips and general appeal, the main thing to have is a great personality. It also helps to have good looks in terms of being properly dressed and friendly and charismatic.

How do I promote myself as a bartender?

If you are the type of bartender for a party or for any other services that are ready to work, you can start promoting online. This is going to be the most reliable way for you to promote in the modern age. Creating quality content and having your own website are both strong points.

Is flair bartending a good thing to learn?

The demand for flair bartering for some types of parties makes it very useful. You need to consider that it is not something that is always requested, but there is a niche for it. Those who learn flair bartending are always going to have an edge for parties. 

Should I learn mixology to be an LA bartender?

Mixology is a very important skill to have as a bartender, but it is not essential. The main thing to remember in this type of situation is that a bartender that is also a mixologist is a more versatile professional. Some bartenders choose to learn mixology and some mixologists learn bartending.

Final thoughts on the LA Bartender

Bartenders do not require a license to work in LA, nor do they need to have specific good looks. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to remember that nothing is more valuable than professionalism. That is why you can feel peace of mind when you decide to hire the services at Party Shakers.