"Bartending is one of the most flexible, well-paid jobs you can get," says Ryan Boyd, owner of Metropolitan Bartending School. Ryan should know: he's been bartending all over the world since he took a course in the trade in 1995. Travel is just one of the opportunities open to a talented bartender. "There's a demand for qualified, experienced people. You can more or less pick your city or country, and there's a bartending job to fit your schedule."
Ryan's been involved with Metropolitan Bartending School since 2011, although the school opened in 1995. In addition to the basic certification program for bartending, Metropolitan also offers a seminar for bartenders wanting to keep up with the latest mixology trends in cocktails using fresh, seasonal ingredients. There's a wine tasting seminar and, Ryan's favourite, a workshop in Flair Bartending.
Flair Bartending is the art of dazzling your customers by spinning bottles, juggling cocktail shakers, and tossing garnishes. "A bartender skilled in flair," says Ryan, "commands a higher salary and higher tips. Plus it's a fun way to make a living!"