I was thinking about going to bartending school and asked a friend who manages 4 bars and he told me:

QUOTE:
I will be honest we are too old for the bartending game. Managers want young and hot chicks back there. Anyplace that would hire us we do not want to work at. The money can be GREAT if you can land a good place, but landing that job is near impossible............No body is going to hire a new graduate from the academy at 40 years old. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, unless you have an in someplace the academy is worthless. They teach you how to cut limes. A monkey can pour drinks, it is the personality and organization that makes a bartender. Unfortunately now days it is also primarily for HOT YOUNG CHICKS with out any brains. When was the last time you frequented a bar with a 40 year old dude behind the bar? There are a few places but not many

So my question is can anyone refute what he is telling me? I need a regular job...that I can live on...not an occasional wedding job!

Well I've never ran a bar before but I have worked in more then one...And I can tell you 60% of the time, the bartender is a woman, 40% a man in probably 40% of all bars...As for the other 60% of all bars it's usually 90% girls, amd 10% guys...The oldest bartender I know looks like he's about 26 but he's over 30... but he's been bartending since he was 21 so he's got the experiance...

And I must admit, 90% of all girls that work in a bar are the dummest chicks this world has to offer... But they do make good while bent over the bosses desk during the job interviews, they are usually hired for being the smartest sluts this world has to offer...

My apologies to any admin who find my honesty not sugarcoated enough..(offense not intended)(especially to the ladies)


Just my two cents.
So in a summed up answer, I wont say that you wont get a job, but the odds will be against you.

I've seen my fair share of older bartenders - lots of manager will find the older the tender, the more responsible they are, and perhaps less prone to stealing.

At the end of the day there's bars for all types, and allthough there are some age/sex combos that would probably get you in a gig faster/easier, 39 years old certainly isn't TOO OLD for this industry.

Cheers!

Your friend said managers want young hot chicks. He was pertaining to the job but you only mentioned wanting to learning the craft so there's no age limit there. You can learn it anytime and once you have mastered it, go and apply in a bar. I'm sure they won't mind your age once they've seen your amazing exhibitions. Stay positive.