Bartender: Cocktails & Dreams, This Is Not

Introduction
Despite the inconveniences of the field, the payoffs are numerous. An overall fun job that pays alright, a new pasture to meet people, and a nice solid, if unsteady, flow of income.

However, unless you plan to own, tending bar as a long term career will burn you out. I've seen it more than I'd like to admit.

As far as a short-mid term thing, expect far less glamour, far more actual work, and a work day that comes and goes with your coworkers and clientele.

Lastly, this is a very cash business. You can leave work every night with spending money. That never hurts, but getting spoiled does. Taxes can catch up with you if the situation isn't right, and working for "less" straight cash afterwards can be difficult for some. Security is another concern. Job security is never rock solid, and perks such as insurance are a rarity. Few and far between those who actually count that in with their earnings, and should an emergency arise you're usually left to fend for yourself.

Job Function
Worst: Dealing with prep and back-end goings. Prep includes everything from hours of cleaning and stocking the bar, to keeping inventory and orders. The back-end hassles depend on your specific bosses.

Best: Everything else. I was lucky enough to have an overall wonderful crew and group of regular customers who made life great. This is a group of people that you'll end up seeing more than just about any family or other friends you have. Being a tight knit group who enjoys each other's company leads to nothing short of a good time, even when the cooker's burning at max. Lifestyle
The lifestyle of a bartender: Kiss daylight good bye. The better you do, the more you'll be relied upon, the more time you'll be at work. The flexibility of your hours boils down not to when you'll be working, but the fleeting hours you WON'T. =P

It's really not all bad. While there is a lot of hard work involved, and when push comes to shove you're forced to deliver day after day, you're rarely alone. Going back to the camaraderie, working with a group of good people pulls you through just about anything. A hard day, a fight with a boss, an rough customer (and there will be many), you name it. A solid joke or pat on the back fuels you.

You'll be dealing with people, and plenty of them. You have seconds to read someone, and react. But if you enjoy the company of people and meeting and dealing with new ones all the time, and can put a smile on through whatever minor hardships you're dealing with at the moment, you should do alright.

Additional Information
Getting started can be tricky. Schools promises don't always deliver. Being a bar-back for a while is a common route, as is simply being a waiter at the establishment.