SCHOOL’S OUT: Shaken not stirred
Published on Dec 13, 2004
Bartending for fun and profit
The heady aroma of drink suddenly hits the nostrils when one enters the
room, but it’s not a pub. It’s the bartending class at
Harry’s Academy of Bartending. “I felt
slightly drunk as soon as I walked in, I joked with Manus Kaewkam, an
instructor at the academy.
On the shelves to one side stand bottles of liquor – different shapes and colours neatly arranged side by side. There’s more on a counter bar next to the shelves.
The 29-years –old Manus explained that it’s very important for the classes that an actual workplace environment is created. It give the student a sense of what it’s like being a bartender.
“Bartender is a fun job. You can work and listen to music while meeting different people and entertaining them, ”Manus told me before he turned on some upbeat music for his students
The class consisted of only two students on the day I visited. Manus, the winner of a bartender championship, said that he was quite happy to take class of only one student. More students are more fun, but classes are limited to no more than 15 students each time.
There are three classes a day and you can choose to come to any day, except Tuesday and Thursday. Classes run for two hours on weekday or three hours on weekends. The entire course is 24 hours.
To enroll in the course you don’t have to be a big drinker. You may not even drink at all, although you will learn a bit more if you taste the drink that make. Its strongly suggested that students be over 18 years old to comply with the country’s drink law.
“Being slightly drunk after the class is the only thing I don’t like about this course, “joked Aryarat Sannithiphanitkun, a graduate of Assumption University.
“Because I drive, shouldn’t drink. So, I ask my family to pick me up rather than drive from the academy myself, ”the 26-years-old said with a coy smile. Aryarat to get a bartending certificate from the academy after she completes the course, and hopes to use her bartending skills to find a part time job when she goes to England for her master’s degree.
You should have at least a highschool
certificate (or Mathayom 6) to take the course at the academy, which is
on the corner of Wireless Road and Chidlom Road
opposite
Home Pro. Instuctor Manus assumes that highshool graduates have adequate
English skills, which are necessary for the job.
“The name of every drink is in English. If you don’t know any English, it’s not possible to mix the right drink, “said Manus, who also works as the beverage manager at a Bangkok.
Tel: 0-22516320, 0-891340237 (Harry Jane)
E-mail: harry@harrybartending.com