Tue 18 Dec 2007
My gym trainee and I were just having a discussion about large looming expenses (wedding & house for me, her son’s education for her) and how to best accomodate those expenses, and we started discussing second jobs. The only things we could do after our current work hours would be in, like, food service or retail. So I suggested Bath & Body Works and/or Victoria’s Secret, cuz think of the employee discounts at two of my favorite stores! She absolutely refused to consider retail, saying she’d end up owing THEM money (shopaholic). And then she suggested bartending. My court reporter piped up that her oldest daughter, doing part-time bartending, brings in a ton of money in tips per night.
Hmmmmmmmm…
I called Mr. W and made the suggestion and he wouldn’t hear of it. “I don’t want you to have to take a second job just to marry me,” he said. I explained it’s not like I’m forced to do something I hate, like working in a Chinatown butcher shop or something. He kept laughing at me and saying the idea is ridiculous. So he’s just going to prevent me from realizing my dream of bartending that I’ve had for the past 6 minutes, just like that.
But he DOES have a slogan which he tells me all the time in relation to his job — “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.” So maybe, one day, I’ll be telling him, “No, I can’t go over today. I’m starting my first day on the new job. See you at 2am when the bars close.” 😀
I was JUST thinking about doing bartending last night! too funny! We should go into it together and then swap bar stories! 🙂
I like that saying …what was Mr W thinking – when he said that? ha ha ha
bartending rocks…and the money’s great. when i was doing it (under age, of course), i would easily pull in $300 / night on a friday or saturday…and that was split with another person.
The only problem with bartending is that the hours are wretched. By definition, you have to work at all of the times when you don’t want to be at work. And is there smoking in bars where you live? I used to hate leaving the bar and smelling like a blast furnace…
I am all for taking a second job to save for a house, but I wouldn’t do it for a wedding…lol…I am not that interested in being a bride to go through that trouble!
When I worked in the industry I made a ton of cash, the downside was that I just really hated having to deal with people in my personal life.
I think the Chinatown butcher shop job would be awesome. You can bring home the leftover roast pig and soy sauce chicken every night. That would surely make up for the below minimum wage pay they provide.
I’d love to bartend…of course I’d always want to end the night with a big shot of tequila. Maybe I’d get a discount on that!! I’ve thought of getting a 2nd job as well…I’d love Vikky’s Secret too!! If Mr. W doesn’t want you to work a 2nd job will he pay for whatever the extra money would go towards?
K – Oh good, a guinea pig! You go right ahead with the bartending and tell me your stories first — if they sound fun I’ll jump in. haha.
When Mr. W said that he was talking about calling in sick to work vs. asking for the day off and getting refused.
Greg – That’s impressive (your $). My reporter’s daughter takes in $500-$600/nite by herself, and she started getting private jobs bartending for people’s parties, which also led to more opportunities/connections.
Accidentaly Me – I thought about the wretched hours, but I’m a night owl anyway. My concern about the hours is the weekends… I don’t want to spend my entire weekends at bars. CA law doesn’t allow smoking in any indoor venue where food is served, so I’m good with that. Actually, I don’t think smoking is allowed indoors where the public is allowed, period.
I wouldn’t be doing this for the wedding, I’d be doing this for the house. I can pay off the wedding w/o much of an issue, it’s just that with the wedding money gone, banks will think I’m too poor to give me a loan. I think I can maintain a current lifestyle, but I want money for downpayments and wedding splurges and the like. I like to buy things with my fat reserve, I don’t want to go into debt for anything.
TBG – the clientele…that’s an actual legitimate concern. I’m not sure I want to deal with drunk people, but I have to say that I’ve dealt with them for years in a row some years ago and handled it well, so I may as well put the experience to use.
Vicky – You’re just saying that cuz you want me to bring you roasted duck necks and chicken-liver-kabobs for free. =)
Flat Coke – Yup — I wouldn’t do anything I don’t consider “fun” for a second job, it’d be something I’ve always wanted to try my hand at.
Mr. W’s financial situation is paralyzed right now, that’s why I have to pick up the slack. Ex-wife issues…
So is the choice to live in a smaller house with Mr. W and not get a 2nd job…or live in your dream home and get a 2nd job???? That’s a toss up.
ha! I would do it in a NY minute, except that I have no previous experience, no waitress, nothing in the food industry. That and anything and every alcoholic drink I have is served in a bottle, or perhaps…poured into a glass. I know nothing of the other drinks… how to prepare or for that matter, even what they are! I’d be like a blind taxi cab driver 🙂
Flat Coke – I don’t think it’s a matter of a smaller house. It’s more like, stress and struggle and get our dream house foreclosed on, or be comfortable with a monetary fat cushion. I’m all about fat cushions.
K – I would totally take a bartending class first. How FUN would it be?! Mixing bottles and spinning stuff around! I’ve always loved playing with bottles and pouring water around containers as a kid. Maybe there’s a natural bartender in me. (I do make quite a few mixed drinks, which people have asked me at parties to do, to great success.)
3 words….
TOM
CRUISE
“COCKTAIL”
🙂
never seen it.
dude, you have to see Cocktail… the lead actress’ character’s name is “Jordan” 🙂
besides that.. it was a good movie (for it’s time)
A lead named Jordan? WHOA, well if I had known THAT… =)