Our most frequently asked questions…
Below are some of our most frequently asked questions. Your question not here? Go ahead and contact us and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Questions about Mixology Classes…
When are classes offered?
We typically offer 7 rounds of classes per year. 2 in the Fall, 2 in the Spring, and 3 in the Summer. The first round of each class in the Fall and Spring will be a 5 week course which students attend one night per week. Classes are offered from 8-10pm Monday through Friday. The second round of classes each term will be the same instruction, but students will attend 2 nights per week for a total of 2.5 weeks.
I don’t see any open Mixology classes anywhere on the site. When is the next round of classes?
We updated our site regularly, so you’ll probably see some new Mixology classes up soon! You can always contact us to see if we have our next available dates ready.
Do I have to be a Columbia Student to take the classes?
No, our classes are open to anyone and everyone interested in learning how to bartend. We are located on Columbia University and are a University program, but classes are open to everybody.
How much are classes?
A session of four classes is $200. This includes instruction, mixing “hardware” that you’ll be using in classes (shaker sets, etc..), as well as the real alcohol you’ll be mixing with. Each class session is followed by an exam that tests the bartending knowledge you’ve gathered!
Do I need a license to bartend? Do you give certification from your school?
New York State does not offer or require bartending licenses. That being said, certification from an established professional school will give you the skills you need to both find your first bartending job and be comfortable behind a bar from the very beginning. The most important characteristic of a good bartender is CONFIDENCE, and our instruction will give you the confidence you need to succeed as a bartender.
A few weeks after our class, should you pass, you will receive a certificate from the Columbia Bartending Agency.
What happens if I don’t pass the exam?
Don’t worry, you probably will! A majority of our students pass our exam on the first try. In the event you are unable to pass, you may retake the test for $50. Re-taking the test will only allow you to get a certificate, not to re-test for the Agency.
Do you help with job placement?
Any bartending school which assures you that you will get a job after taking their course is not being truthful with you. Becoming a bartender is surprisingly hard, especially now. The field is incredibly competitive and there are only so many bars in New York City!
While we have no formal placement program, we will teach you how to go about getting a bartend job and will always be available to our graduates as an information station with any questions you may have. Additionally, we are working with bars in the area to create more and more opportunities for guest bartending and job placement.
I’m not sure I want to be a professional bartender, but I’d love to learn more about mixology!
Well then our classes are the only bartending class perfect for you. Our price is low enough for people interested in gaining personal knowledge as well as though looking to find employment afterwards. In addition, if you are interested in taking a course for personal knowledge, flavored water wont’ teach you very much.
How old do I have to be to bartend in New York?
In New York State you must be 18 to bartend and 21 to drink.
Can I take the class if I am under 21?
Yes, you can certainly take the class and start your journey towards the best job in the service industry if you are under 21. You just will not be able to drink the drinks that you make.
Why should I choose the Columbia School of Mixology as opposed to other bartending schools?
The Columbia School of Mixology has been training bartenders since 1965 and in that time our graduates have gone on to find great success in every level of the business. From bars to clubs to private staffing and catering, you can be sure that a Columbia School of Mixology graduate has worked there.
We are also the ONLY bartending school in New York to teach you using real alcohol. We believe that learning to make good drinks with flavored water, the common practice at other bartending schools, is like learning to cook with fake food. It just doesn’t make sense! Great bartenders do not simply memorize ingredients, they know what flavors mix well together. We will teach you the most popular new and classic drinks and also give you a chance to develop your own palette, providing you are 21 of course.
We are additionally committed to teaching you HOW to bartend, not just the drinks needed to get a leg up. Most bartending schools will give you the drinks you need to make and leave it at that. Our goal at the Columbia School of Mixology is to make sure that after you leave the class, you still retain the information you learned during it!
Even though we teach using real alcohol, a major cost, we still provide instruction for a comprehensive price of only $200. Other schools charge upwards of $800 dollars to simply get you started bartending. We give you all the skills you need at a fraction of the price.
Our teachers are also all graduates of our own program. They were at one time all in your position and understand the most effective way to convey the necessary information, as they themselves were once sitting in the same classroom where you will be sitting. They have gone on to be successful bartenders and will teach you to be the same.
Questions about The Agency…
How do I hire a bartender?
Go to our Hire a Bartender page (this link can also be found on the far left column of our homepage). You will be led through a step by step process, starting with filling out an online form that will give us all the information we need in order to process your event. Once you have filled out this online form, you will be contacted by an Assistant Manager who will help you through the rest of the process. The Assistant Manager can also help with minor party planning questions, like finding a special drink recipe, or deciding how much glassware or alcohol to order.
How much does it cost to hire a bartender?
Total cost depends on when you are requesting a bartender, and for how long. Our standard rate is $18/hr (or $20/hr with our dish washing service), but this rate goes up if you are requesting a bartender within 10 days of your event, which would result in our increased rush rate, or if your event falls on a holiday. We also have a $30 posting fee that gets paid to the Agency for the service of connecting you with a bartender, and we request that you cover cab fare in order for our bartender(s) to return to the Columbia University campus. Depending on the time and location of your event, this cab fare may be waived. Please visit our Prices page for more information.
How do I pay the $30 posting fee?
Once you have filled out our online form, you will be contacted by an Assistant Manager who will send you a link where you can pay online with credit card via a secure website. We strongly recommend this payment method, but alternative methods are available upon request.
Is the $30 fee refundable?
Yes. This fee is refundable if you cancel your event more than five days in advance, or if we are unable to fill your request. This is extremely rare, but does happen occasionally. We do our best to let you know up front and as soon as possible if a particular evening is unusually popular and therefore our bartenders are in high demand. We understand that planning a party can be stressful, and we certainly don’t want to add to that stress in any way! If anything, we strive to alleviate your anxiety as a host.
Can I hire a bartender today if my event is tonight?
Unfortunately, we are unable to process events with less than three days advance notice. Because our Agency is entirely student run, and all of our bartenders are full-time Columbia students, we require at least three days to process your event and search for a bartender. We apologize for the inconvenience!
Do you provide alcohol or glassware?
No, we do not provide alcohol or glassware, but we would be glad to recommend places where you can purchase alcohol or rent glassware.
Why is everything online? Can’t I just call you?
We have shifted to an online system in order to make the process more efficient now that we require our clients to sign a contract prior to hiring bartenders through us. This contract is intended to clarify expectations for all parties involved and to protect the client’s and bartender’s best interests. Also, because the Agency is run by full-time Columbia students who cannot commit to regular office hours, the online system allows us to get in touch with you at any point during the day via e-mail. We apologize for any inconvenience or frustration this may cause, but we are more than willing to walk you through the process over the phone as much as possible. Feel free to contact us over the phone during our office hours (noted at the bottom of the contact us page).
Who are your bartenders, and how do I know that they are qualified?
All of our bartenders are undergraduate or graduate Columbia University students. Who have taken and done exceedingly well in our Mixology course. Every one of our bartenders is TIPS certified and has been selected to work for the Agency because they are professional, responsible, and personable. Our bartenders inspire client loyalty. Some of our clients have been hiring us for over 20 years!
How do I become a bartender for the Agency?
You must be a current Columbia University student at any one of the graduate or undergraduate schools in order to be considered for the Agency. You must also have taken our Mixology class and scored higher than a 95% on the final exam. If you take our class and score high enough on the exam, we will contact you for an interview. We weigh multiple factors in making our decision, so while being a Columbia student and doing well on the exam are requirements, we cannot guarantee anybody a spot in the Agency on those two factors alone.