Mixology
·4 min read
The DC-area bartending calendar has two major peaks. The first runs from spring through early summer as outdoor events, weddings, and patio season ramp up. The second starts in September and builds through the holiday season, culminating in a December rush that generates a steady stream of event requests through New Year's Eve.
For bartenders who want to work seasonally, these peaks represent real earning opportunities. December alone can be exceptionally busy, with corporate holiday parties, embassy events, and private celebrations all competing for skilled bartenders. If you are available and reliable during peak season, you will not have trouble finding work.
Kerli Phillipe is the perfect example. She first noticed while out one night how much fun and money the bartender was making, and that planted the seed. She took the PBS course in the late 1990s while in college and has been working 20 to 30 events per year ever since - decades later. Kerli marketed herself on Craigslist and Facebook under the name "Curly Que," picking up work at bars and clubs in DC and Maryland alongside a full-time day job. She used the bartending income to pay off her car and purchase a townhouse. For Kerli, seasonal bartending is not a stopgap. It is a long-running side income that has outlasted multiple career changes.
Other graduates have found their own paths into seasonal work. Denise signed up in late autumn, completed training as December began, and her first assignment was a holiday party in Alexandria. Emanuel and Liam worked a July tiki bar-themed event in Alexandria. Chris developed repeat customers and was sourced for a themed 60s party through one of them. Each story is different, but the common thread is that seasonal bartending rewards people who show up prepared and stay available.
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