The support system for Tipsy Tech is our incredible interns, without whom we could not run the course so smoothly. We still have a couple of slots left in the internship program.
There are five areas of specialization within the internship program which are described after the jump. You do not have to pick just one area, they are there merely to help organize the activities, and to suggest an area of study.
For more information on the Tipsy Tech Internship Program, or to register your interest, please email David at info @ this url. The internship is part of the full introductory course--schedule and registration at www.TipsyTech.net . Interns will complete the course, though the course fee is waived and there is only a $50 fee for materials.
Spring 2010 Intern Mindy Kucan leading a discussion on proper use of tools. Mindy now works her magic at Houston's legendary Anvil Bar & Refuge
The History and Practice of Cocktail Mixology: Areas of Specialization for Interns
Specialization 1: Culinary Horticulture & Urban Homesteading
Over the course of the semester, interns will gain hands-on experience with culinary herbs & vegetables, with a focus on planning & planting the “Mixologist’s Garden”. Work sessions will be led by experienced gardeners and pioneers of Austin’s sustainable food community. Field trips will include work days at venerable urban farms and gardens. Interns will occasionally be joined by local chefs and other culinary professionals. As the garden begins to bear fruit, kitchen sessions will be conducted to make use of what is in season. We will discuss how to make liqueurs and infusions, jellies & jams, bitters & tinctures, etc. from garden ingredients, and we will explore the role of these ingredients in cocktails.
Requirements: Candidate must have an interest in gardening from a culinary perspective; actual experience is preferred but not required. There will a two-hour work session once a week in addition to regular lecture time. Additionally, there will be occasional field trips to area farms and gardens.
Specialization 2: Social Media & Personal Branding for Hospitality Professionals
This track will focus on the role of Web sites like Twitter and Facebook in building a career in the food & beverage industry. Activities will include using social (as well as conventional) media outlets to promote various events throughout the semester, as well as developing your own personal online brand.
Requirements: Candidate must have basic understanding of social media platforms and be interested in personal brand development. Command of graphic design, photo & video editing programs is a plus.
Specialization 3: Event Production & Promotion
Being a bartender, chef or restaurateur requires a lot more than turning the lights on and serving customers. In the modern hospitality environment, professionals must spend a lot of time promoting themselves and their establishments. This track will focus on various ways that this can be done. Interns will assist with promotional events throughout the semester. Participation in this track will include access to several significant food & beverage events in the Austin area, such as La Dolce Vita. The main semester project will be to plan and execute a major cocktail event, the Drink Local Cocktail Contest, in December.
Requirements: Candidates must be able to devote approximately two hours to weekly event planning sessions. Additional time will be required on select nights and weekends to work or attend events. Some events will include paid work.
Specialization 4: The Practical Mixologist
Being a bartender is not a monolithic enterprise. There are many different styles of bartending, and participants in this track will gain experience working in diverse establishments from high-volume bars to high-end classic cocktail lounges. After evaluating your skills and interests, we will develop a schedule that gets you the maximum experience that you are looking for.
Requirements: candidates will get hands-on experience both in the Tipsy Texan test kitchen and in the real workplace. Applicants must be available to work some nights or weekends as the schedule of the host bars dictates
Specialization 5: Cocktail Journalism & Culinary History
In the contemporary media culture, a “journalism” career can include not just magazines and newspapers, but also books, countless Web sites and blogs, educational events and conferences. This track will study the various ways that a career in mixology (and hospitality in general) can nurture those of us with the artistic impulse to express ourselves through the written word and with visual media. Two applicants will be accepted—one writer and one photo or video journalist.
Interns will take a look at cocktail mixology through the researcher’s eye, and from a journalist’s perspective. Interns will gain access to many of Austin’s most respected food & beverage journalists.
Requirements: participants will produce original content that will be published at TipsyTexan.com and other local blogs and publications, including their own. Interns will attend a handful of food media events throughout the semester. Semester project will include an editorial piece for a major local food publication.
