Bartending Gigs

Most places are going to require that you apply in person. Once you get down on island, especially in September, you should be able to quickly identify what places are looking for help.

It's tough to do that kind of leg work from the states.

Boy Rich...that was fast. I hear you though,...I was just curious. Also,...I read in another forum that it takes four months? to get your "workers permit"(I know that's the wrong term) all officialized. Does that mean that if I came down in Sept,...and found a job, I'd have to wait four months for that? I could be off a bit, but I could've sworn that's what I read.

Thanks Again RICH

RON

Hello Ron,

If you are an American citizen you don't need any work permits. You do typically need your social security card, id, proof of legal residence/citzenship.

You do need a Health Card to work in food service here but it takes just a couple days to get that.

--Islander

SWEET...!! Ah that's cool ISLANDER. BTW...I'm so happy that you wrote me back, in particular. I see you all over the forums and have found my self reading a lot of your responses. Are you directly associated with this site? I see you everywhere, and you seem to give some totally rockin' advice...THANKS!!

Indeed...I am an American citizen. I'll be there in September, along with my girlfriend and son. We are all pretty excited.

I read the post written by the young lady from NY with the fiancee and little doggy. That was an awesome post. It let me know that STT is were I need to be. I just got back from the island of IBIZA, one of the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain, this summer. I was there for 4 months working and playing...and it changed me forever. I've been to STT a few times...and have always said that, when the mainland lifestyle became a little much for me...I would come back there. Well...I've been in the trading industry here in Chicago since I was 16y/0, as a runner...then clerk,...then a trader assistant...brokers assistant, and once I finally reached my goal of becoming a trader...I realized it was not what I wanted to do. I bartended in college and LOVED it. I love people, culture, and the creative side of mixology. So here I come.

Sorry about the babble...I'm just excited!!

Live from CHICAGO

RON

Hello Ron,

I hear your excitement man. Do what you are doing, ask questions, plan the move. Is your girlfriend going to be working? Is your son school age? Just other things to think about.

I want to make a note about September. Two notes. 🙂

September followed by August are the two more active months of Hurricane Season for us. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1st to November 30th. The last major hurricane that affected the islands was Hurricane Marilyn in September 1995. Previously there was Hurricane Hugo in September 1989. There have been smaller hurricanes that have impacted the USVI like Hurricane Georges in September 1998 and Hurricane Lenny in November 1999, but none as severe in recent years as Marilyn and Hugo.

September followed by August are the slower months of tourism Off Season. Things pick up again in late October.

If you intended to come in the first week of September I would recommend pushing it forward several weeks, closer to or in October, unless you wanted to hang out for a bit or if your son needed to be enrolled in school.

--Islander

ISLANDER

Thanks again for the positive vibe man...!! As for my girlfriend, she is coming down to speak with some contacts during the last week of MAY. She is a professionally, and very talented makeup artist. So she'll be down with her portfolio and a stack of resumes,...just getting her face out on the market...the cosmetic market that is. As for my son, he is going to be in 2nd grade in the Fall, and we are currently working on his application to the Antilles School. That's mainly why we have chosen to come in September...to get him enrolled...HOPEFULLY at Antilles.

ISLANDER...you mention the Hurricane season is mainly Aug and Sept huh? Now tell me this,...during those months, is there ALWAYS some sort of activity? For instance, do you all get bad storms PARTICULARLY during those months? Or...is it just that all the bad hurricanes have come through, historically, during those months?

One other thing of interest has to do with transportation. We plan on buying a Jeep or something 4x4 upon arrival. But are the roads as rugged as I have read? And are the hills THAT steep? Also...do you think scooters are decent transportation...just to here and there?

--RON

Hello Ron,

Your girlfriend has likely already researched where she should go but I will add a couple suggestions. There are a few makeup/perfume departments of stores downtown so that’s one area to look, perhaps if sales/makeup artist is the area of interest or doing special make-over type promotions in store. There are a few spas at resorts and some beauty shops. This is a popular destination for weddings, if she can get her name out there to wedding coordinators for doing makeup that could turn out to be worthwhile.

Antilles is a great school. All the best with that.

Aug & Sept & Hurricane season - yes there very often is some sort of activity in the sense of storm developments somewhere in the Atlantic region during those months of Hurricane season. Not necessarily affecting the USVI and not necessarily affecting any land mass and not necessarily everyday but at some points within the months. And by storm development it can be just depressions rather then tropical storms or actual full formed hurricanes.

Historically speaking most of the storm/hurricane activity for the VI takes place in August and September and since those are the most active months they are also the months when the larger hurricanes have affected us. To give a little more perspective; in looking at the Hurricane log from 1819 to 2001 (182 years) for tropical storm and hurricane activity within 2 degrees of the USVI and/or Puerto Rico the numbers look like this:

J F M A M J J Au Se O N D
1 0 0 0 0 0 9 34 38 9 4 0

Now the VI doesn't get large hurricanes every year or every other year. Last big one was in 1995. Every year we do watch and track them as they development and hope they stay over the ocean or that they don’t develop into storms or hurricanes. Monitoring them can be stressful perhaps more so for those unfamiliar with hurricane activity and how to prepare. So my mentioning it was so you are aware, can read up on it some.

--Islander

ISLANDER

Thank you. I just read your response to my girlfriend, and we will definitely read up on those hurricanes.

As for everything else...we will definitely follow up.

Thank YOU

RON