I am 24 years old and I have plans of purchasing my first home within the next two years. I have a full time job as an engineer but I want to get a second job so that I could have a hefty down payment for my future home. I like the club/bar scene although I've never been involved in the behind-the-counter service industry. I will soon start my new engineering job from M-Th for 40 hrs a week. I would like to start a bartending job for Th, Fri, Sat nights. I've had more hectic schedules than this when I was in college so I'm pretty sure I could do this for about 2 yrs...

My questions are mostly for people who have some experience with this:
What kind of things are employers looking for in a bartender?
What kind of tips could I make at my local busy dance club in L.A. Ca?
What are the dangers of working in that environment?
Would it be any better to work at a restaurant/bar instead?
Anything else worth mentioning?

I have spent the past 15 years in the restaurant/bar business in NYC.

Being a bartender is a great way to make money. In busy bars and clubs in big cities like LA and NYC you can make several hundred dollars a night - cash.

Usually in clubs or "hot spot" bars, your looks will play a big part in weather or not you get hired. Also, you need to have an outgoing personality. If these places won't hire you because of lack of experience, you might want to start as a cocktail waitress. You will still make great money.

Things do get a little tricky because you are interacting with drunk people. You have to know how to handle yourself. Also this industry has a big party/drug culture. You have to be careful not to fall into the endless party trap.

That said it is good, fast money. Also, it is very social and a great way to meet people.

I've been scouted several times by club managers to be a dancer on stage. So apparently I have the look. I'm pretty sociable . How flexible would employers be with the type of schedule I ask for?

The schedule should be fairly easy since most of their business is Thurs - Sat.

Be sure and ask to see if you need permission of your full time job to work a 2nd job, I remember as a engineer, appearace was important, they preferred for me to live in certain parts of towns, belong to certain clubs, I know there was several types of jobs and positions they would not have wanted me to do

But great way to make extra money, esp in the better places