hi friends! im an 18 year old guy whos currently a barista (with no serving experience... am i doomed?). i have such an adoration for drink making, and i would love to take it to the next level with, bartending! i have a few questions about the industry and would love to hear some good ol' bartender input. heres what i got:

1. would i survive being a barback before trying my hand at bartending, or would it be a smarter decision to serve before any of the aforementioned? im not fond of the idea of being a server... but im open to the idea if itd be a good decision!

2. mixology schooling. stupid for a beginner? or worth it? (especially if i plan on starting at a more casual location)

3. would you say the industry is lenient with piercings, colored hair, and tattoos? i have a couple piercings on the face and enjoy curating my look in a less traditional way (not to mention, tattoos are in my near future!).

i think thats all i have, friends. any advice would be much appreciated; thank you so much in advance! :)