Becoming a Butler

Prophet

Prophet

Prophet

Soldato
Joined
5 Oct 2004
Posts
7,395
Location
Notts
I recently talked to a friend who has taken a new career (been there one year) as a butler/estate manager for a retired American couple. At first I thought it would be a rubbish job as all you areis a slave who looks after rich people. However, it's far from that and something I'm seriosuly looking into.

I'm sure most people will think of a butler as someone who answers the door, serves dinner and drinks and who is generally 'the dogs body' and while there is some truth to this the other side of his job sees him.

Looking after 3 large properties in the US.
Having 15+ staff members directly reporting to him.
Looking after the fleet of cars.
Bidding on artwork - He's often the guy on the other end of the phone telling the guy at the action when to bid.
Sorting out flights on private jets etc.
Organising large parties which he attends to make sure everything runs smoothly.


Some of the perks are:

House at all three locations fully paid for plus a car at each location.
He gets to drive supercars on a daily basis.
Flying in a private jet.
Unlimited budget to buy thing or improve the lifestyle of his bosses.


Antiperks

When in butler mode he has to make sure the house is perfect in every way. A shirt folded incorrectly will see him having a talking to and the dinner table not being set to perfection will see the same consiquence.

So, while the job has some amazing plus sides it's also demanding and not for everyone. To give you an idea of pay a new starter with minimum experiance can earn £25k plus benefits which can increase to £50k in a few years depending how good you are. Top butlers earn anything upto £120K!

These people basically pay for time. In the sense that they're all knocking on a bit and every minute they spend sorting something out is a minute they're not spending their money. The better you do your job the more time they have and the more they reward you. Luckily my firend is really good at his job to the point that his employers gave him a pay rise after seeing some other millionaire talking to him at a party. They thought he was going to leave so gave him more money!

Thoughts?
 
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Sounds like you need to be a perfectionist, if you want to serve people then just become a concierge imo.

I would also have to like the family, I couldn't be putting up with arrogant people, even if they were paying my wage I would expect to be treated fairly so that would probably be the deciding factor for me.
 
From my point of view I'd prefer to be the guy hiring the butler!

Perhaps more realistically, it could be a potential career path if you are exceptional at shirt folding and table laying... Probably not for me though
 
Sp00n said:
Sounds like you need to be a perfectionist, if you want to serve people then just become a concierge imo.

I would also have to like the family, I couldn't be putting up with arrogant people, even if they were paying my wage I would expect to be treated fairly so that would probably be the deciding factor for me.
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I asked my friend that but he said as long as you do the few things which require perfection perfectly you're OK. Most of the time it's not that full on.

You are right about liking the family though. Some can be real A-holes.


dl8860 said:
From my point of view I'd prefer to be the guy hiring the butler!

Perhaps more realistically, it could be a potential career path if you are exceptional at shirt folding and table laying... Probably not for me though
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Wouldn't we all.. However, most of his wages goes straight into saving so his plan is to buy property over the years until he can retire.


cm1179 said:
does he get to knock the chamber maid off?
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His wife is in charge of the house keeping side so technically yes he does :)
 
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If you have the standards to be able to do it then it would be great imo. Not too disimilar from live in child minders etc.
Find the right family to work for and you will love it.

Wife used to do it (live in child care) and has a few friends who still do it (one of which works for a well off family in London and has fun while going around the world with the family!).
 
The Funktopus said:
But, how often do you hear of some old loaded dear shuffling off the mortal coil, and leaving all her millions to her faithful servant? He's onto a winner.
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I don't think that matters though as for the most part you're living the millionaire lifestytle (cars, jets, spending money) I guess it's how you look at it.

Plus you get a decent pay and perks..
 
Morba said:
If you have the standards to be able to do it then it would be great imo. Not too disimilar from live in child minders etc.
Find the right family to work for and you will love it.

Wife used to do it (live in child care) and has a few friends who still do it (one of which works for a well off family in London and has fun while going around the world with the family!).
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Exactly. My friend works with the nannies for the grand-children when they visit. They all seem to love the job.

For me the downside would be not being around friends and family for most of the time as these jobs are either in London or overseas.
 
what sort of hours does he end up doing? It really doesn't sound like its for me but interesting they are so well paid - are their qualifications you have to get? some kind of degree or is it an apprenticeship based training?
 
arknor said:
so how easy are these jobs to just walk into?
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You'll need some training first. This can be a quick week course or a 3 Month boot-camp depending on how much you want to learn. The short courses cover book keeping (you basically have access to their money), dinner service etc and how to meet and greet. The other aspects of estate management are largely common sense.

The boot-camps cover all this but in more detial. However you don't need to do the long course.

Jobs are more available than you think. Who here has ever thought about being a butler ;)
 
Siliconslave said:
what sort of hours does he end up doing? It really doesn't sound like its for me but interesting they are so well paid - are their qualifications you have to get? some kind of degree or is it an apprenticeship based training?
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He and his wife work 36 hours a week. They start at 11am and work Monday to Friday. Some days they finish at 2pm other days they work until 11pm if there's a party.

They have an active diary which is updated on the fly by their employers. So sometimes they know they're finishing early but on the flip side a dinner party could get added at the last minuite.

Training is as I've posted above. The week course cost's £2k the boot camp is £10k.
 
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