Students hoping to become bartenders have plenty of opportunities in Bryan-College Station. With more than 100 bars and restaurants in the Brazos Valley, students can easily find work as bartenders.
Many bartenders begin as waiters and are eventually trained for the bartender position.
While bartending classes are helpful, they are sometimes looked down upon. Bartending school teaches students how to make drinks and use elaborate techniques, but in real life, when a bar gets busy, bartenders need to be fast and efficient. Robbie Acoba, owner of Eastside Grill on University Avenue, said bartenders need extensive training, but not necessarily from bartending school. You can go to a bartending academy, get your certificate, but to learn the system and drinks is an everyday thing you have to do. Paul Bigini, who has been a bartender for three years, said he took a bartending class, but he does not recommend it.