By Adrian Tonon, Jabari Jefferson, and Andre Reed
Photo Lil Monsterr
Bartenders play a crucial role in a 24-Hour Economy and like many other industries, they were forced to pivot and innovate during government mandates, oftentimes not knowing where their next paycheck was coming from. Join us for the seventh series to hear from five celebrated bartenders who have rose above adversity and are bringing new flavors, energy and excitement into 2021.
Leslie Williams / Society Detroit
The pandemic has forced me to think outside my boundaries and get creative. The bar industry has always provided for me in ways that a regular 9-5 job couldn’t. Taking my bar skills and my self-starter, entrepreneurial edge, I thought of ways to adapt to the changing times. Most of the displaced bartenders I know have been doing an amazing job at taking their bar skills outside of the bar. As a community, we’ve come up with ideas to sustain the bar life by selling cocktails and mocktails, doing online video demos, even educating other future bartenders and becoming mentors. Personally, I’ve gone into freelancing by offering my services to small private events and functions. The pandemic also gave me time to study my profession further and learn new and hot ideas to bring back to the bar. In addition, staying updated on safety standards once businesses open. Being a bartender means you have to be adaptable. We rely on an industry where sometimes you can make hundreds of dollars, and some days you come out with a few bucks for gas, the pandemic is no exception. However having that adaptability gives us the advantage to weathering any storm.
If you are not a people person, adaptable, quick and creative, this is not the job for you. Making tasty cocktails is only a portion of the job. You have to be able to adapt to the changes. You have to become adaptable with constant changing hours of operation and days, COVID restrictions and ever-changing standards. After months of quarantine, worrying and stress, the bar is a safe haven for people who want to release the pressures of yesterday and tomorrow and live in the moment. Knowing that the bar and the bartenders will always be that shed of light at the end of the day, that can help reduce the pressures of life. We are drink makers, confidants, party starters, magicians and tricksmiths, entertainers, friends and professionals all in one. As bartenders we set the tone.
Dre Delano / Delano Entertainment Group (D.E.G.)
I stared at this question for a while, mainly because of the word “ADAPT”. Not sure anyone in this industry has fully adapted, especially in Michigan, with the uncertainty of how long you were going to have a job. The constant change of rules and shutdowns, adaptation was the last thing on my mind; the first thought that played for me was “SURVIVAL”. I was fortunate to work a couple side jobs, but it was nothing consistent or enough to make ends meet. When I finally received UIA benefits, I was thanking the Creator and surprisingly the government, for once.
I was able to catch up on finances and move forward, but I was still missing something. I missed working the bar and being able to create and cultivate experiences that bring people together or even just being an ear for a lonely soul to listen to. I understood it is not just the money for me, so I was no longer going to sit, wait, and wonder anymore if there was a time to take a leap of faith. I started promoting my skills on social media and through any resource I obtained.
Soon after, I began getting calls for private bartending events and fundraisers.
Covid-19 brought a lot of negatives, but I learned to use it and my faith to light a fire under me.
While taking all safety precautions as mandates continue to shift, I am still grateful to be creating and providing an experience / love, for my beautiful Detroit Souls. Soon, I hope to be back Downtown in the heart of my city serving good vibes to my “D-town Night Owls”. Until then, my advice for people interested in this profession is that sometimes it’s rough, sometimes you grind so hard just to make it to the end of the tunnel, but it’s so worth it. There is beauty in the hardships and you learn more than the skills of the trade, but life skills as well. It’s not just about the money you make or the places you can go, it is also about the bonds you make, the connections, and the journey it takes you on. We welcome you and we are just getting started
Ayana (Yaya) Ford / Exodus
Things are definitely a lot different than before, but with time I’ve learned to adapt since the pandemic has forced a normal upon us. There’s no telling when this will all be over, so the best way to cope is to make the best of it. I, personally, needed some extra time because I’ve been hustling multiple gigs for years now. With the time I was given from being laid off, I have been able to rest, reset, and make plans for the future. I would advise nightlife newcomers to have faith, have more than one source of income, and because this industry is a mostly cash-based business, SAVE YOUR MONEY! 2020 showed us that life can change in the blink of an eye and you have to be prepared.
Monica Ruiz / Exodus
My line of work shifted from being a Director of Events in the beginning of the year, to unemployment in the Spring, bartending in July, and unemployment again a month before Christmas. Choosing to go back to bartending was based on losing additional federal unemployment and not being able to continue the path I was on in the event industry. Personally, I enjoyed going back to bartending and being able to create an inviting atmosphere in a different way. It allowed me to step back from managing and get back in touch to why I love this industry so much. It’s the people we work with, the people we serve and the environment we create. What I didn’t expect was losing my second job in November due to the additional closings and having to try and find another job again.
Being a bartender is more than a way to make ends meet. It’s creating cocktails for people to learn how to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. It’s having conversations with out of towners or locals about what’s going on in the world, to their personal life. So I can understand how people find this industry enticing, but my suggestion right now would be to wait. This job is hard, lots of hours, typically late nights, and being on your feet for 8-12 hours at a time. Due to the pandemic, the income isn’t the same and most people are barely making enough to survive. We were the first people to lose their jobs and the last ones to get them back, so it’s not the most reliable job and income right now, so wait.
Tyron Foster / Drinks on Me
My line of work has adapted to the current state of the world by providing mobile drinks to go and mobile bartending. Bartenders are beginning to get more creative with their craft by branding themselves. For me in particular, it’s been rough because I have a tip based job and with COVID-19 going around gigs are hard to come by. There has been a lot of wedding and party cancellations, but Drinks On Me still gets a few bookings through social media shout outs and word of mouth.
The advice I would give to someone pursuing my line of work is to be optimistic, brand yourself, stay creative, and stay ready. Bartending will rise again.
Musicians play a crucial role in a 24-Hour Economy. As stages were mandated to close, touring came to a halt. Artists were forced to pivot, oftentimes not knowing where to focus their music or brands. Join us for the eighth series to hear from four emerging artists who ‘blew up’ and grew their audience globally in 2020.
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