I Remodeled My Cocktail Bar
Investment is a continuous thing with new businesses. I am always trying to improve the private virtual cocktail classes that I give.
Sometimes it’s as simple as adjusting lighting or sound. Believe it or not, my 14-year-old daughter is teaching me about slide shows and presentations. Becuase of her, I’m able to include cool pictures, colors, and videos of craft cocktails when I give my classes. Not only do I lean on her for slide show advice, she is my Instagram and just general social media expert. Whether or not you should use filters, what kind of filters, and the writing on your pictures of craft cocktails has a big impact on the engagement of your followers. Who knew my knowledge of the perfect martini recipe wasn’t all I needed in perfecting my classes.
During many of my classes, people would just come out and say, “that’s a cool set up you have in your basement.” To me, when I am giving professional level private mixology classes, the set needs to look professional as well.
I went to Menards, again, for some ideas. There were different types of siding for walls and I decided on a brick look. I modeled my back bar after a craft cocktail bar in Japan called Jeremiah. I love the way it turned out and can’t wait for more guests to see it.
It was quite an experience taking all of my bottles of alcohol down, then the shelving, and cleaning the brick wall. After that there is a certain type of adhesive one needs to use as well as nails designed to go into brick. For all of you who are intending on nailing things to bricks in the future, here are some sage words of advice. Make sure to find where the mortar is between the bricks and mark it clearly. The brick nails will easily go into the mortar buy will not go into the bricks. You will get very frustrated attaching whatever it is you are using - not like I know from personal experience or anything.
These are the stories and experiences that make this endeavor fun. I have over 25 year of experience designing cocktail menus, training bartenders, and making perfect drinks. I have even helped in designing blueprints for cocktail bars, developed training manuals, and taken acting lessons. However, working power tools, understanding cement nails, levels of sound and lighting, adhesives, glosses, screen sharing, social media engagement…these are hugely important in the continuous updating of my cocktail company. As tough as it it, however, it is very addicting to not have a boss. I love that my boss is the consumer. I need to make sure my product is worth the money, worth it for the experience. The cocktail bar HAS to look good. The cocktails HAVE to taste good. The directions HAVE to be easy to follow. And I HAVE to keep improving.
See you in class!
Dr. Sunshine
