We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Apollonia McFadden. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Apollonia below.
Apollonia, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with a fun one – what’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?
Most people in my industry disagree that bartenders can make more money outside of the restaurant versus staying inside. They think that bartenders are stuck working in restaurants and bars their entire lives. That is where the term “Lifer” in the restaurant industry originated from. What they should realize is that they can make a lot of money taking the skills they learned in the restaurant to start their on mobile service. They think it takes a lot of money and investors to get started when in actuality it does not.
Apollonia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I have been in the restaurant industry for 19 years. I started at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen on Oaklawn in Uptown Dallas. It was there that I learned what customer service truly meant. Over the course of the years, I worked in various fine dining establishments but I finished with the World renowned Chef Stephan Pyles. It was there that I was inspired to start my own business and in March of 2018 McFadden Bartending was born.
McFadden Bartending is a mobile bartending service that offers bartenders, event staff (Servers, Cocktail servers, and Clean up staff), day of coordinators and now catering for any type of event. We have worked n0n profit events, meet-ups, corporate functions, birthday parties, weddings, etc. What sets us apart from others is our Professional, Proficient, and Polite services. No task is too small for us to do. Even if we are hired as a bartender, we will help with additional task if time permits us to do so.
I am most proud of the relationships that I have built with clients over the years. I have clients from 2018 who have followed me through my journey.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In June of 2018 I was hired to bartend an event in Las Colinas. It was my 3rd booking and it required two people. My bestfriend joined me and we went there with all of our bar equipment. When we arrived the event coordinator hadn’t arrived yet. She was supposed to be bringing food, glassware and decorations. She didn’t arrive until 10 mins after the event started. My bestfriend and I took the initiative and helped set up the entire event with what we could in her absence. Upon her arrival, she dropped half the food and decorations. We helped clean up her spill, set up food and bartended the event. We even stayed and cleaned up. It taught us that regardless of our situation we make it happen for the client.
Have you ever had to pivot?
During the Covid Pandemic my business took a hit. People had to cancel events and no one was allowed to be around parties of 8 or more. I was blessed to not lose my deposits, as my clients allowed me to keep them, but I lost all of my events. When I initially started my business, I was working two jobs to make ends meet. By March of 2019 I was solely working for self with no cushion. I was a bit nervous initially. However, a close friend told me I should sell punches and I pivoted to bottling concoctions that I had created throughout my years of bartending. It helped maintain my income until the ban was lifted and people began to do parties again. You never know what life will throw at you so you have to be prepared for EVERYTHING.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mcfaddenbartending.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcfaddenbartending
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcfaddenbartending
- Other: https://www.thebash.com/bartender/mcfadden-bartending