We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Destiny Whitehead. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Destiny below.

Alright, Destiny thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

When asked about the inspiration behind the name Mr.Barrtenderr, I explained that I struggled with coming up with a creative name and wanted something that would be memorable and set us apart from other companies. The name embodies and encompasses everything that we stand for and I personally identify with it. It’s also exciting to see people’s reactions when they realize that I am Mr.Barrtenderr, especially since they don’t expect a black woman to be behind the name. The addition of an extra “r” was necessary since the original name was already taken.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hello, I’m Destiny Whitehead, and I’m honored to say that I’ve been working as a bartender since 2012. When I began, I started working in a corporate environment, but I soon realized that it wasn’t the path for me. It was then that I decided to take a bartending class in December 2012, and that decision completely changed my life. My first bartending job was at a nightclub, and I remember being so nervous that the first drink I made for a customer was wrong. The waitress knew it was incorrect and took the drink to the table regardless. However, to my surprise, the person who ordered the drink wanted the same drink the same way, and that’s when I knew that I had something special. Even though the drink was incorrect, I balanced it and made it taste great.

At that moment, I realized how much I loved interacting with people and creating drinks. It was the perfect way to combine my passion for spirits and people. I started moonlighting as a bartender at night and on the weekends, and in 2015, I established Mr.Barrtenderr. Since then, we have grown to have three different aspects. Firstly, we provide bartending services for private parties, corporate events, and weddings. Secondly, we offer a bartending school where we train upcoming bartenders with a more realistic approach. Lastly, we organize mixology events where we go to our client’s to teach them how to make cocktails with their family and friends.

During the pandemic, our mixology events became incredibly popular. It was at this point that we realized how different we were from other bartending companies. Our bartending service is where we get to serve our clients the most, and we cater to people who trust our expertise. This trust allows us to be creative and function at our highest capacity without being micromanaged.

At Mr.Barrtenderr, we are passionate about changing the industry standard of how people of color conduct business at a professional level. We take pride in our top-tier customer service and business models, which sets us apart from everyone else. We are professionals to the core, and our work ethic is consistent. Our clients can trust us to go above and beyond to ensure that they look good in front of their loved ones and peers.

My team and I have worked tirelessly to become one of the most elite bartending companies in Jacksonville, Florida. However, we remain humble in our approach and are committed to continuously improving. At Mr.Barrtenderr, we want our clients to know that we have their backs, and we will always strive to provide the best service possible with their needs being our top priority.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the biggest turning points in my life was when I made the decision to quit my corporate job and pursue Mr.Barrtenderr full-time. Although it was a scary decision, with the support of my loved ones, I was able to focus solely on scaling my business. This experience allowed me to discover my strengths and has given me a new level of entrepreneurship that I wouldn’t trade for anything. While it’s not an easy path to take, the opportunities and experiences I’ve gained through Mr.Barrtenderr have been unexplainable. This path may not be for everyone, but I had to jump!

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

To be an effective leader, it’s important to understand that simply having a position of authority doesn’t automatically make you a great leader. Leading requires the ability to communicate effectively with people of all personality types. In my personal experience, I consider myself a natural leader due to my motivation and inspirational qualities.

Sharing knowledge and teaching others is something that I truly enjoy. I believe in freely sharing information and not keeping it to myself. Furthermore, leading by example is key. I don’t expect anything of my team that I wouldn’t do myself, and I’m always willing to get in the trenches and work alongside them.

Ultimately, my main focus is to see my team members succeed in what their passions are. By creating an environment in which they can thrive and grow, I’m able to facilitate their progress and make their success a reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mrbarrtenderr.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mr.barrtenderr
• Facebook: Mr.Barrtenderr
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/destiny-whitehead-7b2757198
• Youtube: Mr.Barrtenderr
• Yelp: Mr.Barrtenderr
• Other: Etsy shop- https://www.etsy.com/shop/MrBarCo

Image Credits
Lrk Productions Elite Group Media