Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sheresa McCauley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sheresa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am going to answer the second question first. Even though I respect everyone’s position, I’m not satisfied or thrilled about “regular” jobs. There are few positions that have actually ever interested me which is why I stayed in the service industry for so long. Yes, the requirements or expectations may be the same on the daily but, I have had the opportunity to experience an array of environments that have brought a lot of excitement to my life throughout the many years that I dedicated. And, as Frank Sinatra said, “I did it my way!” If I picked a regular job, it would probably be a psychologist, but I got to be like a therapist with every ounce I pour. Moreso referring to the interaction and less of the actual liquor.
I feel as though I am the type of person that needs an ideal job structured around me. I don’t quite fit into a mold and I get bored often. I at least need the freedom and flexibility to be creative in any position that I obtain so that I can remain satisfied. I get to be a fluid artist through the form of curating, using my imagination to entertain people in inclusive environments full of high vibrations. Whether the moment starts as someone else’s or my own, being able to assist in bringing that vision to life is what I enjoy the most. As a person, artist and brand, I enjoy uplifting, promoting, relating and empowering others. I am a visionary, one who cultivates with intent and finds a lot of meaning in doing what I do and how I do it. And, these days others are starting to see and feel it too. What I do is in it’s own lane. I don’t just do events, cocktails or decorate. I am a “vibe or experience curator.”

So, to answer your first question, Yes I am happiest as an artist or creative. It makes me feel as though I am serving a great duty by giving my clients, guests, genuine engagements and unique perspectives to lifestyle and entertainment efforts. It’s been an honor to watch others shine in the requested or suggested roles that they play as we come together. It’s an honor to watch people take opportunities from visions I curate and expand upon their own personal goals and missions in life feeling motivated and supported. When I am able to give people the experiences that I wish I would have had, it’s quite fulfilling. TVC gets to be a part of their journey from the start. Plus, I love having fun and making fun things happen.

As an artist, I do more things than just curate events and create signature holistic cocktails that taste great. I am a music lover with a gifted ear. I can sing, dance, write, act, style and decorate. I am always yearning for a moment to express myself creatively. Even though I still don’t do it as much as I should. When I go too long without an outlet, I get stuck in a fantasy world that ultimately drains my spirit. As an extravert, I need to get more into my bag to fulfil my destiny. Harmony, beauty and hospitality is my thing. I love to love. As a nurturer and empath, I care about people tremendously and tend to give a lot of me away. Through my efforts with this brand, I get to connect the physical and spiritual world and find and create not only the appropriate balance for me but, for others to enjoy as well. So, I find it quite necessary to do some of the things that I do. It keeps me sane and many people have found my services to be a rare treasure which I appreciate.

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?

So, my first name is Sheresa, “Resa” for short, but “Bambi” is what some of my close friends call me. As the founder of TVC, it is my passion to deliver eclectic and hospitable entertainment with elevated vibes. Through creative collaborations, fun themes, dope cocktails and philanthropy, I create unique experiences that are good for the soul! Through Twisted Vision Company, I love sharing that passion with other artists to orchestrate inclusive and diverse social settings that ultimately inspire a more conscious community within our society and nightlife.

Birthed through many years of experience in the service industry and the social enjoyment for derived from my position as a brand ambassador and influencer, I aspire to do things from my own twisted perspective, applying a genuine and purposeful undertone to the moments that this brand shares with the public. From the lessons, admiration, appreciation, observations, awareness, integrity and ethical values that I took away from the places that I worked, and relationships built, the essence of Twisted Vision Company started. We have hosted all types of events from straight “turn up style” to wellness. Regardless of the reason or purpose, we make it so that our people feel free to be themselves and are included in the energy that we are cultivating with these efforts. We started off, promoting and supporting many others when we first popped on the scene. However, we started to focus on this brand more and connecting with others resembling a reflection of the integrity and mindset that we exude. As the year 2020 started to rear it’s head, it had already started to become apparent that many popular people and places did not share the same sentiments of equality, compassion and respect. It had become apparent that many business owners do not truly care about the livelihood of their most faithful guests and workers. The pandemic and leading up to, revealed an awful lot about how people truly felt about other people which caused us to take a step back. When we do start promoting and supporting these businesses again, we want to feel appreciated for the recommendations, we want to share the sentiments towards the public. We want to spend our money with integrity knowing that the places and brands that we mainly support are on the same page. We see a bigger a picture at the end of the day.

Twisted Vision Company is an inclusive lifestyle entertainment event hosting company that specializes in curating unique and unforgettable experiences. We strive to bring a fresh perspective to every event we host or are associated with, from corporate gatherings to private parties. Our network of professionals (the Vibrate Higher Collective) will work with you to create a customized event that will leave an impactful impression on you and your guests. With our innovative ideas, creative solutions and artistic collaborators, your Twisted Vision experience will be one to remember.

Since 2019, we have hosted many events from “turn ups” to wellness parties. I’ll go through a number of events so that you may get an idea of the range that we have explored. This is not everything for I am sure I will forget some of the timeline. Besides, there was a time when I was afraid to put my face out there to be judged. We “officially” started out with a Safari Party in the Southside, including drinks and food for only $25! We had a shuttle bus for several hours and complementary drinks at 2 different establishments for our guests. We rocked out to 4 totally different djs throughout the night and the vibes were awesomely filled with a variety of music that kept us moving and grooving. 3 of these djs entertained us in the Strip District at a nightclub where we took over the front room with our own sound, food and cocktail! Animal print was the theme for this event as it also served as my birthday party. For my birthday, I wished to introduce the brand, portraying the fun side which was quite an appropriate vibe for the attending guests. Although it was tiresome, it was an awesome time for those who came. That fall, we brought back Boos & Booze for the 2nd year. This one started as a collaborative effort with a partner still affiliated with the conglomerate of WVU college bars that I was a part of in my college days to keep that tradition alive. We joined forces once again for the mission of a carefree good time. And, of course we added a “twist!” We introduced our signature cocktails and a little decor. We partied in the tent a little bit classier than we did before, but it was the start to something amazing for many people who had never experienced it. The following year, the brand took over as a solo project focusing on Pittsburgh guests only and making it an official annual TVC event. In the winter, we joined forces with Jingle Bar to curate an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, hosting an interactive Karaoke Bingo which no one ever heard of before because I made it up! HAHA! And, with a packed house of jovial singers, we had a ball giving away prizes to the winners.

The following year during the pandemic (2020), we experimented with signature holistic cocktail ideas and generated much appreciation for our easy-going drinks, which introduced us to the pop-up shop world. We found creative ways to share our gift, entertain and support our service industry/party friends and fellow entrepreneurs during this unpredictable time filled with panic and fear. We booked customized decorated bottle service sections at Cosmo for birthdays during this down time just to make people feel special. The people of Pittsburgh did not have many options for an enjoyable night out, so we tried to help make the best of it supporting owners that we were fond of. Keeping people in cheerful spirits was our goal that year. Many people were fighting depression and so we did things to safely bring folks together when and how we could. We had private gatherings with food, drinks and activities to keep our peers entertained and uplifted. That fall, we hosted Boos and Booze 3 which was a blast! A VIP party including transportation, great food, cocktails, music, wonderful vibes and fun with haunted attractions! Many first timers fell in love with the idea. For the quick w weeks that Jingle Bar was open at Oyster Bar that winter, we were in charge of the talent and event booking!

In 2021, we hosted an exclusive animal print Vday celebration/ bday party at Cosmo, a private 70’s St. Patrick’s Day, which was a really cool vibe that we actually want to revisit next year with more creative perspective focused on the entertainment. We collaborated with dj KPedd to host a couple underground EDM nights and introduced Thrival Thursdays, an open format dance party (something else we wish to revisit this year). That fall, we curated a 70’s themed Sip, Swap & Shop charity event to collect a ton of bags of clothes and money for the homeless through Lil Bags of Love. We also collaborated with My Lover Is Art as a coordinator for the Backyard Comedy Jam, a charitable birthday party including vendors, comedians and musical guests. The year prior we provided specialty cocktails for the guests of this event. We coordinated a fun 90’s themed karaoke Halloween birthday party for a private client. And, sometime that summer, we joined Casa Brasil’s team to assist with the bar service for special events. When Jingle Bar season came around again, we moved to what was formerly known Perle or the Metropolitan Club. There, we continued booking talent such as djs and guest servers for special events. We hosted a few themed events such as the Wigs and Onesies Party, Christmas Salsa and Sexy Santa Souiree, which supported local entrepreneurs through the prizes bought and given to our best dressed winners. It was also the second year that we had “Twisted Tails” (our signature cocktails) on the drink menu!

In 2022, we continued to curate events leaning more into spiritual wellness and self-empowerment introducing Juneteenth on Grandview in Mt. Washington, the Wish 11:11 Cocktail Experience and Harvest 111222 Women’s Brunch at Joinery Hotel. We experienced and celebrated “freedom” through the mind, body and soul in many different ways during these events. We also brought back some of our fun concepts as annual events this year. This is the year that people started to realize the magic of TVC as we started to embrace our place in this city and move with more purpose based on alignment. We continued to support local vendors and artists as much as we could by giving them a space to sell and network, We hosted Jingle Bar’s first Open Mic Monday Wellness event as a collaborative promotional effort for PGent’s PG Parley 2. We continued booking talent for Jingle Bar and brought the Sexy Santa Souiree 2 back with even better gifts for our winners. And, we ended the year with our first ever sold out Drag Queen show hosted by S&S Productions to end the season of Jingle Bar for NYE. That night we set up bar service for Creators Next Door’s NYE party which started a great relationship between us that spilled over into 2023.

In 2023, we conducted bar service for several events at Creators Next Door studio including the Divine Energy vendor event, PGEnt’s Sail High, and Canvas Conversations. We collaborated with Beez of the studio to produce the Ghouls, Glamour & Glow Gala Halloween Party and returned to use the space for Wish 2 11:11 Cocktail Experience in November. We took on the production management role for Make Sure You Have Fun’s monthly event Tall Tees for a while and we still serve as an affiliated partner looking forward to new ways that we can collaborate. In the spring, we also collaborated with PGEnt by providing the beverage services and venue connection for their Open Mic event as an extention of the You Good Sis Camp. Following that event, we were in collaboration with Chaikhana Hookah Lounge for their soft opening. Back in June, we presented Juneteenth on Grandview 2 bringing PGEnt on for stage management. We added a ton of performers this time around and hosted an art auction for the 2nd year. We partnered with DJ Femi on her monthly Pynk Tape to bring a little wildness with a Safari party, adding a theme, decor, scavenger hunt, prizes and vendors to Mixtape for the night. We assisted as an event manager for Curfew’s first outdoor party at Kenny’s Lot. And, we curated “Glow”, a glow in the dark Pop-up neon body paint party featuring 10 of the best djs in the city. We wish to revisit this one this year so, stay tuned during Pride month! We brought men together to uplift them with “My Brother’s Keeper”, a family friendly gathering in Color Park. We offered ear wax candle therapy through the services of Yoni412, reiki with K. Melodi and a yoga and breathwork session with Namai. We provided small bites, specialty mimosas and water as we had an open mental wellness discussion led by a few coaches and therapists. Teaming up with Tokey’s Treats, we provided beverage service for several wellness events and even featured on 2 podcasts episodes of the Cookie’s Secret! We partnered with Butler Brew Works to create Twisted Goddess Hazy IPA for the #1 Beer fest in America, Barrel & Flow! We also provided specialty beverage service for and exclusive Steel City Kizomba event and provided beverage consulting and service for a beautiful barnyard wedding reception. And, lastly, we ended the year off with a plant-based wellness brunch, partnering with Good. Chi, Arlo’s Wicks, Yoni412, Sacred Sound and AbleVision to present “New Year New Me 123.” We relaxed and fellowshipped with the intent to clear space for this year’s desires and manifestations. It was a beautiful time indeed, opening the pathway for us to look forward to presenting more fruitful experiences together.

This year, we are looking forward to coordinating events at a bar and kitchen opening soon in the Southside at 2526 East Carson Street. We will be finding ways to incorporate the spirit of many local artists into the flow of what will be going on there. Collaborations will be in the works soon for several empowering experiences. We plan to get back into exploring the city and promoting other brands with likeminded individuals to support through energetic private party experiences. For example, we want to get back into hosting bachelor, bachelorette, birthday parties and offering special concierge services and packages. The thing we are most proud of is the uniqueness and authenticity to how we care about others and want to see them fulfilled with themselves and with what they are doing. We enjoy making people feel special and bringing people of all walks of life together energetically. We also want to curate more family friendly events that will bring the city together in invigorating ways. “Experience the Twist, Feel the Vision, Enjoy the Vibe.”

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn that not everything that sounds like your idea came from your mouth or head. Sometimes, you are on the same energetic plane as someone else and are receiving the same ideas. At one time, I was paranoid but when it’s coming from an authentic place it is turning up the frequency which is needed in this world. The paranoia that I felt was coming from my shadow and not my higher self. These days, I don’t feel threatened even when I know I inspired an idea or did something first because I know that whatever is for me, is for me. I’m aware that I have so many ideas that I have to give some of them away to be shared in this lifetime. We all have our gifts, skills and purposes here. “The meaning of life is to find your purpose and give it away.”

I also had to learn that not everyone has your best interest. There are people who watch you like snakes in the grass waiting to strike as soon as you get comfortable. There are people that want to tear you down because they find you to be intimidating even when you are not competing. People will smile in your face and gang up against you behind your back, so you have to protect your spirit because the wolves are out here. I used to think that just because I was nice to them, they would be nice to me. I started to find out later that some of the people that I cared a lot for were more interested in manipulating and/or mirroring me than supporting my efforts knowing how hard I tried. If something did not sprout as an original idea, I won’t entertain it.

Trust your intuition. Everything is not always as it seems… But also try not to assume because sometimes you are dead wrong. Ultimately, when you know, you know. If you have the gift of discernment, use it. As someone comfortably walking in my spirituality, I read energy well, so I know when a smile comes with a hidden blade. I’d rather not waste my time playing with enemies, or people with “sometimey” energy. Moody and “sometimey” are different.

Forgive and be willing to forgive. Be grateful and watch your attitude when something doesn’t work out in your favor. There are always lessons. I was afraid to fail, Now I’m afraid to not try. Also, find your tribe. When you find them, it’s a beautiful thing. There were times that I wanted to include everyone that I was associated with in my journey. Not everyone is meant to ride with you to the wheels fall off. It is most likely that you will make some pickups and drops on the way. Your tribe will be in alignment with what you are trying to do… “birds of a feather”. I was peacock amongst chickens. Take the time to get to know yourself and see who you truly are, Sometimes, we are playing a part that we were not meant to pay. There is a proper place and time for everyone on your journey. Sometimes you outgrow people and that’s ok. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t force it. But, at the same time not everything has to be perfect for the moment to be worth it. And, as long as you have time and good mind, you can revisit that idea and do it again.
Many times, we are way harder on ourselves than we ought to be. I am my worst self-critic. I have learned to process the thoughts and emotions so that I can be productive even in my discomfort. Show yourself grace.

These are just lessons that I came to comprehend as I took the time to relearn myself. There was a time when I didn’t pay attention to myself because I worked so much. There are still times that I don’t have moments of self-care when I need it because I am too caught up in taking care of someone else’s priorities, but I am learning.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Definitely grant funding and business credit. They say you never want to spend your own money! Well, I wasn’t aware of this motto until years in. When it comes to finance, personal or business, I do not have guidance. So, I have had to learn everything on my own and I am still learning. Unfortunately, I have spent a lot of my own money and honestly still do. However, through the lessons I’ve learned, I feel like I learned how to budget better for when I do get the proper funding. I know now that it will be spent more efficiently. I’ve had people talk about investing in my vision, but I needed to be more aware of the direction that I was heading and if there was actually a market for what I wanted to do. Now, I see that there is. There is actually healing in what I do because of the purpose behind it. Instead of spending so much money on events, I wish I had spent it on a website and marketing. However, I cared about the experiences more than the promotional value at the time. Sometimes, I can be very impulsive. Now, that I have developed a credible reputation for the energy behind my events, I can capitalize on marketing efforts through more technically inclined collaborations until I am able to invest in it myself. I plan to partner with groups who have funding to lessen my overhead and be able to use this money to create even better magical experiences. I guess in a way, I am kind of working backwards by attempting grander styled events first and scaling back into more intimate attempts and resource tapping now. However, it’s what I wish to do as I prepare for my first child to join us in the world this Spring.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Twistedvisionpgh
• Facebook: Twisted Vision Co.
• Other: [email protected] 412.944,6257

Image Credits
Majestic Mo’Ney Felecia Brown