CC’s Pour Decisions Bar Service

I have set the bar pretty high for my personal level of standards and my work ethic speaks for itself. I treat every event as if were my own and every client as if family. I go beyond what is expected because that’s what I would appreciate if I was hiring me. 😃 I have a corporate background with the same amount of years working concurrently in the hospitality industry. I pride myself on my think ahead approach and simply providing the little things that make the biggest differences. I’m a trained and highly experienced Bartender / Mixologist and I love to create, with a client-centric and professional approach with the highest attention to detail and ridiculously organized (my Bio will help explain why I have the ability to multi-task and thrive under the most challenging circumstances).

I put in every bit of effort to help elevate all events and every detail from the planning stage to final tear down. My goal is for everyone in the room, including the host (I go a bit batty when I'm attending an event as a guest and watch the host not enjoying every single moment due to hired professionals displaying a lack of interest, common sense, hard work or a think-ahead approach).

I possess and provide a ridiculous bar kit which includes everything but the kitchen sink, a portable bar, upon request, glassware if requested (at additional cost), cocktail menu suggestions including welcome and signature cocktails and mocktails and create menu signage for display, if interested. I also provide a smoke infuser with flavored wood chips (nothing like a good old fashioned “Old Fashioned” with an oak infused smoke), I’ll prepare a list of recipes and breakdown the ingredients required, and provide a shopping list, I'll provide and prep garnish (additional cost for the garnish at purchase price), shop for liquor, mix, ice upon request (at cost of the purchased items), I’ll help decorate if that's of interest (I just blew up 137 balloons and created a really cool theme for a recent private birthday celebration (ok, so blowing up balloons isn't one of my favorite things :-) ) and believe me - I’m an immaculate cleaner (my mom taught me well 😊) and I own a small domestic cleaning business. I personalize cocktails, if interested, by offering homemade syrups, festive colored rimming and cocktail novelties, napkins, swizzle sticks, straws and so much more.

My business is not built on a cookie-cutter model. If I receive a quote request, there will not be a rigid, pre-packaged fee schedule which includes automatic gratuities and extensive travel or other not-descript fees, attached. Once we've secured a booking and discussed your event in further detail, I will provide a complete Service Agreement which includes a detailed and itemized description for your reference - including your customized cocktail and mocktail menu, recipe breakdown, shopping list, service provided, equipment provided, my rate, deposit amount and balance remaining and any other costs already discussed and approved, and I will keep you informed every step along the way. Every event and every client is unique and should be treated as such.

Now you know about me - how can I help you elevate your event? :-)

It all started as a newly certified, Business Administration graduate. As a 17yr old kid, I was offered my first job on the trading floor of the Toronto Stock Exchange. I was promoted to management by the age of 23. At age 18, I was offered a job by a floor trader friend who's family member was opening Toronto's newest and largest nightclub. Having never held a serving tray or having much experience with alcohol aside from my own personal one with Baby Duck (high school's - learning how to drink with the cool kids lol). and had never spent time inside a nightclub which also hosted famous musicians and sporting events. I was a go-getter right out of the gate. (I'm a self-admitted workhorse with a crazy level of energy still to this day.) so I said heck ya, how hard can it be? (One of my first shifts I was assigned to the VIP section and due to a shortage of staff, I was alone). After learning who was occupying 2 of my suites (Little Richard and his entourage) I was forced to learn pretty darn fast how to be a calm, cool, collected and professional server who knows how to hustle. From that day on, I knew what my passion was - I was hooked. Still continuing on the corporate path, for the next 4 decades as my "career" while still concurrently working in hospitality, my "passion" in various environments and roles including bartending for several professional sports teams and stadiums (resulting in winning multiple awards for service excellence), 5-star hotels, a family owned bar and grille, staffing agencies and catering companies, high-profile sporting events (NHL, CFL, ALB, MLS) which also included private corporate suites for Rogers Tennis Cup (Serena Williams last match), corporate VIP suites for RBC Canadian Open Golf Championship, alongside Chris Hatfield at the Red Bull Flug Championships, Writers Award Ceremony and having had the opportunity to have met, bartend and serve for some incredible people including several professional athletes, writers and musicians. That all said, one of my best experiences was working for the regular patrons at the small Bar and Grille I bartended at. The open dialogue, sharing stories, being an ear, shoulder or the one to listen to a really bad joke and still laugh with them, having their drink of choice ready before they sit down and a replacement before being asked. Letting them yell at me when I responsibly cut them off (I clearly knew how much and when they'd had enough), sending them home safely in a taxi while they were noticeably angry with me and then returning the next, day greeting me with the warm hug and smile we started with every time we would see each other and then thanking me for caring.

This past fall, I finally decided I had reached that point in my life where I was ready to take the biggest and scariest leap and turn my passion (hospitality/ bartending) into my full time career. They say we’re never too old to start something new, right (starting my first business at a time when many of my friends are considering retirement)? So. I left the corporate world and started CC's Pour Decisions Bar Service. I've changed my life and now follow my passion and what I had dreamt about for 40 years. I can honestly and emphatically say, I only wish I had done it sooner. I love what I do. I'm able to be as creative as I want and I work (I don't even like using that word because it's not 'work" to me) with nothing but heart-filled contentment. I've not done this without many challenges and odds stacked against me however, knowing that regardless of the outcome, doing what I love every day and living my dream every minute, is a win which I wouldn't change for anything.

I learn every day - how I can offer a little extra here, or a new way of doing something, there. Every single client, whether requesting a quote or being hired is something that drives me. I am so much more than "just about the money". I love to create, share my ideas with, help in any way I possibly can, do the little extras without charging an arm and a leg, making every event as memorable and special as the client envisions from the first thought about what they want, need and expect of their event. Truly blessed.

I was Facilities Manager for 2 multi-million dollar properties for 6 years in a high profile company and Office Manager for 8 Investment Executives. I have knowledge and training in IT, Telecommunications, high tech facility experience, project planning and I can even change a tire 😝