Chandler Tomayko shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Chandler, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me right now entails an hourly time blocking of my day. A friend turned me onto the 24 hour day plan as a concept and it has been incredibly impactful. Gearing up for projects at the beginning of the year in the middle of holiday season is hectic. Most days, I wake up, drink a deli cup of water, start with a coffee and then try to squeeze in a household task like laundry or dishes that can run in the background. Then I have to allot time for answering emails, designing assets for upcoming events, communicating with vendors, planning event schedules, coordinating set up and tear down, creating menus and setting content goal lists. Outside of that I cook at home almost everyday, I have a fiancee and pet that I spend time with. I also have regular bar shifts that I have to show up for and execute to the best of my ability. Not to mention finding time to tackle holiday responsibilities and self care.
A normal day for me is a juggling act. I often drop the ball, but I just keep practicing, slowly getting better each time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Chandler Tomayko. I have been in hospitality for over 22 years with a career that has traveled between bars and kitchens around the world. In 2021 I started a game company. I designed Heard Card Game. Tailored to the industry that has been home for so long, the humor speaks to those who have dropped a fryer basket, bussed a table or burned an ice well. Under the umbrella of my game, I have expanded into community building. I strive to create enrichment activities for an under-served demographic with a plethora of events all over the country. I regularly host game nights, mental health meet-ups, and education sessions in the DFW area.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up, I believed I was, and wanted to be traditional. I sought to be a cookie-cutter version of what I saw around me. It took me a very long time to embrace the fact that I was quirky. I was bored for so long. While I wouldn’t call myself a rebel, I would now describe myself as disruptive. I enjoy changing the way people think about approaching classic ideas from ingredient usage to what self-care means.
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
I miss my first true loves. I adore dancing, I was a semi-professional performer for quite some time. It has always been a part of my life. I thought it was going to be my career. I dance occasionally now, but not the way my heart craves. I also miss being more culinary-focused. The industry has changed, and it is hard to go back into a flawed, but beautiful system knowing your voice will not be as easily accepted. I have felt a calling to step behind the bar and step up for my community, so for the time being, commercial kitchens will have to sit on a back burner.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I believe so. I have some things I keep for me. It is an active balancing practice to decide how much of myself I share. I do however proudly show up unpolished. I’m not worried about being camera ready, I try to be present. I stress less about perfection and more about impact. I want the people around me to feel a genuine support and care, so I show up the only way I know how; imperfectly as myself.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I am tap dancing, two-stepping, booty-shaking my way to Heard House.
Heard House is a cocktail conference I have built where anyone is welcome, but it focuses on hospitality voices that are not always highlighted. It is the cocktail conference that seasoned bartenders, kitchen dish washers, or even spirit enthusiasts can attend and find value. 2026 will be year 3, and I have been unreasonably giddy! It is truly amazing to know that I had a mega idea, somehow pulled it off 3 years in a row. People visit then return home feeling inspired and excited about all sorts of things.
The ripple effect of Heard House is a high I live on the rest of the year. Friends come in from South Dakota, educators visit from Arkansas, bartenders travel from Kentucky to sling drinks in my hometown of Fort Worth…. It makes me fuzzy inside because every time Heard House happens I witness true connection, humans remembering how to breathe and minds being creatively set on fire. How could I not be excited at the prospect of what can be….
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heardcardgame.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heardcardgame
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandler-tomayko
