Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Thompson.
Hi Stephanie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
“A deer in headlights” is what I’ve been told I looked like my first-time bartending. I was a small-town girl in my first year of college, broke working multiple jobs. Behind on bills and tired from the lack of sleep you’d expect from a partying/working college kid, I found myself walking into a local bar asking for an application. I had no idea what I was getting myself into at that time. Known for its mischief and fun, I started waiting tables at a bar called Redneck Heaven. You probably don’t remember their 15 minutes of fame when they had their MTV show, but the place was PACKED, always. A few months in, they were short a bartender one Sunday morning and my manager threw me behind the bar with absolutely no experience; my one shot. I instantly knew I had found my happy place. That first Sunday bar shift turned into 10 years of working Sunday mornings. The first few years, I worked almost every day behind the bar. At the time, Redneck basically acted as my crash course on bartending. I’d work doubles as often as I could and constantly picked-up shifts. I loved the atmosphere, the money, the people. I loved it all. I loved learning how to make new drinks and shots, bar tricks, you name it. From working years behind the bar, I started to have all my bar regulars asking me to bartend their house parties, poker nights, kid’s weddings, and so on. I was working private events just about every other weekend, and I loved it!
About this time, I was asked to join a startup in the construction industry. It was a small company, just a few years in, and I was to be their only office employee. So here I was working a 9-5, private events on Saturdays, and I kept my local Sunday bar gig because I just couldn’t give it up at this point.
Working at the startup I found a new happy place. I was building processes, creating reports and training programs, and learning all the backend of starting and owning a company – from insurance audits to the cost of growth. I saw it all and I was a part of it all. We soon grew, upgrading our office and warehouse space TWICE, and ultimately having an entire office team working with me. I loved being a part of something that I felt like I was building, but construction wasn’t my passion. After being a part of the construction industry for over 5 years, I decided to combine my two passions: building something and bartending.
From my first time behind the bar as a “deer in headlights” to my experience growing and building a successful business, I’d say that I got to where I am today simply because of all the people along the way. Each experience and friendship made taught me something that lead me to this point now.
And I can’t wait to see where all of the rest of life’s experiences will take me and our team!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No road worth traveling is smooth the entire ride. Honestly, I think most people have all the same struggles while on this adventure of entrepreneurship, or at least relatable situations along the way, but what those struggles exactly are never seems to be the important part of the question. I think the most important part is to know that there will be struggles, lots of them, and to know that’s all part of the process. Live in the moments of the hard times, learn from them, and grow from them. You’ll be thankful for those moments when the ride is smooth because those moments paved the path to where you are now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are Professional Partiers and we’re bringing your favorite bar experience to every and any event you can imagine! Located in The Colony, we service all the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplexes and surrounding areas in North Texas. Connecting the public to the best event planners and bartenders in the industry, we provide a consistently fun experience no matter the occasion! We help with planning all the details about the bar, from the timeline, menu, a custom shopping list, and even detailed custom orders! Keeping things professional, we have focused on building a brand you can trust, continually investing in our team to bring you the best service around! Our bartenders are personable and fun, always BRINGING THE PARTY! With a variety of package options varying from as DIY to full service as you want, we can be there for all your moments worth celebrating! From weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, charity events, happy hours, holiday parties, mixology classes, liquor and wine tastings, baby showers, bachelorette pajama parties, basically anything you can dream of! If you’re down to party, we’re ready to party with you!
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
And there’s the famous “c” word. We’ve had so much fun with this the last few years in the event industry. I’ve learned that sometimes it really is about perspective, and downtime doesn’t always have to be bad. Life is unpredictable, no matter how many timelines and backup plans you’ve prepared. And at the end of the day, just go with the flow and put in the work, it’ll all work out in the end.
Contact Info:
- Email: Stephanie@ProfessionalPartiersBar.com
- Website: https://professionalpartiersbar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalpartiersbar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/professionalpartiersbar/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQe5F0UR-k56-7AaIy-0NrA
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@professionalpartiersbar
Image Credits
Rebecca Crenshaw
Wilderlove
Heather Glenn
Elysian Bloom
Clark Cabus Photography
Meg Layman Photography
Baleigh Creed Photo
