Christopher Allen

Tickets for drinks were piling up. It was just him and me. Of course I was nervous about messing up, but I also got this boost of adrenaline and just kept making drinks, one after the other, organizing each ticket in my head to spit them out as efficiently as possible. At the end of the night while we were closing up, the trainer said to me, “With some repetition, you’re going to be a star." I had left the security of my corporate job and paycheck to pursue bartending and that comment really validated my decision. This was a confidence boost for myself and in my abilities. I took that and ran with it.

In a restaurant, diversity continues to positively impact my team and self because we share ideas, information and knowledge. We learn about each other’s life and/or upbringing and among many benefits, that strengthens our ability to connect in a meaningful way.

Diversity in my relationships and workplace makes me more conscientious of the history, the origins of my ingredients, and the culture that created them. I reflect this, respectively, in my creations and that gives me lots of inspiration to craft.

Everything else can be taught or are positively derived from the latter. You are working with and for people, it helps to be friendly. To be personable is to be open and willing to listen, talk with and learn from others - teammates and guests. This is invaluable and is definitely a transferable skill for life.

The hustle and bustle, the energetic dynamics of every day keeps me inspired to work and excel. You never know what’s going to happen, who’s going to walk in, or what you’ll create that day and that keeps me hungry for more. It keeps me excited to expand my knowledge and to think outside the box. There is a spirit of entrepreneurship in the industry because you are in charge of the service you provide, the cocktails that you make and by their strength; you are awarded by the tips that you receive (most often).

People – how they grew up, what was a staple in their home, their culture. Where I live – Chicago is a beautiful city from the architecture to its people. History – why things are the way they are, who's really behind the creation of this cocktail, spirit, wine, etc. Regions – nature always sets precedence; things grown in the same region pair together well.

I also explore platforms like Youtube and Instagram to keep up on trends, learn about new techniques and books, specifically for bartending, with classic cocktails, historical content and/or flavor, ingredient pairing suggestions.

I encourage them to pursue their goals and passions and I help them to do so.

The industry will always be there, you will not. It's important to make time for the things you’d like to experience and the people you love. You will come back refreshed, reflective and renewed. Aside from this, rely on your teammates! They are there for a reason, and you are all there to help each other get through the shift.