Meet Phoenix Nic | Head Bartender

We had the good fortune of connecting with Phoenix Nic and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Phoenix, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind the success of PBK Bartending is simply being myself. I put myself in the mindset of a customer. Whenever I go to a bar, I want the bartender to be creative. Even though I know what type of drink I would make for myself at home (Mint Julep or whiskey and ginger), I want something different, especially if I’m going to be spending money on it. As the bartender, I want you to feel like the drink I make you is special and cannot be duplicated. Oftentimes, I come up with something on the spot. This is what makes having me as your bartender an Experience. When I’m behind the bar, no two drinks are the same. But I can guarantee that they’ll be delicious!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As soon as I earned my bartending certificate, I started PBK Bartending. I was strongly against working at a restaurant or bar since I had already worked in the restaurant industry for over five years. Because of this, I had to learn all of my business lessons as I went. I had to learn logistics (types of portable bars and equipment to use), professionalism when dealing with particular clients, how to draw up event contracts, event insurance, etc. Learning as I went allowed me to make mistakes, own up to my shortcomings, and become flexible, which is extremely important! Flexibility has become my biggest asset. Sometimes, I receive such vague details from event planners that I have learned to adapt. I have, literally, bartended in a moving party bus! I can adapt!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being in one of the most exciting brunch cities, I would definitely have to take them to brunch! + Sunday: We’d have to hit up Hamburger Mary’s in West Hollywood for a show and bottomless mimosas. Afterward, go to Lucky Strike for more drinks and bowling. + Monday: Go Downtown and visit Nimbus Coffee for coffee to recover from Sunday’s shenanigans. After that, we can eat our way through Grand Central Market, and be sure to visit Egg Slut. Take a Bird through DTLA and sight-see (Staples Center, Grand Park, LACMA, etc.) End the day at Perch to be fancy. + Tuesday: Taco Tuesday! Save our energy until the afternoon. We’re hittin’ up Trejo’s Tacos for tacos and margaritas! Ayyeee! + Wednesday: Universal Studios! We would’ve got to Saddleranch to ride the bull, but… RIP. + Thursday: Go biking in Santa Monica. Visit the Santa Monica Pier. We can ride off some of the calories we’ve inhaled. End the night at Cabo Cantina to share a Mega Margarita. + Friday: Explore Venice Beach to people-watch and have a boujee photo shoot on the beach 🙂 + Saturday: Go hiking at Runyon Canyon because… why not?

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shout out Nikki at Nikki’s All Around Town Bartending. She was my mentor before I even became a bartender. I was always a server at her events until, eventually, she trained me and convinced me to get my bartending certificate. Even now, she’s my go-to. Whether we collaborate at an event or I refer clients to her when PBK is unable to do an event, she never lets me down!

Website: www.PBKBartending.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/PBKBartending

Image Credits
Mitzi Michele