Today we’d like to introduce you to Ken Blendz.
Hi Ken, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started finding myself interested in bartending shortly after college. Looking for extra money while working in a pharmacy as a licensed pharmacy tech brought me to a local bartending academy where I learned to build and serve drinks.
Once in the academy, I realized that bartending came naturally to me. With a knack for creativity, problem-solving, hospitality, and innovation – it’s like I was born to do it. Also, the paradox between serving medicine to patients over the counter versus serving cocktails to guests across the bar always seemed to humor me as they both serve the purpose of allowing me the chance to make people feel more alive through acts of service.
While studying at the pre-mentioned bartending academy, a job placement program was offered, and lucky enough for me my first-ever gig came shortly after graduation. That gig just so happened to be for President Barack Obama’s 2nd inaugural ball (2012). I was in the VIP suite! I served a few celebrity cocktails while side-eye-watching performances by Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Katie Perry, Smokey Robinson, etc. Needless to say, I was now hooked on bartending, getting paid to have fun seemed all a dream.
From there I went on to bartending around town for whatever events I could find. Whether they were large events with endless alcoholic drinks or small family events that were non-alcoholic, I was there, mixing away. I really wanted to learn how people liked to drink, what combination of flavors no matter the occasion would entice the palate, and why did they drink?, etc. Along my journey I’ve been grateful to have worked with some great organizations that have also taught me valuable lessons in service at an elevated level. A few of them are The Baltimore Ravens, Governor Hogan of MD, Under Armour, Horseshoe Casino, The Moma New York, Moet Hennessy, Liberty Science Center in New Jersey, etc.
This experience gave me the confidence to start my own bar consulting/bartending services brand called Ken Blendz Bar Consulting & Bar Services. These days I design Cocktails for and create tailored Bar Programs for Restaurants in the DMV area, while also offering an option to manage the bar program through the restaurant’s infantile stages. Bartending has given me a new passion in life where I can be as creative as I want to be, have great fun while I work, be of service to others, and just a cool way to express myself in liquid form, cheers to my fellow cocktail lovers out there, on both sides of the bar!
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?
Building a career in bartending was not easy by a long shot! Mainly because I’ve been on the go at different places for the beginning of my career just gaining experience and finding where I fit in. Navigating through how much to charge for my expertise, and how to build a career in this industry was tough. Taking some losses along the way by working for free just to learn the industry.
The art of serving drinks to guests in all aspects was not easy at all to learn, people and their tastes are so very complex and ever-changing. Regardless of my challenges, they all genuinely and truly have given me the experience, knowledge, and thick skin needed to thrive in this industry.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a cocktail artist, I create, and design custom-tailored cocktails for new and existing Bars and Restaurants around the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas. I utilize my imagination, my experience, and my love of people to create custom experiences for guests of these establishments. What sets me apart from others doing what I do is that I love the art of presentation and I marry that with a passion for psychology.
This allows me the opportunity to create personalized experiences for not only the patrons but also the entire establishment. I am proud that I can not only create the bar program, and cocktails, and hire the staff needed to see it through, but I also manage the bar program for the first 6 months of business. Kind of like a new baby, I help plan its inception and babysit it until it can walk on its own.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The number one quality that is most important for my success has been the willingness to learn. No matter if the event is a VIP event for the President or a sweet 16 party for teens, there is always something to learn that can help you later.
We live in a world full of people that love to indulge in food and beverages it is paramount to learn and understand how those people like to be treated and serviced especially since people are always changing. So, being big on learning is a major key.
Always learn, learn, and learn regardless of what today looks like, tomorrow you’ll be in a different place and one day you’ll find yourself with answers to things you never knew you’d need until you need it.
Contact Info:
- Website: KenBlendzCocktails.com
- Instagram: @Ken_Blendz
