Photo by King Alexander Grey
Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Marshall.
Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
By trade, I am a hospitality professional specializing in bartending and mixology in Atlanta going on 12 years now. I also have a strong background in Event Coordination and Marketing. I earned my B.A. in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from Georgia State University back in 2013. Since adolescence, My creative medium has been writing and storytelling. After years of trying to find a good balance of both a professional career and a fulfilling creative outlet, I took a leap of faith and developed Spirit and Soul Mobile Bar Co.
Spirit and Soul is a luxury mobile bartending service for private and corporate events.
The journey began in July 2021 when I decided to resign from my corporate career in government contracting to focus on a book I was developing at the time. I didn’t have a plan just yet, but I knew it was time for me to redirect my focus completely. About three months into this process, I began plotting how I could generate more income while focusing on the book. Flexibility and a non-toxic environment were my biggest priorities. Honestly, going back to bartending made the most sense, but I couldn’t see myself being comfortable in a traditional bar setting again. I’d been on a bit of a hiatus since the pandemic.
In September of 2021, I came across a photo of a renovated horse trailer repurposed as a functioning pop-up bar. I was captured, it was gorgeous, and I had to have one! This is when I decided I would give Mobile Bartending a try. I had several friends in the industry who took this route and who were very successful. So, I thought to myself, why not? A month later, I attended a Mobile Beverage Professional Conference in Nashville, TN and over the course of a week, learned everything I needed to know to operate a mobile bar successfully. Not long after in February 2022, I officially launched Spirit and Soul Mobile Bar Co. with a Valentine’s Day Cocktail Class Experience as my first event and we’ve been steady ever since.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I never imagined I’d be working as an entrepreneur this early on in my career. That being said, the biggest challenge has been all of the administration that comes with being a business owner. One thing specifically, BOOK-KEEPING! It’s a lot of moving parts all happening at once, but I see it as a good problem to have, so I am very grateful to be where I am currently.
Another challenge is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I consider Spirit and Soul Mobile Bar Co. a child who I am raising independently and would sacrifice anything for. I’ve invested a lot of resources and time into it. I want nothing more but to see it flourish and succeed like any parent would. Oftentimes, I do not prioritize my self-care like I should. I have to be super intentional about tending to those basic needs that I usually never had a problem with maintaining before, like eating and sleeping. I do recognize that Spirit and Soul’s longevity and health is dependent on my health.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
After working in the Atlanta bartending industry for over a decade now, I would say I’ve come to know and understand the Atlanta pallet very well. I know what Atlanta is drawn to, what it likes, what it dislikes, and what it wants more and more of. Our focus at Spirit and Soul is to craft cocktails that appeal to the masses using fresh ingredients and beautiful presentations. We call our bartenders “Soul-Tenders” because we pride ourselves in tending to the soul of every customer we interact with. We aren’t just mixing drinks. It’s a passion for us! Our guests’ enjoyment and client’s satisfaction are the biggest priorities. As a “Soul-Tender” one of your objectives is to set the vibe, and we take that role very seriously. Spirit and Soul’s main focus is making soul-crafted cocktails and helping curate an elevated guest experience.
In addition to the private Mobile Bartending Services, we also offer Batching Drop-Off Services and fun Cocktail Class Experiences.
In conjunction with the Spirit and Soul brand, there is a Spirit and Soul Podcast. This is a space I’ve created to share anecdotes, lessons, recipes, and the personalities of those in the service industry of Atlanta. We narrate through hard topics, provocative opinions, and cultural standards within and around the bar scene. Guests range from industry experts and creators to enthusiasts and innovators.
https://open.spotify.com/show/
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
SOCIAL MEDIA! I know for a lot of people Social Media can be hard to navigate, but here is my advice.
CLEAN IT UP!
- Unfollow or mute any and everything that does not inspire you. For me, that meant muting family members, some old friends, and unfollowing entertainment blogs that were completely irrelevant to me and the direction I was/am taking. None of these things were bad, but if what I was seeing did not feed my creativity in some way, I considered it a distraction.
CHANGE YOUR MINDSET!
- You have to think of the people you are following as your peers because they are. They may offer something you don’t, but you too offer something as well. This is your community. You all are working to bring consciousness or awareness about the same important topic or theme. Whatever y’all are trying to translate to the masses can be done to a bigger effect when everyone gets on the same page. So there will be things you will learn from them and vice versa. Be sure to follow locals who do what you do, who’s in the same circuit as you, or locals who simply just inspire you. Recognize the bigger impact you all have as a collective.
ENGAGE!
- This is how you cultivate your community. You’ll also be exposing yourself to several local events, which you can use as a form of networking.
RECOGNIZE TRENDS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES!
- As you begin to navigate social media, it won’t be long before you start recognizing trends, important industry topics, and themes. The more in tune you are, the more exposed you’ll be to relevant events or opportunities to meet, mingle, and network with your community. This is where it becomes seamless networking.
Contact Info:
- Website: spiritandsoulatl.com
- Instagram: @spiritandsoulatl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsvWUra4iP4yK-I7zf1MzlQ
- Podcast: https://spiritandsoulpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
