BABE #323: SARAH DEPASQUALE - Owner, Divine Spirits Bartending + The Unbridled Bar
Little Miss Reds Photography
Sarah’s hustle is the perfect blend of photography, bartending and hospitality. As the founder of Remember These Things Photography, Sarah enjoys capturing the special moments in her client’s lives, and as the founder of Divine Spirits, she provides mobile bartending services specializing in quality service and fresh, innovative cocktails. She recently unveiled the Unbridled Bar, a vintage mobile bar for events, and in her “spare” time, she bartends at a restaurant on the side. This hustlin’ babe has a knack for curating and capturing special experiences, and we’re excited to share her insights on all-things creativity, hospitality, and carving your own path.
The Basics:
Hometown: Goffstown, New Hampshire
Current city: Jacksonville, Florida
Alma mater: College wasn't for me, much to the dismay of my parents
Degree: N/A
Hustle: Owner, Divine Spirits Bartending, The Unbridled Bar, Remember These Things Photography; Bartender, Julington Creek Fish Camp
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
I am constantly inspired by the babes I meet in the wedding industry. Most of these women have a full-time job outside of the industry, and they spend their weekends making other people's visions come to life. I also admire female chefs. After 20 years in the hospitality industry, there is nothing better than watching a woman run a male-dominated kitchen.
How do you spend your free time?
You can usually find me estate-sale hunting for mid-century items, or traveling.
Go-to coffee order and/or adult beverage?
If it's over 80 degrees you can find me with a fresh, muddled, berry mojito in-hand.
What would you eat for your very last meal?
Vegan mac and cheese with fresh tomatoes from the garden.
What’s something most don’t know about you?
I’m actually an introvert. I have a hard time putting myself out there. Being a bartender you’re “on” all the time. That can be exhausting. Most people automatically assume you are the life of the party, or want to be surrounded by people constantly. I am the happiest at home with my husband and cats, at the beach or outside.
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle.
Remember These Things Photography was my first venture into entrepreneurship. I started with just kids and family photos and grew into boudoirs, engagements, and wedding photography. Divine Spirits is the cocktail catering company I started last year, utilizing my 20 years of experience in hospitality, and The Unbridled Bar came shortly after. I run all aspects of the companies I own, from booking to execution. I am also a part-time bartender for Julington Creek Fish Camp.
What does your typical workday look like?
A typical day, for me, starts with emails and social media. Instagram has been the leading force behind exposure for The Unbridled Bar, so I try to constantly post and interact with my followers. After emails its editing photos. I take pride in my photos, and editing can be the longest part of my day. I’m sure there’s probably more emails, and then three nights a week I head to my part-time gig.
Have you always had a passion for photography? What about bartending/hospitality?
Photography, absolutely, is a passion. It’s a creative outlet for me that I adore. I was always in the “arts” growing up, from dancing to chorus, acting and color guard in high school. Photography was a natural progression for me to still be creative and grow as an adult at the same time. Bartending and hospitality is a bit different. I have had a love-hate relationship with it. It's hard work, physically and emotionally draining, and—let's be real—working nights and weekends and holidays isn’t really ideal. It's not all bad, though; I do love quite a bit of it. I love that every shift is different and you never have the same night twice. You’re constantly meeting new people, always being challenged, and still get to express creativity in your cocktails. The older I got, the need to find my own path in hospitality became apparent. I wanted to do it on my terms, set my schedule and take a bit of control over the parts of bartending I have no control of when I work for others. That's where the idea of Divine Spirits Bartending and The Unbridled Bar came from. I have a passion for creating craft cocktails for my clients that represent them or a moment in their lives. I enjoy the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making a wedding or event perfect, and the host’s face when they see and taste everything.
What motivated you to start your own businesses?
Motivation for Remember These Things Photography was to find my creative spirit, turn something I loved into a living, and step away from bartending. My vision was to always stay emotion-based and true to the lives of my clients. When it was apparent I was still not going to be able to walk away from hospitality completely, I needed to reinvent the way I worked within the field in order for it to work for me in the stage of my life I am in now. This is what drives my vision for Divine Spirits and The Unbridled Bar; I want this to be my next chapter. I was always running the other way at the thought of being a lifelong bartender. Now, I find myself embracing it. It's a huge part of me and has been for a long time. I want Divine Spirits and The Unbridled Bar to not just be a rum and coke at your best friend's wedding—I want you to taste one of our specialty cocktails and be impressed, maybe even ask for the recipe! I want my guests, even though I know them for a short time, to feel comfortable and relaxed, very much how a regular would feel at their local bar.
Tell us about the Unbridled Bar.
The Unbridled Bar came from a glass of wine and Pinterest after a long Friday night shift. I could see that there were a few mobile bar trailers in other markets like Texas and California, but no one had started one here in Jacksonville. I talked my husband into it and we started searching for the right horse trailer to convert. I drew up the plans for the inside, to make it functional and to get enough work space out of such a small area. I didn't just want a “trendy” bar. It had to make sense to me as a bartender. Running water and electricity was a must, it had to have a kegerator so we could showcase the great beer in Jacksonville, and storage was also key. I had previously met the owners of Hippie & Him, who enthusiastically took on the job of making my plans a reality. There was lots of dreams, sweat, and labor that went into the building of The Unbridled Bar and I couldn't be more ecstatic with the end results. She was done in October of 2018, our first wedding was November of 2019, and we haven't stopped since.
How have your professional/academic experiences prepared you for the work you do today?
I hate to even say this, but most of the lessons I have learned I have learned behind a bar. Yes, school is important, but if it's not for you, you have to figure out life anyway. Working behind a bar teaches you so much. My ability to multitask, my attention to detail, and my ability to adapt in high-pressure situations all come from the hospitality industry. You have to know how to converse and work closely with all types of people and personalities. It’s never the same day twice. Every shift brings a new set of challenges and rewards. You learn from other people every day, too. You never know who you’re going to meet, where a conversation will lead, and what doors will open. I’m a firm believer that everyone should take a spin in the hospitality field. The world would be a better place.
How has being a woman affected your professional experience?
Being a woman in hospitality is a double-edged sword. It's not a secret that attractive young female bartenders and servers make great money. It's also not a secret that the amount of sexual comments or pick-up lines directed at women in the hospitality field is pretty large. As a woman who is on the older side of the staff these days, questions like, “Is this your real job?” are more frequent. Mind you, no one is asking my male coworkers these questions. Even today, I think it is just more accepted for a man to be a career bartender than it is for a woman.
Are you involved with any side projects?
I am part of The Kitten Army of Jacksonville. We are a group committed to the fostering of the tiniest of kittens that come into Animal Control and Protective Services and The Humane Society. I can go on and on about how great and rewarding it is to save the lives of tiny kittens, but until you try it, you have no idea how amazing the process is. Please consider fostering at your local shelter. There are always kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs who may not be thriving in the shelter and are looking for a place to stay while they wait to find their forever homes.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
I think the idea of being flexible goes a long way. Not, like, put your foot behind your head flexible (though that's cool), but flexible in a way of change. Life doesn't always go the way you want—or maybe the path you chose hasn't worked out. That's fine. Sure, it may seem like a loss, and it is in some ways, but it's OK. You fell down? Stand up, dust yourself off, and be flexible in your thinking and approach it in a new light. Positivity goes a long way, as well. I am a positive person by nature, and I smile and laugh easily. I don't think I would be where I am today if I wasn't a positive person. Find the small things to be happy about if the big things are stressing you out. There’s always something to be happy about—sometimes you just have to look a bit closer. Embrace other women you see hustling. You never know how much a single sentence of acceptance or love means to another person. We are all here, trying our best, to be our best.
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