Meet Courtney Wysinger | Owner and Lead Mixologist

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

Hi Courtney, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Bar Magic definitely wasn’t the business I thought I was going to open. I’m a musician with a bachelor and master degree in Entertainment Business. I believed the first business I would successfully run would be a record label. I have worked a number of different jobs in a variety of arenas in my life. I have always been the family bartender. So when I took my last clock in job as a bartender at Buffalo Wild Wings it felt like a natural fit and I learned so much about the industry. My cousin and a friend of mine encouraged me to start a bar catering service because I already had the skill and it was a low over head business. Well when the world shut down, due to Covid, I had to figure out how to pivot the business to still make it work. I didn’t know how it was going to work and it wasn’t working in the Houston area. So I had to make the hard decision of did I want it to work? You are building a business with nothing but water and prayer. No grants, no loans, no parent trust fund, nothing to fall back on because the world is closed. Just me and the good Lord. Me and some mentors of mine decided it was worth a shot. One of the best risks I have ever taken.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Some may ask why I put my business in the category of art/creative. The more I work in the food and beverage industry I see there is more than just throwing ingredients together. There is an art to creating the drink experience. Every ingredient doesn’t pair well with others and every customer isn’t going to like every drink. You have to know your product and be willing to go out the box and learn more. It was not easy getting to where I am. A myriad of things play into the upward movement. A lot of leg work. You have to market and talk to people. Also, every drink will not be a hit. Every event won’t be a million dollar day. I have had my fair share of bad drinks and bad days. You get up, shake the dust off your feet and try again. Also, it goes back to learning and growing. There is no perfect person in any business. Be open to new and change. Stretch out and leave your comfort zone. I watch a lot of bartender videos, Bar Rescue, talking to my colleagues in the industry (bartenders and chefs) to be better.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my friends came to town there are so many places I would love to take them. -Rollie’s for frozen custard.
-That’s My Dog in Katy
-Grub Park. It’s many food trucks there but we are going to see Krack Kitchen
-Since we are still trying to be safe I would plan a movie night at Sunset Cinema outdoor movies
-We would hit up Small Bites and Brews Market so we could shop with the locals
-I’m a musician so we have to go to either Phil & Dereks, the new Greasy Spoon or Sugar’s for great live music, food and drinks
– And with my vegan friends we would go to Soul Vegan or Mo Better Brews

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people deserve a shout out in my story. My family for being supportive. My mother, Deborah, is my CFO/COO. I always tell people that she does all the hard work. I’m just the face of the company. My cousin, Brigette, is my business avatar. She is the perfect demographic for my company. So she tell me what I should be marketing and how I should be marketing it. My daughter, Arria, is the mini CEO. She is learning all the business so she can take it over one day. And the rest of my family is so loving and supportive, giving ideas, feedback, and of course freely sampling new product. My mentors, the Wilson family, owners of Rollie’s Frozen Custard in Pearland.

My mentor, Patrick Joubert, owner of Jube’s Smokehouse in Fort Worth.

The Pearland Linked group: Ronnie & Ysela Craig, Dave & Jen Weaver, John & Amy Cacolice (just to name a few.

And all my small business friends that are out in the trenches with me striving to create an empire of their own.

Website: www.alittlebarmagic.com

Instagram: instagram.com/alittle_barmagic

Facebook: facebook.com/barmagic7