Personalized Bartending – At Your Service!
At Ball Event Center, we are proud to partner with several vendors throughout the business seminars, public conferences, weddings, and private events we hold each year. Each collaboration takes a team of people, and we are pleased to recognize some of the wonderful people who work so hard to make each Ball Event Center event a success!
Say Hello to Erin Cook Bartending!
Recently Ball Event Center was honored to interview one of our event vendors: Erin Cook from Erin Cook Bartending! Whether you’re a vendor working an upcoming event at Ball or you’re an event planner intrigued by Ball’s services, we know you’ll find Erin’s comments and impressions valuable and insightful!
Read on to hear a little bit of this vendor’s background, to learn about their services in custom bartending, and to discover a fun signature drink trend!
How did you get started in the bartending world?
Erin began bartending in high-volume restaurants, sports bars, professional sports facilities and dance clubs. While hosting a Halloween party, she was kept busy being both the hostess and bartender the entire evening. “I realized after all my planning and work that I didn’t get to really enjoy time with my guests. Surely, others out there felt the same way!” So, Erin founded the company and began bringing on more excellent bartenders. “I found my true passion in bartending for private events!”
“Over the past 12 years, the Erin Cook Personal Bartending Services team has serviced nearly 1,000 weddings and events in the Kansas City, MO area. Almost 200 of those events took place just this last year! We have built wonderful client and vendor relationships that last for years. The company has put a stamp on the wedding industry and stands out for excellence in service, competitive pricing, and a truly personalized experience at every event.”
Do you have any industry achievements or awards?
Erin Cook Bartending has excelled in their industry – and it’s no secret! As seen on TheKnot.com, this local service has plenty to be proud of! Not only has this vendor received Thumbtack’s “Best of 2016” and “Top Pro 17” awards, but was also one the top 3 contenders as a Kansas City Wedding Vendor Choice Awards 2020 Nominee. Additionally, this creative and reliable bartending service has been recognized in the Wedding Wire’s Couples’ Choice Awards in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021!
Share one or two of your signature drinks:
Erin Cook’s signature drink is a Moscato Strawberry Lemonade or a White Chocolate Martini.
What’s popular in wedding bartending these days?
“Signature drinks, in general, are very popular these days, but one trend we’ve been noticing is that brides and grooms will name a signature drink or two after their pets! They might also choose to include a picture of the featured pet on the bar sign. In the cases where pets are not featured, it’s not uncommon to see the signature drinks named ‘His’ and ‘Hers.’”
Share an exciting event you serviced:
“We worked at a recent gala at Starlight that was a lot of fun! At this fundraising event, there was a backstage dinner and an after-party with a live band.”
What makes Erin Cook Bartending stand out from the rest?
“Our goal is to alleviate bar preparation stresses that can arise out of major event planning and let you enjoy your own party. We help create a menu you will love, that stays within your budget and will give you the tools needed to provide an awesome experience for you and your guests… 
“Everything is very customized for each event. The shopping for each function is done by hand – we even provide guests with a specific shopping list of items; it’s not done online. I do this to ensure that every detail will be specific for that event, that couple, and that guest style…
“When we personalize signature drinks, we go very in-depth with each couple. We may ask questions like – what are their preferred flavors? Are we incorporating specific colors or a certain theme? For example, one recent event featured “KC food, Colorado drinks” in their theme so we made sure to serve Colorado-based spirits in the drinks…
“It’s also important to recognize what a great team we have! I have about 20 on staff currently, all of whom have been with me for at least a year or two. Several have been with me for 5-10 years now. While it’s my name on the brand ‘Erin Cook Bartending,’ it truly is a team here! And every member on my team is simply amazing!”
Why Ball Event Center? Can you share any experiences or insights on the venue?
“Michael is really easy to work with! The Ball staff was attentive and available during the event which was just great. Plus, our load-in and setup at Ball was really easy – which is definitely an asset for us as vendors! There were no stairs or back alleys to deal with and the parking was nice. Overall, our staff really liked the space and the openness of the venue.”
Thanks again to Erin Cook and Erin Cook Bartending for being one of our excellent partners! We can’t wait to service more events with you!
Thrilled to see what Ball has to offer? Contact us online today to learn more about our services, exclusive offers, and open reservations!
Would you like your services to be Ball’s next feature blog? Feel free to reach out and let us know! We’d love to partner with you!
** all photos courtesy of Erin Cook Bartending
