Denise Shanté, Baltimore
@denise.om.shanti
she/her
introduced the first design for wellbeing collective focusing on shaping the future of Black womxn's health and healing. unapologetic in believing Black womxn are the ones to design their own wellness. was invited to speak at Harvard's Black in Design conference. is a single, Black, womxn, disabled entrepreneur and luminous Leo.
PROJECT
Liberatory Libations, @liberatory.libations
community-crafted cocktail
rituals designed to conjure uninhibited joy and booze-free vibrations among BIPOC.
CAN OFFER
help building a holistic creative strategy for your work infused with care, healing, and pleasure.
LOOKING FOR
someone who has a history of taking bold risks and finding ways to break barriers.
Drew, Cherry Hill
@drewdavisbeauty
she/her
just launched a wellness and self care boutique. was once cast as a Khloe Kardashian lookalike. made several viral TikTok videos. featured in Philadelphia Magazine as an industry leader. mother of 4, survivor of domestic violence, single motherhood & multiple auto-immune diseases. her latest bday, her first without drinking, inspired her to open a booze-free bar / pop-up.
PROJECT
Gem Bar, @bar_gem
a wellness-focused alcohol-free bar
CAN OFFER
how to build your personal brand, be your own PR guru, and create social brand strategies.
LOOKING FOR
help creating a sustainable business model. the right brick & mortar space. people in wellness who built a similar business.
Kamra, Brooklyn
@futurityartist
they/them
raised $50K in 3 weeks (and $150 in 3 months) for their org, Activation Residency. learned how to play the guitar in less than a year, EP coming soon. curated a sold-out art gallery show titled "Bathing in Blackness: A Necessary New Order."
PROJECT
Activation Residency, @activationresidency
Black trans led artist residency experiment. 15 acres of land in upstate, New York with an artist residency, permaculture farm, and healing space for community members exploring transformative justice & healing arts as liberatory tools.
CAN OFFER
help dreaming & manifesting dreams into being.
LOOKING FOR
mentorship from someone who has built a full fledged business. access to research. funding.
Dani, San Diego
@hello_dr.whoever
she/her
used to perform burlesque. has been really getting into mixing beverages lately and has a talent for it. wrote a book of poetry. just got her masters degree in clinical counseling. works providing mental health services to LGBT youth in need. loves New Orleans and travels there often. is a twin.
PROJECT
Bar °86: an alcohol-free jazz lounge, complete with ASMR, for chill & sexy nights out.
CAN OFFER
support as clinical counselor for therapeutic nightlife spaces. to join forces on a cabaret space.
LOOKING FOR
people with entrepreneurial skills and bartending skills. folks into adult entertainment, sober bartending & art projects.
Zack, NYC
@zack.zico
he/him
celebrated Pride this year playing gay Jeopardy with his (pretty traditional) family who got super into it. invested in carrying on his family's Muslim heritage. fan of the Making Gay History podcast & sadcore Soundcloud DJs. climbed Mt. Fuji. wants to channel the power of nightlife to address major social and political issues.
PROJECT
the Muslim Tonic: an alcohol-free party for Muslims & their friends.
CAN OFFER
help telling your story in a marketable way that motivates those who hear about your project.
LOOKING FOR
nightlife ppl to help flesh out his ideas & explain what makes a space successful.
Ambie, Denver
@secretdanceaddiction
she/her
event creator, music producer and DJ living in a trailer & touring all over the US. co-founder of Secret Dance Addiction, a mindful nightlife movement. shared her first mocktail recipes at a TedX event in Colorado. loves Whole Foods cauliflower crust vegan pizza, cupcakes & house music. got engaged at Mount Everest Base Camp. considering a non-profit for SDA.
PROJECT
the Conscious Cocktail Club, a zero-proof cocktail kit + virtual dance party.
CAN OFFER
help on your messaging and strategy. advice on events, marketing, and music.
LOOKING FOR
mentors in the sober conscious space. healthy nightlife community. a more confident voice for SDA’s mission.
Lissy, NYC
@whyamialwaysonline
she/her
once made $1,000 in one night on Bourbon Street. won 3rd prize in an Italian Poetry Recitation contest. braved her self-consciousness to go topless for the first time & now craves judgment-free spaces. her 4th of July unexpectedly ended in a $30 million townhouse playing a heated game of UNO & sipping on frozen lemonade.
PROJECT
Ourlixir, @ourlixir
an app to find bars & restaurants with alcohol-free drinks.
CAN OFFER
sales advice & sales skill training + yoga tips
LOOKING FOR
a mixologist or bartender to teach her about flavor profiles and how to spin cocktails into elixirs.
Nathaniel, NYC
@_nathanieldavid_
he/him
can dance cumbia, merengue, and bachata like a pro because his momma raised him right. did improv in Austin & NYC. scored a great apartment in the West Village only 2 weeks into moving to New York. web/software developer. LatinX. successfully ran his own business for 3 years.
PROJECT
Ourlixir, @ourlixir
an app to find bars & restaurants with alcohol-free drinks.
CAN OFFER
help building websites quickly & getting the word out (esp thru digital marketing).
LOOKING FOR
someone who runs a venue & artists with experience in getting exposure and reaching a wider audience thru pop-ups and joint ventures.
Olivia, NYC
@ohtea
she/her
loves dancing & can dance more than 5-6 hours nonstop. doesn’t drink. a pro at creating games/ hosting outings including "Guess that Song" competitions, ski trips, game nights, pool nights etc. a product designer, has been mentoring 2-4 designers/ week since April.
PROJECT
Ourlixir, @ourlixir
an app to find bars & restaurants with alcohol-free drinks.
CAN OFFER
design advice for app & web design, branding, illustration and graphic design
LOOKING FOR
web developers. advice from ppl who’ve built projects from the ground up. motivation and encouragement - would you use this? also, more friends who don’t drink (tips pls!)
Yhang, Jacksonville
@yhangquintero
he/him
bar owner (Wildcrafters in Jax, Florida) who believes in mindful nightlife fun. throws great parties - his alcohol-free Dry January party had 60+ ppl in the bar with 20 in line to get in. can also network like nobody’s business, “I’ve met no stranger in my life.” LatinX. wants non-alcoholic products distributed & promoted around the US.
PROJECT
Ourlixir, @ourlixir
an app to find bars & restaurants with alcohol-free drinks.
CAN OFFER
advice on owning a bar. graphic design & web development. how to be great with people. how to practice joy. yoga lessons.
LOOKING FOR
help with time / project management.
Research-oriented people.
Grace, Austin
@gracevroom
she/her
sober queer looking for booze-free, sex-pos, creative nightlife. pals with Chris Marshall, who owns SansBar. has been in two music videos: one for Spoon, one for The Old 97's. her first time doing stand-up comedy, she was sober in front of a drunk crowd and got the loudest response of the night.
PROJECT
Dear: a booze-free bar with her own spin on community, creativity, and self-expression.
CAN OFFER
help with time-blocking and organization skills, anything related to alcohol abuse recovery, and pitching ideas.
LOOKING FOR
learn how to market an alcohol-free space, how to effectively fundraise & organize finances.
Quinn, Brooklyn
@sequinedchaos
they/them
costume engineer for @companyxiv and @legendaryhbo. makes a mean floral arrangement. had multiple businesses growing up: made jewelry, decorated cakes & gave henna tattoos. wants to see more employee-owned/ collaborative groups/ spaces & sustainability models that are both human and earth focused, activist by existence. came out as non-binary and it feels so good.
PROJECT
Free Play: a playground for grownups
CAN OFFER
actionable steps, problem solving, helpful intros
LOOKING FOR
someone who built a business from concept to execution. help with follow through. feminists. sustainable & disruptive thinkers.
Tori, NYC
@torisqueo
she/her
has a CBD-based baking passion project. is everyone’s go-to plus-one, even her grandma’s, which puts her on the list for fun and different things. rent the runway ambassador, aka has an unlimited closet. attended a virtual happy hour in quarantine with virtual beer pong and top 40 music. is teaching herself how to code.
PROJECT
cru: a data-driven nightlife recommendation engine, including alcohol-free options or ‘grammable hotspots
CAN OFFER
help programming simple projects. advice on buying ads (tv, digital, radio, cinema). baking and cooking tips.
LOOKING FOR
creatives & ppl with different backgrounds
Laura, Washington DC
@wearesober
she/her
led two panels during the recent Mindful Drinking Festival ...and came out as bi on a larger scale. kickass at karaoke and roller derby. has been a booze free babe for 13 years. loving Saturday morning Daybreaker Lives during quarantine. started her own web design biz. here for community & tips for creating safe and booze free nightlife.
PROJECT
Booze-Free in DC, @boozefreeindc
an alcohol-free guide to DC & more
CAN OFFER
help building your community. web design & social media ideas.
LOOKING FOR
financial and business savvy ppl, creative types. someone to push her yet stay gentle. someone with the right connections.
Frances, Willmantic
@franomcg
she/her
one year sober. based in a relatively small city. loves to write. is a children’s librarian. wants to create a more sustainable sobriety life and meet other sober people who still want fulfilling and exciting social lives. is working on not even missing alcohol and is not quite there yet. has two masters degrees, working on two more (just started a dual degree program).
PROJECT
First Date, an alcohol-free bar in Connecticut.
CAN OFFER
writing copy. help with brainstorming and problem-solving.
LOOKING FOR
ppl who want to be a part of a sober community with ideas to market it and grow it in numbers.
Martha, Portland
@clearpowercoaching
she/her
once has dinner at Bret Michaels’ house, then watched Pretty Woman with Pam Anderson. rode an elephant in New Orleans and Emeril Lagasse fed it peanut butter pie. was the PR/ biz manager for chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. started a new business at age 51, going on live TV and doing talks.
PROJECT
Connection Kitchen, a coached, 30-day Alcohol Experiment for people in their 20s-50s via Zoom and/or in-person.
CAN OFFER
PR & publicity help
LOOKING FOR
people with expertise in social media marketing. online marketing expertise, entrepreneurial skills, tech skills, enthusiasm, kindness.
Chase, Baton Rouge
@thrillingchase
he/him
member of the Krewe of Southdowns, one of the oldest and largest Mardi Gras krewes in Baton Rouge. newly into making bread and pizza crust from scratch, homemade mead, and jalapeño hot sauce. competed in "Colorado's toughest 10K." has written 50+ articles on outdoor recreation. honeymooned in the Faroe Islands. attended a party where a porcupine was walked on a leash.
PROJECT
Cocoa Cart: a mobile hot chocolate experience for neighbors & private events.
CAN OFFER
teach how to develop business processes or work through a sample process to an end goal.
LOOKING FOR
someone with many, diverse personal and professional relationships to understand the human side of relationship-building.
Warlesha, Washington DC
@milknhoney0725
she/her
loves cooking and taking photos, binge watches YouTube creators, is not ashamed to break out in song or dance. wants to be exposed to likeminded people, build community & experience joyful breakthroughs. looking for ways to connect outside of her day-to-day. does legal work at a consulting firm. feels most fearless coming off stage after a dance performance. loved doing midnight yoga on BLM plaza. believes the future of nightlife will be virtual but connected, booze-free, experiences over just showing up.
PROJECT
a creative business that uses her legal skills.
CAN OFFER
patience, resilience, help uncovering goals.
LOOKING FOR
someone who is driven and successful.
Morgan, NYC
@morganleigh65
she/her
writer, cocktail enthusiast, aspiring yogi, and freelancer extraordinaire. press & programming team for Listen Bar. seeker of hidden NYC gems & all things weird and inviting. Southern gal at heart. often found juggling shopping bags. used to pump herself up to Katy Perry's "Firework."
PROJECT
a 29 Rooms-style gathering where party meets art gallery meets intimate concert meets group gaming meets rave meets tech demo meets immersive dining meets magic show.
CAN OFFER
help bouncing off branding and content ideas + planning/creating a production timeline.
LOOKING FOR
help from someone skilled in photography, graphic design, and web design.
Westin, NYC
@grabow_this
he/him
works at Diageo (home of Johnny Walker, Tanqueray & Seedlip) in consumer planning. headed up the innovation practice for a firm with fortune 500 clients. is a level 1 sommelier (though not from Master Court of Somms). took a mindfulness retreat & experienced the absence of fear. enjoyed working in Wyoming, Denver & Chicago before reaching his goal of living in NYC.
PROJECT
envisioning the spirits and alcohol experiences of the future.
CAN OFFER
help with brand strategy, consumer insight, innovation, narrative development and pitching, and generally playing conversational backboard.
LOOKING FOR
people designing the functional/physical spaces & emotional vibe of the future of nightlife.
Kigan, Brooklyn
@kigan.jo
he/him
Black business owner. spiritual and holistic bartender. has 10 years of nightlife experience and connections as an artist manager. founded a nonprofit for upward mobility of BIPOC bar industry professionals. executive produced several music videos.
PROJECT
a soulful supper club experience built on self-love & community
CAN OFFER
spirits knowledge, culture and resources. intros to BIPOC professionals across spirits, wine & hospitality + independent music. help with production, marketing.
LOOKING FOR
a support team and the perfect space. support with project management, events, promo.
Tracy, Brooklyn
@athrivelife
she/they
trauma recovery doula and coach, Reiki practitioner, healer and Death Companion. was the Love Coach at Listen Bar’s Valentine’s Day. had a museum exhibit of their work and a YouTube show scouted by The Travel Channel. was the cover of a magazine and face of a major ad campaign. runs a boutique graphic design biz. Indigenous & Romani-Sinti.
PROJECT
change the face of dating with deeper connection for potential couples or polyamorous partners, all without dating apps.
CAN OFFER
brand coaching.
LOOKING FOR
help with event planning and organizing. people with a culinary or hospitality background. fundraising or financial startup skills.
John, NYC
@johnmaloney44
he/him
works at the largest alcohol company (AB InBev). got them to create his own line of alcohol alternatives called MoodRing. has 8 SCUBA certifications. invited to the World Piano Competition. loves classical music, opera, experiential art, and LGBTQ disco/house. loved seeing Rigoletto at The Box. Pride at House of Yes for Pride has helped express his queerness. wants to help venues get creative about making money while attendance has to be low.
PROJECT
COVID-friendly showcase of nightlife performers (live event, digital content or brand partnerships)
CAN OFFER
project management skills to organize & execute.
LOOKING FOR
nightlife performers’ take on the need for alcohol alternatives in nightlife & interest in partnering.
Javon, Brooklyn
@j.scott
he/him
met Uma Thurman on a dance floor and she told him he was beautiful. André 3000 told him he has a dope voice. performed at Cathédrale Saint-Louis when he was 16. felt fearless releasing his first EP. bartends at Listen Bar & is on the programming team. wants to see nightlife that’s more progressive, less segregated between sexuality spectrums and races.
PROJECT
make his first DJ mix.
CAN OFFER
help w/ any music, songwriting, shoot planning etc. help in the creative process, channeling your inner artist that wants to be heard.
LOOKING FOR
film and music producers. anything visual or audio related.
Warren, Brooklyn
@lyresbirdie
he/him
has used squid ink and chlorophyll in cocktails. works as NYC brand ambassador for Lyre’s. proud that it’s the most awarded non alcoholic spirit, with the largest range in the category. owns a catering company. is from New Orleans. lived in Tokyo for 4 years. has hiked Mount Olympus.
PROJECT
themed events where the menu reflects everything from music to art to short performances.
CAN OFFER
help executing drinks (especially ones that highlight Lyre’s). help utilizing proper bartending techniques to get creative and reflect vision.
LOOKING FOR
artists, musicians, creative/ seasoned business owners.
Renata, NYC
@rebergman
she/her
works at AB InBev (home of Budweiser, Stella Artois & more) doing marketing for non alcoholic beverages. excited about innovation in the beverage space. climbed Kilimanjaro. loves to bike around NYC while listening to audio books. LatinX.
PROJECT
understanding the future of socializing. how adults will be socializing in the next year, what they want to get out of it and how that will impact us long term.
CAN OFFER
experience in the beverage industry.
LOOKING FOR
entertainers, data experts, people connected to culture.
La Donna, Tucson
@meetladonna, hi@meetladonna.com
she/her
UX Design & Architecture degree scholarship recipient. grew up in a 3rd-generation African-American family-owned restaurant biz with nine locations. once quit an abusive, racist tech workplace, then spent a year traveling the entire lower 48 states by train. likes to write on walls behind her furniture, since she was 6 months old.
PROJECT
online B2B community for the Functional Beverage industry.
CAN OFFER
UX Design and Product Management of SaaS and brand ideas, B2B / B2C resources to up-tech your brick and mortar and online projects.
LOOKING FOR
inclusive food and bev brands, FoodTech and coaches to showcase on the community site.
Lorelei, Brooklyn
@listenlorelei
she/her
started Listen Bar & got featured in the NY Times, Today Show and Good Morning America. used to work in innovation and advertising for brands like YouTube and the MoMA. grew up in Romania & speaks 5 languages. married herself at Burning Man, then went on a hitchhiking honeymoon across National Parks. Snoop Dogg asked her to name a drink after him.
PROJECT
A variety show channeling her past teenage kitsch held in living rooms in her native Romania.
CAN OFFER
help with branding, how to get press, how to start a business, how to build a booze-free business.
LOOKING FOR
creative inspiration & community.
Coelti, Chicago
@instacoelti
they/them
interdisciplinary poet and creative performer. put on a sex positivity panel for Chicago's first Night of Ideas. once read to an audience while hula-hooping wearing nothing but heels. centers sex workers in creative spaces & high-end institutions. volunteers with the Sex Workers Outreach Project. reads a book a week. is offering their voice to an upcoming guided meditation app.
PROJECT
their first website, new blog & YouTube channel.
CAN OFFER
creativity coaching, custom poetry, strategies for fair compensation, conflict resolution, consent practice and mindful consumerism.
LOOKING FOR
fellow writers, queers & sex working creatives. branding coaches. video editors. accountability.
Calvin, Brooklyn
@cjkasulke
he/him
queer, trans and sober person with a debut novel coming out next year. spent 3.5 years as a digital strategist at a political consulting firm. he's IRL friends with a bunch of Twitter famous artists. digs Dungeons and Dragons on Discord.
PROJECT
a new kind of online venue for queer artists and collaborators that functions as a meeting space and post-event broadcast (video or podcast).
CAN OFFER
help planning out your social media strategy, email plan or even SMS plan.
LOOKING FOR
event promotion help to get the word out, get people's attention & get bodies in the (digital) room. also wants to meet highly social ppl & go from charming to 10,000 megawatt charming.
Stacey, NYC/New Orleans
@sspectacularr
they/them
proud of the 2018 Halloween party at The Elephant Collective, their biggest, most creative venture with the best financial turnout. left a toxic relationship & has overcome sexual abuse. sex worker. wants higher paid performers, more awareness around health & consent, and more focus on content and intimacy than on bar sales.
PROJECT
an immersive erotic temple. progressive strip club. Moulin Rouge meets HOY & NSFW.
CAN OFFER
asking the weird questions that push ideas further. help with physical needs of a space or party—permits/ security/ trash cans/ etc.
LOOKING FOR
help getting their vision onto paper. tech ppl. folks in the adult industry.
Sara, West New York
@sarakoeniger
she/her
Kathy Hilton pitched a reality show about her and her best friend. worked in nightlife in liquor sales. now works at Sweet Reason, a CBD beverage start up. wants to hold herself accountable to not drink and be content. negotiation pro. sets daily intention to help someone have a better day.
PROJECT
finding distribution across the country to better service accounts that Sweet Reason works with.
CAN OFFER
event support. ideas on partnering with brands. insight on how bars operate. help putting together an action plan.
LOOKING FOR
ambitious & kind ppl who go after what they want and do the right thing.
Kyrié, Brooklyn
@kyrieelizabeth
she/her
spent NYE 2020 at a Phish show. re-started undergrad at age 29 at FIT. often complimented on her playlists and vibe choices. worked as Listen Bar manager. analytical mind for business and strategy & a design sensibility.
PROJECT
a vision board and a plan for pushing her art practice and biz dreams forward.
CAN OFFER
help ideating, market research, data analysis, creative problem solving, organizational skills, optimism & support.
LOOKING FOR
advice on starting a business: risking financial stability, connecting with manufacturing partners, balancing dreams with sustainability. straight-up cheerleaders. doers and risk-takers.
Ava, NYC
@avacl92
she/her
wants espresso at every bar. delicious non-alcoholic frozen drinks. is a psychologist specialized in working with kids who have trauma. her best friend is a cat. enjoys exploring different parts of the city, eating at new places, meeting people. feels proud any time she sits through discomfort and chooses to stay true to what's important to her, both in word and deed.
PROJECT
going out centered around connecting with people, being themselves and being silly.
CAN OFFER
help finding a positive sense of self and healing for both children and adults.
LOOKING FOR
open minded spirits who enjoy hanging out in both relaxed and more upbeat settings, are down to earth and have different skills than her.
Matthew, Staten Island
-
he/him
has hosted events for entrepreneurs in NYC at WeWork Times Square. is a boat CPT and takes people out on their boats/yachts to unwind. is a veteran. excited to meet others that do not drink and do drugs outside of AA. looking for fresh perspectives on problem solving, not just for business but for life.
PROJECT
standup comedy meets business pitches - the truth about what it’s like starting a business.
CAN OFFER
help with funding.
LOOKING FOR
product managers. MVP experts. SaaS product developers. SaaS product MGR. app developers. tech consultants. investors to identify their pain points in selecting investments.
Pauline, Staten Island
@smallchristmas
she/her
loves bike riding in Alaska, sitting on top of a limo while eating pizza in her pj's with friends. culture manager at a real estate brokerage. expert at overcoming creative challenges with a doer mentality: when her hard drive crashed, she recreated a short film by editing for 17 hours straight, and somehow felt liberated, free from worrying and thrilled about the process.
PROJECT
a video editing project
CAN OFFER
video editing. assisting you on your project, especially in film. how to teach book discussion. mediation sessions.
LOOKING FOR
filmmakers. people not afraid to be social and out there.
Emma, Santa Fe
@rootedinmud
she/her
moved back to Santa Fe from SF to manage her dad's restaurant. helped renovate the restaurant and build out the patio. wants to bring energy into Santa Fe’s social scene. owns a small-batch pottery business. dreams of a community-oriented project that marries her creative and social desires. drives a stick shift.
PROJECT
visually striking, catered party boxes from the restaurant for young people’s house parties. ready to go after October 31st.
CAN OFFER
help with organization & implementing systems. visual design. encouraging positivity.
LOOKING FOR
someone good at business. help getting ideas out to people.
Jenna, Portland
@foolproofpdx
she/her
harnesses the power of plants in zeroproof cocktails. intensive urban farming knowledge. knows how to plan the fuck out of an event. was an event planner and a chef for years. recently curating resources for her local BIPOC market’s info booth. proud of initiating growth-through-discomfort convos with collaborators.
PROJECT
game plan for zero-proof cocktail events during the fall/winter season.
CAN OFFER
help with event planning. meal plans. help with spreadsheets, sponsor kits, sales plans.
LOOKING FOR
how to be better on social media. small business owners. step by step plans of attack. speakers. food policy peeps.
Kristen, Providence
@kghaff70
she/her
knows how to tap dance, speaks German and is sober. wants people in recovery know they aren’t destined for a lifetime of Netflix. has been loving every single night since getting out of detox in February. met Donald Trump (not that she’d brag about it but it’s a good story). sees the future of nightlife as spirited, like-minded people having fun and having sex (not quite like in the 60’s though!). worked for 20+ years on behalf of marginalized and underserved populations.
PROJECT
becoming a Peer Recovery Specialist.
CAN OFFER
a real passion for helping you realize your dreams.
LOOKING FOR
innovative, industrious people strongly convicted and passionate about what they believe in.