Meet Melissa Denver | Business Owner & Bartender

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

Hi Melissa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started Neon Gold Bartending & Libations in Springs of 2022 under the preface that I wanted to do things my own way. I have always had a rebellious spirit and a knack for finding myself at the right place at the right time… so I figured I would put my nose to the grindstone and capitalize on it! I started working gigs under the preface that it was just an “in-between” solution for my ever revolving employment (like I said, rebellious spirit) and be able to make some extra cash throughout the summer. I worked as a freelance bartender under one of the service industries greatest barmen, Sean Kenyon (Blue Collar Cocktails) who took me under his wing and trusted me to work for him at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival for a weekend. I was truly in awe at how refined his team was and how gracefully and tactfully he led everyone. I had already worked a few gigs before, but watching how his team worked really inspired me to start doing something on my own. I told him about my ideas, and he gave me amazing insight- but one thing that will always stick with me is how simple it all really is when he told me “If you’re going to do it, the trick is to just do it right.” and that will always be something I heavily reflect on.

After working with Sean, I worked as an independent bartender at X-Bar for their annual Pridefest party! I am not only part of the LGBTQ+ community, but I actively participate and support the vibrant community we have in Denver. I was so beyond excited when I arrived and I was put on a beautiful 1970’s Airstream camper owned by Deep Eddy Vodka that had been converted into the coolest mobile bar I’ve ever seen! It had a bar, a photo booth, a merch area and even air conditioning. I was able to work on it, as well as another mobile bar (converted out of a double decker bus) throughout the weekend and I knew then, exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a mobile bartender, and I wanted my own mobile bar on wheels.

I continued working weddings, fundraisers, charity events and private parties throughout the summer and saving up money I made with friends who had other mobile bartending businesses and learned the ropes. Quickly I realized I had so much potential to succeed, and I bought all my own supplies and tools, and then my first travel bar! I drug it around the whole state and worked some very cool events. Finally, I started an LLC, opened a bank account and the rest is history! As of today, I have 5-7 reliable bartenders who work events with me, two mobile bars, and I just purchased a 1970’s vintage camper who is getting a face lift as we speak!

Neon Gold offers a boutique and catered bar experience with TIPS certified and fully insured bartenders, perfect for private parties and events of all variety’s, and we are only expanding from here. I am so grateful to know that even in its infancy, Neon Gold has been such a success so far, and I am looking forward to seeing where we go from here!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The art of bartending is a multi-faceted one where different folks find different creative ways to express their passions whether that be cocktail curation, product knowledge, flair bartending or even sometimes cultivating a special culture within their bar setting. The bottom line for us all is that our job is deeply rooted in customer service, comradery and trust. Underneath it all, a good bartender is someone who you want to engage with (or have them engage with you). A friend who you can count on for the good times and the bad. When you walk in to a bar and the bartender has a bad attitude and aren’t friendly, usually the first thing you do is walk back out.

All of that being said, in my industry where I am bartending events- my clients typically find me by searching on the internet, or by word of mouth. They know going into our consultations that I am out to make them happy. I engage, I laugh and I joke. I don’t believe in being uptight with folks who are already planning highly stressful events and what sets me apart from other mobile bartending companies is my willingness to act like a human, and not like everything has to be black and white all the time. I don’t pressure folks into signing up with my company because I don’t believe its good business. I believe that the right people naturally gravitate towards me and choose Neon Gold because of ME. The drinks sell themselves…but what an exciting endeavor it is for them to fall into my lap and let me help! I truly aim to please and outside of the boring legal stuff when they first book with me- I enjoy keeping it fun, and offering fresh ideas and insight to allow my clients to feel like they are my friends, first, and treat them just how I would treat any guest walking into a regular bar.

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.
First, we drive out of DIA and pass Bluecifer and I tell them the whole story behind the insane horse statue. We drive down I70 and into the backside of Globeville/Sunnyside to look at some of the incredible street art and give them a taste of the industrial feel of Denver and showcase some cool graffiti. We stop downtown for a slice of Marquis Pizza as a snack, and head over to the Crypt to check out the coolest punk bar in Denver. Then, we drive over to The Arts District on Santa Fe and visit Trade (a gay bar I used to work in that is still home to me). We grab street tacos from Tacos Martin outside the bar as a snack, then head down south Broadway at the Brutal Poodle for an insanely good dinner and spicy margs. To finish the night, we are probably going to hit a dance floor somewhere, but for me its usually X-bar!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Sean Kenyon- Owner of Blue Collar Cocktails, Occidental, Williams & Graham, American Bonded. Jaco Lewis- Owner of Colorado Travel Bartenders
Jessica Sylvester- Bartender at the Stanley Hotel/Unofficial Neon Gold Business Partner
Michael Ailor- CPA at Peakview CPA’s
Rob Denver- (My loving husband) Co-Owner of RedHawk Roofing
X-Bar Denver
Morgan Hemphill- Neon Gold’s Graphic Designer
Darcie Moore & Audrey Turco- Neon Golds Web Designers
The Colorado Bartenders Guild

And of course, my Dad, who always believed in me and encouraged me to do things my own way…and my Mom, who believes in me and helps watch my children during event weekends 🙂

Instagram: @Neongoldbartending

Facebook: Neon Gold Bartending & Libations