Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Chalene.
Hi Shannon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was 14, my mom moved me to a little town, Bagnell, MO. When I was 15, I started my first job bussing and learning to serve at the small Bagnell restaurant at the campground next door to where we lived. I loved every second of it. I only worked there for the summer, and then when school started I focused back on that. The summers following, I worked in retail, and it was not my cup of tea.
After graduating high school, I started working at the Lodge of Four Seasons at the Lake of the Ozarks. I started as a server in the breakfast restaurant, Breezes. I then learned how to do room service, fine dining, assistant managing, and so much more. When I turned 21, I immediately learned how to bartend and reopened the infamous Lobby Bar.
My first night open, we had a group of attorneys in house for a conference, and I was the only bartender working up there. I remember counting my drawer down that night and sitting with the sweetest man who was there to make sure I safely got cleaned up and out of the bar before he left, and I couldn’t believe the leftover tip money after the drawer was counted down. That’s the day I fell in love with bartending. And I know it seems like I fell in love with it because of the money, but it was so much more than that. This group of people was so fun. They let me banter and dance and sing around the bar. They let me sit and eat dinner at the end of the bar for a little dinner break and didn’t interrupt me for a drink for at least 10 minutes until I ate. They took turns sitting at the bar and having real conversations with me. I got to know so much about bartending in one night, more than I had in months of training. That night left me in awe.
I went on to be a “Manager on Duty,” room service attendant, lobby bartender, fine dining server, and more. When I was 21, I had a baby and stayed home to raise him for a little over a year. When I returned, I continued to grow my knowledge of the hospitality world, and of bartending specifically, because I had fallen in love with the craft. I was with the Lodge for about 8 years in total, including my leave, when I would work part time occasionally to get out of the house.
After leaving the Lodge, I had another baby in 2023 and also got married that year. I was trying to figure out how I could stay home with my babies more and still bring in some income. One day, I was invited to bartend for a local chef friend of mine, Chef Allen Plemmons of Kansas City, MO. He was doing a birthday party for a private group and asked me to help out. A few days later, I texted him and said something along the lines of, “Do you think this is something I could build a business out of? This is what I love!” And he said absolutely. I spitballed a few ideas, got an insurance agent, and started my own business about two months later. I have been in business now for 3 years, and I book over a year out for weddings, bachelorette parties, birthdays, corporate events, and so much more. I have started training bartenders so I can grow more and offer more dates, even multiple events on the same date.
That same year, I also happened upon another journey: becoming a travel agent. In November of 2023, I was scrolling through my email and saw a message from Indeed saying I would be a good fit for a work-from-home position. I read the description and said, “Yeah, I will!” I applied and went to a meeting to learn about the company and what it had to offer, and I fell in love with it. The next day, I had my travel agent ID and was able to start booking.
I thought, why not advertise the two together? So I started going to wedding expos, and I’ve gotten most of my travel business in person, face to face, so clients know exactly what to expect from the second they book to the second they get home from their trip. I can book travel anywhere in the world, and I absolutely love the perks I get from being a travel agent. I am currently writing this from Hawaii, for a business meeting with my company!
All in all, I wanted to figure out how to stay home with my boys as much as possible, and I knew that the only way to do that was to take control of my life and make it happen. Now I own multiple businesses: LOZ Private Event Bartender, LLC; JoyfulEvents Travel; I Raged Rage Room (and Paint Splash); and I’m also an affiliate with BabyQuip, supplying baby items to travelers in the Lake Ozark area. I’m trying to show my boys that you don’t have to live a cookie-cutter life and work a cookie-cutter job. You can do and be whatever you want to be, and I can’t wait for my boys to grow up and see how hard I’ve worked to make their lives better.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. In December of 2021, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer — bone cancer. She went to the hospital because we thought she was having a stroke, but we found out her bones were just, well, filled with cancer. They needed to know what the plan of care was before she left the hospital, so I sat and cried with my husband and told him I needed to bring her home. I had inherited her property when my uncle died, and she had since moved in with my mom, so I knew she needed to be “home.” We got her room all set up with hospice care. I told my job I was going to have to back off for a while and maybe work one or two days a week, which I did end up doing, because my best friend, Eli, would come hang out with her while I worked. She died on her birthday, April 21, 2022.
A few months later, in September, I was at a soccer game for my son when my phone started blowing up. My mom had been in a motorcycle accident overnight, and I had no idea. She was a Jane Doe in the MU hospital — she had been life-flighted without her things. I was in shock. I ran faster than I’ve ever run to my car. I didn’t pack my things or tell my husband; I just ran to my car and started driving to the hospital. Luckily, I had a friend in Jefferson City who was more than willing to drive up and go in with me, which was exactly what I needed — I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone.
She had multiple brain bleeds, suffered a stroke, and had to relearn how to walk, talk, and count. She even had to relive her own mother’s passing, which had happened just a few months before. When it was time for her to go home, the doctors said she’d be able to live independently but would need help at first. So instead of moving her to my house to relearn life skills there, we packed up my family and moved in with her. I was still pregnant at the time, with the baby due in March of 2023, so my goal was to get her independent by February. Luckily for us, she was back to work by the New Year, and we were back home by Christmas.
I’m so incredibly grateful she’s still here. She still has struggles, but it could have been so much worse. This was the beginning of what made me realize I needed to be there for my boys — life is so short, and I want to be there for every second I can. Right after all of that is what pushed me to jump out of my comfort zone and become an entrepreneur!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What I love most is getting to be part of life’s biggest moments. With my bartending company, I work hand-in-hand with couples planning their weddings — from crafting custom cocktail menus and shopping lists to spitballing timeline ideas that bring the whole celebration together. And it doesn’t stop at the ceremony: I also offer destination wedding bartending and planning, so if you’re saying “I do” somewhere exotic, you have the option to fly me out and bring the party with you or have me help with the entire planning process!
On the travel side, my agency specializes in turning dream getaways into reality — from honeymoons at Sandals and Beaches resorts to unforgettable cruises, all-inclusive escapes around the world, and cozy small-town bed & breakfasts or VRBOs. I also help guests coordinate their own travel and lodging around a wedding weekend, so everyone — from the couple to their loved ones — has a seamless experience before, during, and after the big day.
What sets me apart is the full-circle experience: I’m not just booking a trip or pouring drinks — I’m woven into the entire journey, from the first planning conversation to the honeymoon send-off. That personal touch, built on years of hands-on experience and genuine passion, is what I’m most proud of as a brand.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. Seriously — that’s the biggest piece of advice I can give. When I was starting out, I spent so much time overthinking every little detail and worrying about what could go wrong, when I really should have just trusted myself and jumped in.
If I could go back, I’d tell myself that it’s okay not to have it all figured out right away. Growth happens by doing — by taking on that first client, saying yes to the opportunity that scares you a little, and learning as you go. Every mistake taught me something that ultimately made my businesses stronger.
So my advice to anyone just starting out: bet on yourself, stay consistent, and don’t let fear talk you out of building something you love. The rest tends to fall into place
Pricing:
- Bartending prices vary but start at $200.
- Travel fees vary by booking
- Travel booking service fees are only included if extensive planning is involved in booking
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lozbar.com
- Instagram: shay_joy1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loz.private.event.bartender/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonchalene
