Behind the Bar with Lisa Belczyk
Jump behind the bar with Lisa Belczyk! Lisa stumbled into the beverage industry while DJing at a Pittsburgh venue and is now the innovative mind behind Lucky Sign’s cocktail program. From infusing the tasting room with cozy aesthetics inspired by her experience designing and producing music education programs at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, to seamlessly blending art, history and culture into our seasonal cocktails, Lisa's creativity and artistic touch shine through in everything she does.
With a passion for hospitality, continuous learning, and a keen eye on industry trends, Lisa looks forward to serving as a director on the USBG National Board, exploring the growth of ready-to-drink cocktails and unveiling funky creations at Lucky Sign in 2024. Read on to learn more about Lisa!
How did your journey in the beverage industry begin, and what drew you to the world of craft cocktails?
I fell into the beverage industry by accident! I’m a classically-trained musician and was the Director of Education & Community Engagement at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for over thirteen years. My partner and I were DJing a private event one night at a Pittsburgh venue and the bar team was understaffed. They asked if we could switch over the music to a playlist and give them a hand behind the bar. We didn’t know what the heck we were doing, but after that night, I was hooked! I think by the next weekend I was hired as a bartender, and the rest, as they say, is history.
With a background in music and education, how do you incorporate your artistic perspective into your work at Lucky Sign Spirits?
My undergraduate degree is in music education, and I also studied aesthetic education at the Lincoln Center Institute in New York. Those experiences really influenced my work in creating music education experiences, and later - to my surprise! - in cocktails. There are so many overlaps in how both the arts and alcohol have functioned in societies throughout history; for example, both art and spirits were - and still are - integral to religion and spirituality, in ceremonies and celebrations, as part of secular and sacred rituals, as forms of protest…the list goes on. Plus, there were times in history when the water was undrinkable, and if humans didn’t have alcohol as a safe beverage to drink, we might not be here today! So this historical and cultural context of alcohol being woven throughout human history provides an important foundation for our work at Lucky Sign: we’re not only making delicious, flavorful, exciting spirits, but we’re also tapping into a larger context of this beverage being central to the human experience! It’s a beautiful reminder of how we’re all connected across place and time.
Can you share a bit about your experience as a classical music concert producer and how it influences your approach to enhancing the overall experience at Lucky Sign Spirits?
I spent many years designing and producing music education programs at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and it taught me so much about creating fun, welcoming experiences for guests! A friendly, warm greeting sets the tone for our guests’ entire visit to our space. Visual aesthetics are important; our tasting room is so cute and I had so much fun decorating it for the winter holidays this year! Tidiness and orderliness are also crucial - it subtly demonstrates that you are paying attention to the details of the environment and that you care about the well-being of the guests. So I really try to cultivate a cozy, happy experience from the moment our guests walk in our door to when we’re bidding them farewell.
Your work involves exploring the intersection of art, history, culture, food and beverage. How do these elements come together in the cocktails you design?
The arts have served across human history as a way for us to communicate and express complex ideas through symbolism and abstraction; art is as ingrained in culture as food and drink is. At Lucky Sign, my goal is to design cocktails for our guests that are artistic experiences in themselves - to express a bit of magic through a glass that communicates a memory, emotion, or experience. And that’s not to say that cocktails aren’t just a whole lot of fun to drink! It’s always my goal to create delicious and delightful cocktails that showcase the beauty of Lucky Sign spirits.
Can you share some insights into your process of developing seasonal cocktails, and what factors influence your choices in ingredients and themes?
I’m so fortunate to have such terrific spirits to use as a base in cocktails! The distillation team at Lucky Sign is laser-focused on bringing exceptional flavor to all of our products. So I want to make sure the spirits are the star of every drink on the menu. I also want to design cocktails that are accessible for our guests to make at home. If they purchase a bottle and want to recreate something delicious that they had during a visit to our tasting room, I’m always thrilled to share my drink recipes with them. Additionally, we’re fortunate in Pittsburgh to have all four distinct seasons, and I want guests to enjoy a drink that’s aligned with the weather outside - no one wants a heavy, dark, wintry drink on a 90-degree day! Being able to capture our seasonality in a glass is an important part of the guest experience at Lucky Sign Spirits.
How has the Pittsburgh chapter of the USBG evolved under your leadership, and what goals do you have for its future?
It’s been such a joy to serve as the president of the USBG Pittsburgh chapter for the past two years, and I’m so proud to have been its caretaker as we were selected by our peers as the 2023 USBG Chapter of the Year! The award recognizes the top chapter in the country, based on excellence in creativity in events, educational programming, charity and community initiatives, health and wellness offerings, and financial stability. It was a true honor to accept the award alongside my colleagues and share nationally what we all already know here in Pittsburgh: this is an amazing city that does great things!
The pandemic caused such a seismic shift across the entire bar and hospitality industry, and so it’s been my goal for my two terms to provide a welcoming, inclusive environment for our members to be supported by a vibrant community, have access to relevant and robust educational opportunities, build a professional network, and - perhaps most importantly - have a safe space to relax, recharge, and have fun…because we know bartending is demanding work!
I’ll be stepping down from my local president and board member roles at the end of 2023, because I’ve been elected to serve as a director on the USBG National Board. I’m excited to continue to serve the industry on a nation-wide level. But, I know the Pittsburgh chapter is well-positioned to continue to grow and thrive as an organization and provide incredible opportunities to our members.
What advice do you have for aspiring bartenders or those looking to enter the craft cocktail industry?
Hospitality, hospitality, hospitality! Being a bartender, first and foremost, is about serving guests with care and respect and creating a welcoming space for them. Our guests come to us in good times and in bad, and everything in between. So being able to cultivate an environment where they are comfortable and safe is always the highest priority. You will learn and develop your skills in crafting cocktails and flavors over time, but make sure your heart is in the right place from the start of your journey.
How do you stay informed about the latest trends and innovations in the beverage industry, and how does that inform your work at Lucky Sign Spirits?
I’m a voracious reader and learner, and I subscribe to just about every industry magazine, trade publication, and newsletter out there! I also attend as many conferences as I can; they’re a terrific way to keep a pulse on what’s new and fresh. Plus, the USBG has been a huge part of my work - having a national network at my fingertips is invaluable. Being able to call a friend across the country and talk about what’s happening in their area is a great way to bring national trends here to Pittsburgh and to Lucky Sign. Knowing what imbibers are currently curious about allows me to be a better bartender and keep Lucky Sign at the forefront of the action in the beverage industry!
Looking ahead, what excites you the most about the future of craft cocktails, and do you have any upcoming projects or collaborations you're eager to explore?
Ready-to-drink, or canned and bottled cocktails, continue to grow rapidly in the beverage industry. Folks are loving the complex and interesting flavors that they can now experience just by cracking open a can, without having to mix together a multi-step cocktail at home. We’re currently designing some funky and fun canned and bottled cocktails here at Lucky Sign - you should see all the experiments currently in jars all over my dining room table! I’m excited to share these with our customers in 2024 and beyond.
What’s Your Lucky Sign?
The number five! I’ve been enamored with it since childhood, and it has a way of appearing in interesting ways during lucky chapters in my life.