Pouring drinks. Serving up insights. McKinney President Jeff Jones and CCO Jonathan Cude are mighty talented at doing both. They proved it on January 12, when they worked the bar at Revolution to raise money for the Urban Ministries of Durham. To get their take on bartending, advertising and that blurry area in-between, I asked them a few questions.

Photo by Julia Parris

Which job did you find more difficult? 
 
JC: Bartending is a lot like advertising. They both demand focus, attention and a superior knowledge of alcohol.
 
JJ: But it was way harder to get the right amount of olive juice in a dirty martini than anything I do here every day!
 
How did your respective roles at McKinney helped you bartend?

JJ: Multitasking, problem solving and meeting deadlines – people were thirsty, now!

JC: If I didn’t know how to make a drink someone ordered, I creatively directed one.

What can advertisers learn from bartenders?

JJ: Listen more! People love to talk about themselves and share all kinds of stories.
 
Do Mad Men and women tip well? (We obviously drink well.)

JC: Yes, especially if it’s for a good cause.

The Red Square Recipe. Give it up. Come on now.

JJ: A slow 3-count pour of vodka, ruby red just right, a splash of sprite, a wedge of lime and lots of smiles.
 
Favorite Cheers quote? Mine’s from Norm of course, “It’s a dog-eat-dog world. And I’m wearing Milkbone underwear.”

JJ: Diane: Hate is not the opposite of love. Indifference is.

JC: Throughout high school Sam Malone was my guiding role model. Someday I’ll find another one.

The Last Call:

The duo raised $531.40 for the Urban Ministries. That means between 6 and 8 pm, over $2,500 in drinks were served to a vibrant crowd of socially conscious tipplers.