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This Week We Feature Young Professional Shavon T. Stoutt

Young Professional Shavon T. Stoutt a bank worker, turned full-time bartender, is an employee of The Club on Norman Island. Photo: VINO
'C Smooth' doing what he loves doing, mixing drinks! Photo: VINO
'C Smooth' doing what he loves doing, mixing drinks! Photo: VINO
Young Professional Shavon T. Stoutt hopes to become an entrepreneur some day. Photo: VINO
Young Professional Shavon T. Stoutt hopes to become an entrepreneur some day. Photo: VINO
A customer at Pirates Bight about to experience one of the 'mixes' of proud bartender Mr Shavon T. Stoutt. Photo: VINO
A customer at Pirates Bight about to experience one of the 'mixes' of proud bartender Mr Shavon T. Stoutt. Photo: VINO
An attractive blend by our Young Professional Shavon T. Stoutt. Photo: Provided
An attractive blend by our Young Professional Shavon T. Stoutt. Photo: Provided
'C Smooth' has a passion for bartending, and especially coming up with his own craft cocktails. Photo: Provided
'C Smooth' has a passion for bartending, and especially coming up with his own craft cocktails. Photo: Provided
More drink blends by Young Professional Shavon T. Stoutt. Photo: Provided
More drink blends by Young Professional Shavon T. Stoutt. Photo: Provided
By Reuben J. A. Stoby

Leaving a job at a bank after six years to do bartending may throw one’s parents into a fit and raise many eyebrows and comments, however, when one realises his passion and is motivated to pursue it the opinions of others hardly matter.

Such is the certainty and focus of young Virgin Islander Mr Shavon T. Stoutt that he quit his job at Scotiabank last year to do bartending fulltime, a job he loves with a passion and is amazingly good at it.

Shavon, or ‘C Smooth’ as he is known to many, is one of the bartenders at The Club on Norman Island, a new establishment recently opened on the private island.

Bank to Bar!

Before joining The Club as one of its young and highly creative bartenders, Shavon worked on the weekends at Bananakeet Café on Tortola before deciding that he wanted to leave his bank job, then as a Customer Support Officer, to do bartending fulltime.

This writer was privileged to experience the commendable professionalism of Shavon while an employee of Scotiabank and was not surprised to learn that it was that same commendable attitude that first landed him a job in customer service.

“My passion started when I was in high school actually, but I never used to drink,” Shavon clarified. “Then someone saw me working at a gas station and thought I had a good personality for customer service and offered me a job as a bartender at his establishment [Bananakeet Café]. I tried it out, it was great, I met a lot of people and made a lot of money,” Shavon said with a smile.

“I was a bartender for nine years, and during that time the bank saw me and I started working at Scotiabank but would bartend on the weekends. But it really wasn’t working out so after six years I decided to go back to doing what I love, bartending and creating stuff.”

Shavon admitted that his parents were not impressed by his decision, not only because he was leaving his bank job but also because he has a knack for Technical Drawing and was one of the top Technical Drawing students while attending Elmore Stoutt High School . “They didn’t like the idea of course, but I guess they had no choice but to support my decision. My mother especially has been very supportive.”

Rewarding experience

Nevertheless, the experience since becoming a bartender on Norman Island has been a rewarding one for our Young Professional.

“I enjoy making people feel happy and ‘nice’. I like to wow people and give them something they have never seen anywhere in the Virgin Islands,” said Shavon, while cheekily adding that he enjoys the company of his customers after they would have had a good taste of his mixtures.

Bartending for Shavon is far more than whipping up the usual orders but about being creative and knowing his liquor and garnishes like a book so that customers can have an exotic, mesmerising and memorable experience.

This means paying keen attention to his craft cocktails creations and ensuring that everything is fresh, “fresh pineapple, fresh watermelon, all fresh fruits and creating something with them.”

While at home, Shavon utilises his large supply of liquor and does his creations and necessary researches to stay on top of his game. Such is his motivation!

As for customers so far: “They were wowed! They were wowed with the different flavours that you can get and the different things you can do by using alcohol.”

“Where I am working I try to make it some place special for everybody else. It is not just for the BVI, It is a global thing. I want to see Pirates Bight becoming a place more recognised and a destination for International Yacht Week. I just started there but I want to play my part in making the establishment number one,” Shavon declared.

Focused on the goal!

Shavon also has big and wonderful business ideas of his own and envisions of being an entrepreneur someday in his field. He was even kind enough to share with us one of his top ideas, which we prefer not to share at this time as we believe that certain original ideas are invaluable and should be protected.

His plan, however, is bound to further add heavily to the tourist experience in the Virgin Islands if realised.

For now, he has no intentions to start a family or engage in any other undertaking that may sidetrack him. His focus is just to do what he loves and save enough money to start his own business one day. He also said he would consider  tertiary education if the need arises.

Outside of the bar, Shavon is quite contented with playing pool and baseball for leisure, and may take it a bit more serious when it comes to video games, which he says he plays a lot.

Advice to youth

“Just find out what is it that you would be happy doing and do it at the best of your ability so that you would be noticed. It might not be here in the Virgin Islands but it could be noticed globally,” Shavon advised the young people of the Virgin Islands.

He was also generous enough to share one of his “mottos” which he hopes would inspire other others as well: “If you don’t know what you are worth you might end up selling yourself cheap or giving yourself away for free,” Shavon stated.

21 Responses to “This Week We Feature Young Professional Shavon T. Stoutt”

  • ccc (01/01/2016, 16:41) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    Excellent pick vino mr stoutt is a good youth
  • M (01/01/2016, 17:48) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    SMOOTH!!! What a great character. Keep up the good work :)
    • llas (15/01/2016, 10:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      please need a number of the bar because we need to contact him urgently ,,,merci
  • I MAN (01/01/2016, 18:01) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
    what ever happen to Zeus from The Willy.T
  • star black (01/01/2016, 18:17) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    he say he getting old so he making room for the young professionals.a very good guy too
  • ice (01/01/2016, 19:07) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yh big up the man smooth #respect #goodheart
  • $$&$$ (01/01/2016, 20:16) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Very sincere chap. All the best young man
  • Cous (01/01/2016, 20:18) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Great job cous, you know it takes a lot to make such a drastic career change and you may not get all the support you need but passion means an awful lot when doing what you love. Proud of you and I am sure your future looks bright whatever your adventure.
  • 123 (01/01/2016, 22:38) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    always love to see my people on the MOVE you go Shavon
  • Pan (02/01/2016, 00:35) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good job well done nice guy
  • ..... (02/01/2016, 06:24) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Big Up! One time for the one time! Blessings Shavon !
  • online (02/01/2016, 09:57) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This young man going places congratulations Mr. Stoutt on making VINO.
  • cheerio (02/01/2016, 10:51) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    SHAVON is baeeeee. He's a cool dude
  • Class of 2008ESHS (02/01/2016, 12:38) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Great job! Keep it up bro!
  • 495 (02/01/2016, 14:37) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Big up yourself
    • the rock (02/01/2016, 23:27) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      awesome article, love the courage you have to fulfill your passions!
  • Cal (02/01/2016, 16:50) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    may god bless the works of your hands.
  • Lily Ann (02/01/2016, 22:44) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Great is the man whom does the right thing
  • family friend (05/01/2016, 21:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    congrats to you Shavon but most of all congrats to your mom she did a great job raising you boys.
  • JACK BE STILL (06/01/2016, 22:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fantastic news! Thank you, Shavon Shoutt


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