Rocky River resident taps into unique niche for party season ? West ...

Libations owner David Scully prepares for his next event. (West Life photo by Sue Botos)

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Rocky River

By Sue Botos

With the prom and graduation party season getting under way, parents of high school seniors have a lot on their minds. Many gatherings have outgrown the backyard potluck to include details such as caterers, DJs and tents. The last thing harried hosts need to worry about is underage guests sneaking a beer or two out of the cooler.

One Rocky River resident has a service?that can help ease the stress.

David Scully began Libations Personal Beverage Hosting Co. four years ago and says, despite the economy, his business is growing, literally, by word of mouth.

?I bartended for a number of years in the early ?90s and wanted to get back into it without the full bartending hours,? Scully said recently at his Rocky River home, which he says doubles as Libations? ?world headquarters.?

Scully, who also heads a strategic sales and marketing service, said that the desire to get back behind the bar, plus requests from friends and family to concoct cocktails at their parties, helped get Libations off the ground. His sister, a stay-at-home mom and fellow mixologist, was also looking for a way to make money on weekends and decided to join in.

?We get a lot of support from family and friends. It?s really opened up new channels for us,? said Scully, who said that he has traveled as far as Columbus for a client.

Libations can provide as little or as much as a customer requires, ranging from only bartenders and servers to a full bar with glassware, garnishes for drinks, ice and soft drinks. Although Scully says he knows his way around the kitchen, he partners with a number of area caterers and has no plans to move into the culinary aspect of party hosting. ?I don?t want to compete with my partners,? he said, adding, ?This is a niche business, and we want to keep it that way.?

Libations also has a unique affiliation with Minotti?s Wine and Spirits, which includes free delivery and no additional markup of the beer, wine?or other beverages.

Scully said that he meets with clients at the party site to map out the positioning of the bar and discuss such ideas as pairing of wine with food to be served and the amount of beverages needed. ?We have a historic expertise when it comes to helping the host decide on quantity. Different events, historically, have different needs,? said Scully. For example, a wedding reception usually requires more spirits than a graduation party attended many by teens.

According to Rocky River Police Juvenile Bureau Detective Tracey Hill, the problem?of minors drinking at graduation parties as a rite of passage is ?not out of control, but it?s more than you would think.? He added that about six arrests per year involve adults serving alcohol to underage party guests in the belief that if?they are going to drink anyway,?they will be safer doing so at home.

With Scully?s crew serving up beer, wine and cocktails, there will be less chance of this or teens sneaking in alcohol.

?We are professionals and we have a list of policies and rules which the host must sign,? he stated. These regulations include serving by the glass only, no pitchers, and each guest showing ID before being served. Libations? website, www.libationslive.com, also states that service to individuals or entire events will be discontinued if the party seems to be getting out of hand. There is also a strictly enforced regulation that no additional alcohol can be brought onto the property.

?Parents can leave it to the professionals to monitor what?s going on. The bartenders have a strict policy that no one under 21 is served. This puts parents at ease because they don?t have to monitor the coolers or hover over the bar station,? he said.

When asked about plans for expansion, Scully said that a southern branch to serve area snowbirds may be on tap. ?What better excuse for me to go to Florida in the winter?? he asked.

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