ED’s Employee of the Year nominee Shyenne Valenzuela breaks down her approach that blends a passion for mixology with guest connection, intentional matchmaking and a sharp memory.
(Note: This article appears in the March 2026 issue of ED Magazine.)
After nearly 14 years behind the bar, the last few at Scarlett’s Rose in Austin, Shyenne Valenzuela understands how a strong bartender directly influences the club. As one of the industry’s top performers, her approach is more than simply pouring drinks. She manages the club’s atmosphere, bridges the communication gap between guests and entertainers, increases guest spending and turns first-timers into regulars. What’s her secret? She attributes part of her success to her experience as a mixologist.
“My passion is craft cocktails,” she tells me while going over her history working in sports bars and restaurants. “I really enjoy mixology and the art of bartending.”
Like many of us, Shyenne’s career was unexpectedly interrupted by the COVID pandemic, leading her to inquire about a job opening at Rick’s Cabaret, now Scarlett’s Rose. “I realized I could make the same money while working fewer hours.”
Now, nearly four years later, her role has earned her nominations for ED’s Employee of the Year award in 2024 and 2025, recognition she says was both surprising and motivating.
“Being nominated was amazing,” she recalls. “Especially because it’s not something bars outside of this industry do. Most people see me as ‘just a bartender,’ so having any kind of award or recognition means a lot. I know I’m not going to change the world, but I might change someone’s life. Bartenders can have a bigger impact than they give themselves credit for.”
“My job is to remember what you like, so you don’t have to.”
— Shyenne Valenzuela
In addition to her mixology skills, guests praise Shyenne’s engaging personality and welcoming nature.
“I think a great bartender can make anyone feel welcome and read a situation,” she explains. “Some guests want conversation, some are shy and need the bartender to start off a discussion and some don’t want to talk at all. You have to recognize what kind of customer is sitting at the bar.”
But her real secret lies in something bartenders often overlook: connecting guests to one another.
“If you can get a friendly conversation going among the guests who happen to be sitting at your bar on a Tuesday at two o’clock, you’ll quickly have a crowd that’s laughing and joking with each other,” she explains. “And when guests click, they’re more likely to come back. Now, every Tuesday at two o’clock, the bar is lively and fun because everyone is interacting with each other, the entertainers, the bartenders. Customers feel like they’re hanging out with their friends, and will be more inclined to come back.”
While many bartenders treat their first-time guests like regulars, by also facilitating their immersion into the group hanging out at the bar, Shyenne ensures her customers leave feeling like they’ve made new friends. As it was at the most popular fictional bar of the ‘80s, she wants Scarlett’s Rose to be the kind of place where everyone knows your name. That mindset builds loyalty quickly, and as we all know, loyalty drives repeat revenue.
Another key to Shyenne’s success is recognizing her role as a matchmaker. Understanding that bartenders interact with nearly every guest, she makes sure to get to know the personalities and strengths of each entertainer so she can help her customers find the right fit.
“I know which girls are great with customers who are shy, I know which girls are outgoing and I know my regulars,” she explains. “My goal is to pair them up with who they’re going to have the most enjoyable time with.” Taking the time to play matchmaker, Shyenne has noticed, often leads to happier guests, more dances sold and higher earnings for both her and the entertainers, contributing to the club’s success overall.
Perhaps what sets Shyenne apart most, though, is a skill that can’t be taught. “I remember everything,” she says. “If I haven’t seen you in six months, I’ll still remember your drink order and that vacation you were planning.”
A talent she refers to as both a blessing and a curse, it’s a large part of what keeps guests returning time and time again. “We specialize in fantasies and distractions. My job is to remember what you like, so you don’t have to.”
For more information, follow Shyenne on Instagram @shy_rose_austin or visit www.scarlettsclubs.com.
