Rachel Krzewina talks interview red flags and paving the way for women in the industry as Silk Exotic’s first female bar manager.
(Note: This article appears in the March 2026 issue of ED Magazine.)
From day one at Silk Exotic in Downtown Milwaukee, Rachel Krzewina was saddled with the task of carving a place for herself in an industry long dominated by men. Two years after being hired as the club’s first female bartender, she transferred to their uptown location, paving the way for other women as the chain’s first female bar manager. In this role, she channels her bartending experience into building strong teams, driving revenue and proving that leadership in an adult nightclub has nothing to do with gender and everything to do with results. “I always joke and say the easiest part about this job was getting this job,” she says. “I wasn’t looking for it. This job felt like it was looking for me.”
Before venturing into the adult nightclub industry, Rachel worked as a beverage cart attendant at a golf course by day while running her own bakery at night. Little did she know that volunteering to work a shift during an annual charity event would completely alter the trajectory of her career.
“I heard we were hosting an event for Silk Exotic and I remember asking my boss at the time if we were going to have strippers on the golf course,” she recalls with a laugh. “I immediately signed up. I needed to work that event.”
While working one of the beverage stations, she was approached by one of the club managers with a tempting offer. She was bartending at Silk Exotic within a week.
“The number one thing I look for during an interview is communication skills.”
— Rachel Krzewina
“I insert myself into places and I don’t even realize I’m doing it,” she explains. “But if something needs to be fixed and I don’t see anybody else fixing it, I’m going to fix it.”
It was that kind of mentality that made her the perfect candidate for a management position. Now in charge of staffing decisions, Rachel has a distinct approach to hiring. Her motto? Drink knowledge can always be taught. Personality cannot.
“Being a good bartender doesn’t mean you know everything about the bar,” she explains. “The number one thing I look for during an interview is communication skills.”
Her goal is to hire bartenders who can hold conversations with guests from all walks of life and create an environment that keeps them coming back. She emphasizes that connection matters, especially in a business environment that can feel intimidating or unfamiliar for first-time guests.
Over time, Rachel has learned to look for specific red flags. The most obvious? When they respond to the question “Why are you interested in this position?” with “I need the money.” As Rachel points out, we all need money. A less obvious red flags is revealed in a candidate’s response to “Why this club?”
“I never like to hear, ‘Well, I know so-and-so who works here,’” she shares. “As much as it could have a positive outcome, I’ve found it to have negative consequences more often than not. Because what they conveniently leave out is that the dancer or server they know is their ex.”
On the flip side, Rachel can still remember an interview response to the same question that stands out to this day. “One of the best servers I’ve hired answered that question with, ‘I have such an appreciation for what you guys do here, and I want to be a part of it.’ That spoke volumes to me.”
Looking back on her first day, Rachel admits her introduction to the club environment was far from seamless. Without knowing the dress code, she walked into Silk Exotic hours early, carrying half her wardrobe in a duffel bag.
“I went in the back and changed into what I thought fit the club’s vibe,” she shares with a hint of embarrassment in her tone. “But when I came out in booty shorts, heels and a see-through top with a flashy bra underneath, Jay, the only bartender there at the time, burst out laughing. Apparently, I looked like I was about to get on stage.”
Rachel ultimately learned the other bartenders all wore dress pants, a button-down shirt and a tie, none of which she had in her duffel bag. Fortunately, the yoga pants and Doc Martins she happened to be wearing that day could pass for something acceptable, and she changed just in time to see the bar manager walk in.
“If it wasn’t for Jay, I would not have my career,” she admits. “It would have been dead and done within the first 30 seconds.” Fortunately, with Rachel’s input, they’ve since upgraded the club’s dress code and bartenders no longer wear button-downs.
For more information, visit silkexotic.com.
