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Meet Jester King Private Events Manager Taylor Gardner

Our philosophy at Jester King is strongly rooted in creating a sense of place, by tying our guests experience to a time, place, and people. Whether dining onsite in one of our lands, eating hearth baked Hill Country sourdough bread that you picked up curbside, or enjoying one of our beers purchased from your local retailer, our intent is to build a connection and experience with our guests and community.

We could not foster these relationships without the people who work tirelessly every week at Jester King, from the front of house to our kitchen, our production team to our artists, and many more! With this in mind, we are launching our Jester King staff spotlight series so you can get to know our team.

First up, meet Taylor Gardner, our Private Events Manager who handles all aspects of The Hall at Jester King. Taylor joined Jester King in November 2018, bringing over ten years of experience in events, event sales and catering with a strong background in the food industry.

Find out more about Taylor below:

What attracted you to working at Jester King?

What Jester King stands for as a company, their approach to their craft, and the setting -- beats working downtown and commuting any day! The chance to build up an entirely new side of the business - our private and special events. The Hall is a unique space and I was offered a rare chance to build an events program from scratch.

What does our philosophy of “time, place and people” mean to you?

I look at it with the events filter - each client's event is a snapshot in time with the people that mean the most to them all in one space, with unique food & beer / beverages tied to them and that specific place. It is something that I strive to emphasize for each one of our events.

What do you love most about working at Jester King?

I love the land, our setting, working in such an idyllic landscape every day. The team here is passionate, supportive and creative in problem solving. The beer and food we create is some of the best. Our guests and clients are just as passionate about us as we are - I love it!

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What are a few of your favorite Jester King beers? A few of your favorite food menu items?

My favorite beers are La Vie en Rose, No Whalez, all of our new IPAs, and our wine co-ferms. My favorite food items are our mushroom pizzas - they have all been amazing! And the BREAD!

What else do you enjoy drinking?

I enjoy drinking wines like Finger Lakes Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Viognier -- and gin.

How has the pandemic affected or changed your work experience?

The pandemic has had a big impact on my work experience. The most obvious is the postponement of all our clients events for the year. It's hard to see all the work and effort that has gone into planning what should be a joyful exciting day get pushed out to next year. Also, shifting to virtual tours and socially distanced tours of the venue is tough - I am used to seeing smiling clients, handshakes and hugs. On a personal note, it has been tough working from home, while trying to teach my kiddo and balance everyday life.

What’s on your bucket list?

To live in Europe, and have a farm.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Paint, draw, build things... cook, entertain (pre-covid)

I Can’t Live Without:

Carbs!

Interested in booking a private event at the Hall at Jester King? Check out our Private Events webpage.