While some people work in clean cubicles, sterile computer labs or medical facilities, other Milwaukeeans roll up their sleeves and dig into jobs that fall under the "somebody's gotta do it" category. Interestingly, dirty work can be very rewarding. Such is the case with Riverwest's Mary Bennett, who started a bartending/party clean-up business a few years ago.

When Mary Bennett bought a home in Riverwest in 1998, she decided to get a part-time job to supplement her income and help pay for property renovations. As a full-time medical administrative assistant, she needed to work in the evenings, and decided bartending was her best option.

After successful gigs at Lakefront Brewery Palm Gardens, the Clarion Hotel and County Beer Liquor bartending service, she was asked to work a private party. Word-of-mouth led her to another private party, and another, until she realized she didn't need to work for anyone anymore, and Bennett conjured her own biz, "Party Wizards."

Party Wizards help hosts and hostesses plan parties in many ways, including bartending, kitchen help, errand running, consulting and even the dreaded post-party clean-up. Basically, they handle the jobs that the planner would rather not deal with. For example, if a hostess loves to cook, Party Wizards can chop fruits and vegetables, set up the buffet table and do whatever else needs to be done so the host can focus on cooking and other pre-fiesta tasks that they enjoy.

They are also available to work during the party, bartending and serving food in crisp uniforms. "Party Wizards provides an air of quality and class," says Bennett.

Plus, while the host or hostess are nursing a hangover or just kicking back after the intensity of mingling with dozens of people, Party Wizards will clean up every last paper plate. Bennett says she doesn't mind this kind of work, because she enjoys helping people have a good time, and as the single mother of a one-year-old son, is no stranger to cleaning up others' messes.

Bennett studied travel and hospitality at Stratton College, and says her staff is very professional.

"Party Wizards bartenders and servers have been highly trained in special event services, and are on hand to fulfill all of the event needs from set up, to clean up, and everything in between," says Bennett.

In the past few years, Bennett and her small staff have worked at wedding receptions, the Milwaukee County parks, and the Pabst Mansion. On the corporate level they have served and cleaned for First Weber and The Edge condo development's grand opening party. They have also done St. Patrick's Day parties, tailgate parties at Miller Park, New Years Eve parties, wedding and baby showers, and bar and bat mitzvahs.

"Hiring Party Wizards gives the client a chance to become a guest at their own party," says Bennett, 39. "We leave their house just as clean -- and sometimes cleaner -- then before the party started."

For more information about Party Wizards, call Mary Bennett, (414) 704-1071.