Daily Inspiration: Meet Ayana Watson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayana Watson.

Hi Ayana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, a little about me and the origin of Tipsy Rae’s.

I’m originally from Northern California, and when I first moved to Southern California, it honestly took me a while to find my place here. NorCal and SoCal are two completely different worlds, and it was hard adjusting to it at first. I didn’t have the same community or connections that I was used to back home, so building a life for myself out here took time. But shortly after moving out here, I got an opportunity to bartend.

I started bartending in the restaurant industry, and I honestly fell in love with it pretty quickly. I loved the fast pace environment, meeting different people, being creative with drinks, and of course, the money was good too.

But after a while, I started feeling like there was more I could do with bartending than just working behind someone else’s bar. I knew I had the personality for it, I loved creating drinks, and I really enjoyed being a part of people having a good time. I wanted to take everything I learned and make it into something that felt more like my own.

That’s really how Tipsy Rae’s started.

Tipsy Rae’s is something I do in my spare time, but it has grown into such a special passion project for me. It gives me a creative outlet outside of everything else I have going on in life, and it gives me the opportunity to meet and connect with so many different people.

I’ve worked events throughout the Inland Empire and collaborated with local businesses, including R&B @ Adagio’s, who has welcomed Tipsy Rae’s into their space several times for bartending services.

Tipsy Rae’s has become a way for me to be creative, build community, support other businesses, and make Southern California feel more like home.

Also, in a world where so much of life happens online, I value creating spaces where people can put their phones down, talk face-to-face, laugh, dance, celebrate, and meet new people. That’s always been the goal for Tipsy Rae’s.

I’m excited to continue branching out beyond the Inland Empire and see where it ends. I don’t know what’s next for Tipsy Rae’s, but that’s part of the excitement. For now, I’m enjoying building something that feels authentic to me and creating spaces where people feel safe to come and enjoy themselves.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road. For me, I am currently a full time nursing student so I’m not able to put as much love and time into Tipsy Rae’s as I did before. My demanding schedule has made my availability very limited and due to the unpredictability of private events it has been harder to get bookings. I try to accommodate my clients the best I can but finding a balance has definitely been hard.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently a full time nursing student. This is something that is new in my life and I am still working on building my career in nursing. But I am most proud of my work ethic and drive. These skills have helped me beat any hardships and adversities that I’ve dealt with in the past. When I want something to happen then it will happen because I know that I will give my all to get there. Tipsy Rae’s is something that I want to see flourish. I am big on “cocktails with connection”. The creativity, passion, and love I put into it definitely sets me apart from other mobile bartending businesses.

What does success mean to you?
Success to me is not just about how many events I book or how much money Tipsy Rae’s makes. Of course I want the business to grow, but I think real success is being able to do something I genuinely enjoy while creating experiences people remember. If someone leaves an event talking about the drinks, the energy, or the conversations they had at the bar, that means something to me. I also see success as continuing to build relationships, collaborate with other businesses, and create a name for Tipsy Rae’s while still keeping it personal. If I can grow this passion project into something bigger without losing the reason I started it in the first place, I would consider that successful.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tipsyraes

Image Credits
Ayana Watson
Bella Reign