Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Washington.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
T-Shots started as me making jello shots for friend’s parties. I’d had a jello shot for the first time at a house warming and immediately knew I had to learn how to make them. I did my research, came up with a name and got started. T for Tasha and Shots from jello shots. I started T-Shots way before I got into social media, so it was friends and family based. In the midst of getting everything going, I started bartending for private parties. Now bartending is something that I picked up before I was even legal to drink, lol! My family would always drink frozen Pina coladas and strawberry daiquiris. Being that I wasn’t old enough to drink, I would blend some virgin drinks up for the younger ones in the family. This is when I had to get creative since I couldn’t use alcohol. Blending frozen concoctions, making them pretty was a skill I never knew I would provide me a business some 20 years later. With the skills and comfortable-ness with serving crowds, I decided to go to Bartending School. After that, I posted one frozen drink in a jar for 1 week straight. Got my first orders for the Memorial Day weekend in 2014. I’ve been going ever since. Started with frozen drinks, then added cocktails and much more.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road, but it’s rewarding. There’s a lot of mobile bartending business out here and most have a team. I’m a team of one. Getting prepared for events or when I do pop up’s are tedious. Driving to stores, buy ingredients and supplies, it’s a lot. In the very beginning, I also struggled with people on social media stealing pictures and claiming them as their own. I had try and tarnish my name because I refused to do business with them. The good thing about it all is that I carry myself well and none of stops me from progressing.
Please tell us about T-Shots Mobile Bartending Service.
T-Shots is a mobile bartending service. I provide cocktail services for events so that the host can enjoy their guests. I specialize in creating delicious cocktails and liquor infused treats. I was known for being the jello shot lady for so long, that people who knew my before I started making drinks, they’d see me out and be like, “Hey T-shots! That’s the jello shot lady!” What I’m most proud of is my customer’s reactions to my product. Pleasing them is the most important thing to me. And because of that, my customer service sets me apart from others. I value how people should be treated and I make it my business to treat them with respect and kindness. So much that I have customers that have become friends.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I wouldn’t stress the process. It took me a few years to enjoy every step of the way no matter how hard or overwhelming it gets.
If I had to start over, I would not get bent out of shape about who supports me and who doesn’t. You know it’s easy when you think your family and friends will be the one to make you rich, lol!
Pricing:
- Drinks $5 and up
- Bartending services $50 and up
Contact Info:
- Phone: 732-38T-SHOTS
- Email: tshots.mobilebartender@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tshots.mobilebartender/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TashaJelloShots/
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