Today we’d like to introduce you to Mayra Ayala.
Mayra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started bartending 11 years ago at a restaurant that I originally applied to as a Hostess and I was move quickly into a bartending position. I was 19 years old with absolutely no experience among 3 other male bartenders that weren’t very happy about having to train me or show me how to become a bartender. I will never forget all the struggles I went through but also all the techniques I learned. I was determined to master it. I would observe everything just to learn what I could. I was shortened on tips by the other bartenders, bullied, and definitely put to the test, but I mastered everything I could. I lasted two years at that employment until I felt I needed to move on to something different I applied at a sports bar where I bartended for 5 years. I always had a vision of what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it, but I was very intimated and scared of even starting my own business. I received a call one day from a family member that they were looking for a bartender for an event, and I said, “I can do it!” It pushed me to just go and invest into the basic things I needed to get started so 5 years ago I go and bartend my very first event, and I loved everything about it. From that very one event, I grew into getting more clientele. I started designing my logo, making business cards, and starting to promote myself on social media. My father is carpenter, and I told him about my business ideas and how I wanted him to build me a mobile bar. He helped me out and built my very first portable wood bar. As business continued to slowly grow for me, I find out I was 4 weeks pregnant with my first child. I was full of so many emotions I didn’t know what to expect or how was I even going yo continue my business journey while expecting a child, I continued to work the few events I had booked until I was 4 months pregnant. I knew I couldn’t give up having a baby was more motivation for me. I knew it was just a minor setback for me. My son definitely pushed me and brought the best out of me. I recruited 2 bartenders from my previous employment to help me out with events during the time of my pregnancy, and they agreed to help me out. To this day 4 years later those two bartenders are still standing strong in this business with me. After my pregnancy, I pushed harder and invested into more mobile bars. My business was just catching a tase until we hit a pandemic and we had to stay at home once again. I had to take a step back. I was offering To-go cocktails and delivering at doorsteps. I was so desperate for my business not to slow down; I never stopped pushing, even through a pandemic. After my hard work and dedication was finally paying off, I now currently employ 6 bartenders and have multiple events every weekend. I am beyond thankful and blessed to be where I am today. My goal is to soon host my own bartending classes to show and teach others how to become a bartender and never feel intimidated or scared how I once felt. My second goal is to open up my own event space or venue. After working so many events my passion for event coordinating has grown stronger.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, there’s a lot of ups and downs especially when you’re dealing with so many different personalities, and there’s alcohol involved. When you’re passionate about what you’re doing you have to learn to keep pushing. My struggles definitely came during the pandemic in 2020 when all venues were mandatory to shut down, and no gatherings allowed was difficult to deal with when you invested and gave it your all just to not be able to work or show off what you can do. I was a new young business owner not knowing what I was getting myself into some of my days were more stressful than others in some days, I have cried myself because I was overwhelmed or wasn’t sure how to problem-solve when things didn’t go as planned with sweat and tears throughout this journey, I can say I never gave up. My family, friends, and clients have given me so much support and motivation that has pushed me to my fullest potential, and for them, I am forever grateful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Mayra’s Bar Events LLC?
My business has been a blessing to me the way I have seen it grow is crazy to me just to simply be consistently booked is a blessing thanks to our clients even our regular clients that book us over three to four times over and over for their special event. We definitely let our work speak for itself, we specialize in all type of events birthdays, weddings, corporate events, and much more. Even those clients that call us for their 10 guests in their garage, and we arrive with our mobile bar simply because they enjoy our cocktails. We are definitely known for a good time, guaranteed! 99.9% of my clients have told us, “Wow, the bar was a hit at my party!” The memories everyone creates have been a pleasure to witness and be a part of. I’m confident enough to say I have built something that’s unique from its tasty cocktails to the great customer service. I’m very proud of my own cocktail recipes that I have created on my own. My overall experience in bartending has made me brought together everything I’ve learned throughout the years into my cocktails. I am still to this day learning and progressing my cocktails there’s so many different flavors and ways of mixing. One thing I must say is I take pride into making each of my signature cocktails the most natural and tasteful way I can say my juicer has been my best friend these past couple of years. I’m here to continue this journey to continue pushing to its full potential and employ many more bartenders and give them the proper training to make them feel confident and successful so they never feel the way I felt when I first picked up a bottle or a shaker, I’m here to help others always and continue to create the best memories with Mayra’s Bar Events. We’ve been rolling into events with our mobile bars and tasty cocktails we will continue to elevate and grow to keep giving you everything we’ve got.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I would say just seeing the facial expression of a new client when they take that first sip of drink and their reaction os priceless it makes my heart feel warm that my work can put a smile on people’s faces. Having consistent work is also very important for me, not only for me but for my employees who depend on this income to provide for their families. I try to be as fair as I can be towards all my bartenders, they give me their 100% each and every time, and I am grateful for them. I would not be where I am today without my team and most definitely my clients; they mean so much to me. Without my clients, I wouldn’t have the business I have today. I have built so many relationships with my clients. I have gotten to know so many amazing people around Houston, TX, and surrounding areas. 2023 has been my year of blessings we recently came out on Fox 26 The Night Cap show where they reached out to me to showcase some cocktails it was an amazing experience from that to getting booked for our bar services in a different state we will be flying out this year for a returning client event out of state just shows me how much our clients love our work and appreciate us as much as we do. My client mean so much to me without them, there would not be a Mayra’s Bar Events.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @mayrasbar_events
- Facebook: @mayrasbar_events
Image Credits
Ron Visuals
FUEGO
Key Photography
