Today, we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Suazo.
Hi Joanna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Working behind the bar after a few years, I developed a passion for crafting cocktails and an interest in learning about the making of various spirits, wine, beer, etc. I would spend a great amount of time both behind the bar and at home experimenting and creating one-of-a-kind cocktails and serving them to family, friends, and customers to try and hear their feedback.
In 2019, I received the unexpected news that I was going to become a mother to a handsome son, and time was of the essence in preparing for this new life-changing milestone. During this transition, I encountered quite a few challenges to make ends meet, and many times, I wanted to throw in the towel and just give up. But I knew that wasn’t an option and did not want to set that kind of example for my son.
Even through the tough times, I never stopped or ignored my passion for creating cocktails. I kept going. One day I was meditating and reflecting on the bigger picture of what I wanted to accomplish in life specially since I was now a mom – and one of my goals was to have my own business. My mind kept spinning on what kind of business I could develop. It then hit me to turn my passion into a business… which led to the foundation of developing my mobile bartending business.
Staying consistent, putting in long hours, early mornings/tired nights, bumps on the road, and networking as much as possible has allowed me to reach where I am today and to keep growing.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The road to success hasn’t been a smooth one.
Opening a business is often a scary thing to many people because of the unknown obstacles that could happen. The truth is you know way more than what you think, and you continue to learn. Some struggles that I’ve personally encountered are wasted time and financial losses.
There have been occasions in which I was hired/booked for an event, and then the customer disappeared unexpectedly days or weeks leading up to the event. I’ve also encountered situations where I worked events for bar services and never received payment.
Although these obstacles weren’t the greatest to encounter, they served as a lesson to better handle the future and be better.
As you know, we’re big fans of Its JoJo, LLC. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand?
Whether it’s a small gathering or business event, JoJo assists clients with professional and one-of-a-kind service for bar services!
Our customers provide the alcohol, mixers, ice, and cups, and we take care of the rest. With over four years of experience in the industry, JoJo has a passion and enthusiasm when it comes to cocktail making and working the bar. We offer services in Houston, TX, and surrounding areas.
We care about our customers, and there’s nothing more important to me than executing a successful bar experience. We work closely with our customers to meet their expectations, consult recommendations on the quantity needed, and collaborate when custom drinks are requested.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most is not rewards, praise, or pride. Rather, what does matter to me is that at the end of the day… I tried.
Balancing personal and professional life is always a challenge. Having to work late nights or early mornings. Being under lots of stress to meet deadlines or making time to work on projects and finances are just a few of the challenges I encounter.
But at the end of each day, I can proudly say that I TRIED to be one step closer to reaching my goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://itsjojo0503.wixsite.com/itsjojollc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjojo_bartending/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsjojobartending/
Image Credits
Its JoJo
