Today we’d like to introduce you to Taryn Price
Hi Taryn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In May 2024, I earned a promotion at work to Senior Project Manager. To celebrate myself, I decided to throw a promotion party and began event planning. I fielded my party idea with my best friend–“What do you think about a champagne tasting?” She supported my idea. So off to Total Wine I went. June 2024, I hosted 25 members of my family and friends at my home. Two and half hours later the champagne tasting and brunch service was complete. Friends came up to me declaring that they wanted to hire someone to host a wine tasting for their parties. I encouraged their coordination of the experience!
Four months later, I hosted a friends’ birthday party’s wine tasting. The vine had been planted–I enjoyed delivering the tasting experience. November 2024, I began to research what it would take to start a champagne and wine tasting business; December 2024, I filed for my LLC and established JoyFull Reservations LLC. There are three package offerings to support any celebratory gathering from corporate events to birthday parties to bridal parties.
At the end of December 2024, I hosted my first Reservation for another friends’ birthday gathering. The tasting lasted 1.5 hours. This was my first time hosting the tasting in front of people that I did not know–the ultimate test! However, after receiving ‘joyfull’ reviews, I affirmed my pursuit, and was even approached with varying directions I could take my service. Now, I’m preparing for my next Reservation, and my Wine and Spirit Education Trust-Level 1 Award.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a project manager by day, I am comfortable projecting a roadmap. However, I’m trying to pace my expectations when it’s my own project on the line. My business is like a project. The triangle of success is to define the scope, budget, and timeline. With each day, new considerations are presented that make me adjust for one of these focus areas.
Scope: From wine selections, charcuterie options, wooden board or cup choices, insurance types, certification needs, contract requirements, etc. I am weighing the benefit each choice offers the Reservation.
Cost: I am self-funded, so I am investing in my growth to not only be profitable, but a sought-after experience.
Timeline: Pacing my expectations and pacing my progress! Meeting new people, planning for a Reservation, completing my certification take varying degrees of time that I am having to balance as I still have a FTE position.
Through each of these facets, I’m prayerful that my decisions support my alignment with my business’ mission. A JoyFull Reservation engages, informs, and empowers guests during social gatherings thereby reducing awkward moments experienced when meeting new people, familiar and unfamiliar.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When I was in undergraduate school studying to become a certified athletic trainer, we learned about the plumb line drop. The Plumb Line Drop is a technique used to assess the body’s anatomy. The Drop supports the identification of what needs to be strengthened, and what is tight that needs to be stretched. This approach has allowed me to give thought to how my strengths can be accentuated, and my weaknesses developed.
After becoming a Certified Athletic Trainer, I found my love for research in graduate school. This love led to a professorship teaching Recreation and Sport Management at Oklahoma State University. As an assistant professor in Stillwater, OK, I began to explore the world of wine. As a young, black woman in a rural city, I would socialize with the exploration of a new wine every Friday night with my colleague, Dr. Tutaleni Asino. I learned that wine opened the door for so many layers of conversation, and I looked forward to the challenges, debates, and laughter that took place with a new bottle of wine, or two. Dr. Asino’s motto was “We Don’t Drink Bad Wine–no matter what”. That stuck with me!
After being away from Houston since 2006, I was ready to return home. Seeking to accentuate other aspects of my ‘skill anatomy’, I made the decision to pursue a full-time IT project manager role, which allowed me to stay in Houston, TX in February 2022. Over the past 3 years, I have been able to utilize my strengths as a facilitator, researcher, and relator to each day, and stretch my vision, network, and pursuit for joy.
Facilitator. Researcher. Relator. are what I’m known for. Reflecting on my culminated influences from becoming a certified athletic trainer to a professor to a project manager to a wine specialist–I see the plumb line. My facilitation allows me to read the audience and consider the best approach to deliver content. As a researcher, I want to dive beneath the surface to pull out ideas, experiences, and understanding. The relator in me wants you to deepen your connection with self and others for greater fulfillment. These core tenets are why my pursuit as a business owner for wine tastings are consistent to my Plumb Line. A Reservation is curated by a joyfull scholar! I’m most proud of myself for being brave enough to ask the question, “Why not me?”.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I’m born and raised in Houston, TX. I’ve also had the ability to live in 3 other cities and 2 states. For me, the visibility of affluence, social opportunities, and family support are in Houston, TX. I’m still pursuing the city as an adult but have been sure to take advantage of weeknight and weekend hangouts that are only afforded to a big city, especially by Houston! I least like how long it takes me travel from one side of the city to the other. However, I appreciate that Houstonians desire to explore new offerings this city life has to offer, even if it is a 45-minute drive to the other side of town.
Pricing:
- – $20/person (wine tasting)
- – $40/person (wine tasting and food pairing)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfullreservations/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568437221673
