We recently connected with Daniela Umunnakwe and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Daniela thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?

It feels amazing to involve my family and friends when it comes to my mobile bartending business. I just recently did a soft opening this past year, when I officially I decided to venture out. I believe the appropriate way is to do a soft opening, by inviting your close friends and family, including
small light bites, while curating a cocktail signature menu of drinks that you would make. Finding innovated ways to provide raffles in return of google reviews to get you in the right direction. Have as many content captured so that you have traffic driven to your mobile bar Instagram page. Honestly, my years of working with different businesses and experiencing how they work with their employees to write pros and cons of what I experience myself. It allows me to build the appropriate team needed for future events so that I have well representative individuals that can represent my business the successful way.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always had a passion of elevating within the food and beverage industry. I’ve started my first serving job at 18. Never would I have ever thought I would be working for myself at 32 years old. From my experience of working brand ambassador events and on and off premise Liqour events, My passion of alcohol knowledge grew. It was after my first year of working with Wolfgang Puck through Event Staffing services, was when I realize I wanted to do something more than just bartending.

I have a certain spark that makes me different than a lot of individuals, I truly care about what I do. Not only do you have to be reliable and persistent but overall you have to be present. When booking DrinksOnDani, I love to be hands-on from assisting my clients when it comes to the selection of the cocktail choices, but also providing a detailed shopping list so that they feel comfortable when making the purchase before the event. My packages includes an 8 x 11 signature custom designed by me, It offers a wide range of add-ons from hydration station to cup napkin combo, as well as garnishes. You have the option of booking my mobile bar as well. I am the most proud of my growth, I was so comfortable with working under other Event Staffing companies that I failed to realize that I can do this on my own. I’m forever grateful for those opportunities because I wouldn’t be where I would be without those companies. I’m still in the learning stages, because it doesn’t stop there.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

After working with the last company, I realize that more clientele kept requesting me which allowed me to get more gigs and shifts through this company. However, the pay was still the same, no matter how many gigs I received. From there, I did my comparisons from the hourly amounts that I have received and realized it’s time to do some research. From working bars and being an advanced server in the food and beverage industry, I knew I had what it jump out of my comfort zone and take that leap of faith.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I currently still work at a restaurant as a bartender and a server. It allows me to continuously work on my craft when it comes to being behind the bar, but it has also helped me fund my business. I didn’t want to take out a loan to start small, by forming the proper tools to achieve that standard bar set up. My main goal was net each week, by creating different task such as business cards, a new bar kit, a small foldable mobile bar. It was then after my first three bookings when I realize this could really takeoff. My passion grew in the fire ignited. Till this day, I have to pinch myself because I know this is only the beginning.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinksondani?igsh=ejNvdGQybGF2a3hm
• Other: @DrinksOnDani on google