We recently connected with Samantha Marchetti and have shared our conversation below.

Samantha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To me, success starts from within. It comes from determination, self-belief, and a fierce drive to achieve something bigger than yourself. It’s about having the confidence to put yourself out there—even when you don’t feel ready—and the bravery to take risks, fail, and keep pushing forward. Success is gritty! It means refusing to let yourself down, constantly improving your craft, and being relentless in your growth. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable, embrace every challenge that comes your way, and never lose that fire to turn your vision into reality with everything you’ve got! It’s a no excuses mentality.

Sometimes, you learn how to be successful when it’s the only choice you have. When Covid happened, I had to figure out what was next, and at the time it was terrifying. Looking back, I see it as a complete reset—an unexpected push in the direction I needed to go. It forced me to adapt, take those risks, and step into the path that ultimately led to my success.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Samantha—born and raised by the beaches of New Jersey! With a degree in Psychology and a lifelong background as an athlete, I’m drawn to hard work, fast-paced environments, and high-energy. Throughout my college and pro soccer career, I always had a “side gig” and that side gig was bartending. Nearly 15 years later, I’ve worked in almost every kind of bar—restaurants, clubs, dive bars, shore bars, and weddings.

Outside of bartending, I held jobs in various industries, but too many of them were toxic environments where people only looked out for themselves. I quickly realized I don’t tolerate that kind of sh*t. Bartending, on the other hand, became my passion. Especially in the wedding industry, where I got to meet so many amazing people and be part of their happiest moments.

When Covid put a stop to the 3 jobs I was working at the time, I knew once things improved that I would need to change my environment to be happy and successful. So after one quiet night at the bar I realized that most events were moving outdoors due to less covid restrictions. That’s when I thought to myself “How do I book those gigs? How can I work for myself as a private bartender?” The next thing you know I’m driving 4 hours round trip to upstate NY on a snowy December night to get my old beat-up Horse Trailer that I would soon transform into a luxurious mobile bar. That was the start of the journey into my mobile bartending business.

I’m most proud that I refused to settle in environments that drained me. I knew I was meant for more, and when the opportunity presented itself, I chased it—despite how scared I was. I built my business from nothing, and I never gave up. I’m also incredibly grateful for my supportive family, especially my Dad, Ralph, who took time out of his busy schedule to help me reconstruct that horse trailer to bring my dream to life. I owe so much of my success to him!

Tipsy Saddle was born not just to better my own life but to create something that brings joy and happiness to others. My goal is to leave every client and guest at an event better than they were when we first met. Tipsy Saddle isn’t just about serving drinks—it’s about creating memorable experiences, fostering connections, building a supportive community, and making life just a little more fun.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think the biggest factor in building my reputation has been staying authentic and true to myself. People connect with realness, and I’ve never tried to be anything other than who I am. I’m very passionate, caring, hardworking, and I always focus on creating the best experience possible for my clients.

I also believe there’s plenty of business out there for every mobile bartending service in NJ. I don’t waste energy worrying about competition because I care more about forming a community within my industry than competing against others. When we support one another, we all win. I enjoy helping other businesses and referring them to new clients when I’m fully booked. I also love helping new and aspiring bartenders navigate the unknown territory to begin their journey. My focus is on building genuine relationships all across the board. At the end of the day, success isn’t just about growing your own business, it’s about contributing to a thriving industry where we all succeed together. I can only hope my reputation represents me as a person!

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Starting Tipsy Saddle wasn’t something I intentionally saved up for. I built it with determination and a whole lot of faith in myself. I used whatever savings I had, being as frugal as possible but splurging on the areas that were absolutely necessary. I knew I needed to prioritize the essentials to get the business off the ground, but I was also careful with every other expense. It wasn’t easy, but I stayed focused and committed, trusting that the investment would pay off in the long run.

Having a Dad as a knowledgeable contractor and an amazing human being definitely made the process easier. Together we basically DIY’ed the entire build to save money.

Stay committed, put in the work, be resourceful, and you can make it happen!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tipsysaddle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tipsysaddle
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tipsysaddle
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TipsySaddle
• Other: TikTok: @tipsysaddle