Today we’d like to introduce you to Allysa Topel.
Hi Allysa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
During my college years, I was a dedicated student-athlete playing competitive soccer.. At the same time, I worked two jobs—serving and bartending at local Arizona restaurants while also contracting a few days a week with Castle Biosciences, a rapidly growing molecular diagnostics company.
After completing my undergraduate degree at Arizona state University, Castle Biosciences offered me the opportunity to join the company full-time. I was incredibly grateful, and over the next several years, I worked hard to grow alongside the organization and help build our department from the ground up.
Customer service was always at the heart of my work. I developed training programs, hired and trained new team members, helped cultivate future leaders, and worked closely with executives and cross-functional teams to expand company operations into another state. I had the opportunity to help bring the company’s vision to life while building meaningful relationships with colleagues, customers, and patients.
After nearly a decade with the company, I reached a point where I felt called to take a leap of faith. I wanted to combine the leadership and customer service experience I had gained throughout my career with my longtime love for hospitality, event planning, and bringing people together. That decision ultimately led me to create The Social Ally.
I come from a large and growing family, and I have always been the person everyone turns to when it is time to plan, host, organize, or bring a celebration to life. I genuinely love creating experiences that make people feel welcomed, cared for, and connected. The Social Ally grew from that passion and from my belief that great service is about much more than simply completing a task—it is about understanding people, anticipating their needs, and helping create moments they will remember.
I have now been in business for approximately two years, and one of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been seeing the joy on my clients’ and guests’ faces after they trusted me to help elevate an important occasion. Whether I am bartending a wedding, hosting an interactive cocktail class, or supporting a special celebration, knowing that I played a small role in creating a meaningful memory makes every risk and challenge worthwhile.
I have big plans for the future of The Social Ally. Right now, my focus is on continuing to grow my client base, sharing my services with more people throughout the Valley, and maintaining the personal attention and high level of service that make my business unique. I am still building, learning, and evolving, but I am proud of how far I have come and excited about where this leap of faith may lead.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all—although I can laugh about that now!
I started The Social Ally with little more than an idea, a strong work ethic, and the determination to figure things out as I went. I did not have a formal roadmap for launching a business, so nearly everything I learned came through my own research, trial and error, and the willingness to keep moving forward even when I was unsure of the next step.
It took approximately four months just to establish the company, create an initial marketing strategy, purchase the supplies and equipment needed for events, build an online presence, and list my services across different platforms. Once everything was finally in place, I was excited and ready to start booking events. I assumed the inquiries would begin pouring in once I opened my doors, but that was not the reality.
I received plenty of leads, but they did not convert into bookings as quickly or consistently as I had hoped. Watching time pass without the growth I had envisioned was discouraging, and I eventually made the practical decision to rejoin the workforce so I could continue supporting myself and my family while building the business.
That experience taught me that entrepreneurship is not always about taking one giant leap and immediately finding success. Sometimes it means balancing multiple responsibilities, adjusting your expectations, and continuing to believe in your vision even when the results are slow.
The most important lessons I have learned are the value of patience, perseverance, and maintaining a positive attitude. I had to trust that meaningful growth would take time and that one connection, opportunity, or conversation could change the direction of the business. After about a year, that is exactly what began to happen. Through networking and meeting the right people, new opportunities started opening up and the momentum began to shift.
The road has not been smooth, but every challenge has made me more resourceful, resilient, and intentional about the business I am building. I am still learning, but I now understand that progress is not always immediate or linear—and that continuing to show up is often what creates the breakthrough.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The Social Ally is a mobile bar and professional bartending service that also offers event-planning support for clients who need additional help bringing their vision to life. My clients are often looking for more than someone to simply serve drinks—they want an elevated bar experience that feels intentional, polished, and personalized to their event.
Many of my events take place at luxury apartment communities, private residences, and corporate offices, but my services are available to anyone looking to enhance the experience they provide for their guests. Whether it is a wedding, private celebration, resident event, corporate gathering, or interactive cocktail class, I customize my services around each client’s individual needs and vision.
I can provide a fully equipped portable bar setup, professional bartending services, customized cocktail menus, beverage planning, shopping guidance, and support with additional event details when needed. I work closely with each client to understand the type of bar experience they want to create, the number of guests they are expecting, and the overall atmosphere they hope to achieve.
What truly sets The Social Ally apart is that I am not a one-size-fits-all company. I take the time to understand each event, including its theme, color scheme, guest experience, budget, and the small personal touches that will make it feel special. I can customize my bar setup and cocktail menu to complement the event rather than simply arriving with the same standard package every time.
When someone hires The Social Ally, they are working directly with me—Ally—from the first inquiry through the completion of their event. I personally respond to clients, walk them through their options, answer their questions, and remain accessible throughout the planning process. That direct communication helps eliminate much of the stress and confusion that can come from coordinating with a larger company or multiple points of contact.
I believe this personal approach allows me to build genuine relationships and establish trust with my clients. They know who they are communicating with, who will be showing up for their event, and that I am personally invested in making their experience successful. That consistency has been incredibly valuable in developing repeat business and referrals.
What I am most proud of is the trust my clients place in me. They invite me into some of their most meaningful celebrations and depend on me to help create an experience their guests will enjoy and remember. Seeing a client relax, enjoy their own event, and feel confident that everything is being taken care of is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
Ultimately, The Social Ally is about more than bartending. It is about hospitality, connection, and creating customized experiences that make people feel celebrated and cared for.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People interested in working with The Social Ally can find my services by searching me through Google, The Knot, WeddingWire, Yelp, social media, or directly through my website. When a potential client reaches out, I ask them to provide a few basic details about their event. From there, I connect with them personally to learn more about their vision, priorities, guest count, location, and budget before creating a customized quote.
Clear communication is extremely important to me. I want every client to understand exactly what is included in their services, what they can expect throughout the planning process, and how everything will be executed on the day of their event. My goal is to make the process feel personal, transparent, and as stress-free as possible.
I am also always open to collaborating with other professionals and businesses. Since launching The Social Ally, I have connected with friends, prospective clients, event planners, caterers, DJs, venue representatives, property managers, and many other professionals within the hospitality and event industries. A memorable bar experience is often one part of a much larger event, so collaboration and strong communication between vendors can make a tremendous difference in the overall guest experience.
I welcome opportunities to partner on weddings, private celebrations, corporate events, luxury apartment resident experiences, community gatherings, promotional events, and other creative projects. I am always interested in connecting with people who believe The Social Ally could complement the experience they are creating—and I am equally happy to recommend and support other professionals whose work I believe in.
People can also support my business by following and engaging with The Social Ally on social media, sharing my services with friends and family, leaving a review after an event, or recommending me to someone looking for a personalized mobile bartending experience. For a small business, every referral, review, introduction, and word of encouragement can have a meaningful impact.
I truly believe that support and collaboration are essential to success in this industry. There is always something new to learn and someone new to learn from. Knowledge is power, and I am always open to having conversations, exchanging ideas, sharing what I have learned, and building relationships that allow all of us to grow.
Pricing:
- Standard Pricing $300-$400 base for 2 hours (~40-50 guests)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thesocialallyphx.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialallyphx?utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allysa-topel-653840343
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-social-ally-glendale-3?uid=4JGEU1-O1iUO6i425R-M3g&utm_source=ishare
- Other: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/the-social-ally-glendale-az-2090627
