Tequila Tales Brings the Flavor without Limes or Salt
A native of Chicago’s south side believes that adult conversations, like tequila, are best served straight up with no chaser.
Isaac Paul Austin, created the “The Tequila Tales,” along with his partner Kacey A. Smith, an unscripted speaking series about love and relationships that engages the entire audience, making them a part of the cast. Past topics were titled “Cuffing Season,” “Too Deep in the Friend Zone,” and “Women are Liars.”
Austin says he launched “The Tequila Tales” four years ago. But now, he says he is ready to take the series to the next level.
“When we did it before I not only saw its popularity growing, but I knew the concept and my innate gift of communicating made this very special and unlike the typical exchanges,” Austin says.” Surely the relationship conversation isn't new, but there was something sexy and different about the way I was doing it.”
Austin, who grew up in the South Shore neighborhood, also moderates his speaking series and says he lends his talents as a speaker, moderator, or host to various organizations and agencies.
“The Tequila Tales was a rebranding of an earlier event I had the pleasure of moderating in 2011 called “Wine and Love.” It was much more intimate, and was held in a boutique art lounge,” Austin says. “The concept was to bring people out to sample their new wine by engaging them in engaging discussions.”
Before Austin knew it, “The Tequila Tales” gained a prominent following consisting of mostly college-educated African-Americans. Many of the backdrops for the event have been at Hyde Park’s Promontory Point and the Red Kiva in the West Loop.
“The feedback is incredibly humbling. What I appreciate most are how much the women AND men enjoy it,” Austin says. “Typically events of this nature are dominated by women and their views. But because of the way that I manage the discussion, I not only keep people honest, but the room in general is prepared to be challenged if they take the safe route and become "a little too Kumbaya".
According to Austin, who is an alumnus of Kenwood Academy, that hosting “The Tequila Tales” on the South Side where many of the show’s followers live, and was a no brainer.
“I think that is what made hosting the show at the Promontory so unique and special. I attended high school at Kenwood Academy that's located literally two blocks away,” Austin says. “So having a quality venue of that caliber on the south side opened the doors for me to have somewhat of a "homecoming."
Lindsay Adams, a Hyde Park resident, has attended “The Tequila Tales” four times. She says she heard about the speaking series via word of mouth and social media.
Adams also said that she was looking for something to do that didn’t involve her going downtown.
“I heard it was local and they had a nice crowd. What I like most about it, it that they bring out and nice crowd of men and women,” Adams says. “Most of the time, at similar events, you see 90 percent women.”
Adams, a motivational speaker and weight loss blogger, went on to say that the show provides something not normally seen.
“As women, we usually talk to each other about relationships but it is good to hear what the men think as well,” Adams says. “They bring out a professional crowd to talk have cocktails and talk about relationships.”
Austin says he has big things in store for “The Tequila Tales.” He also saying the speaking series will be partnering with an online dating service that likens itself to Tinder, but for people of color.
“Outside of that, I am all in with this “The Tequila Tales” stuff. My vision is very grand, and I have hopes of making it a national brand,” Austin says. “So I am throwing everything I have at it, and I'm moving the chains any way I can to make the dream a reality.”
For more information, log on to http://thetequilatales.com/.
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