Today we’d like to introduce you to Naomi Báez-West.
Hi Naomi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My interest in business started pretty early, all the way back in middle school actually. I grew up surrounded by good music: my dad was a DJ & took me to my 1st concert in kindergarten. Shout out to early 2000’s Britney Spears.
Almost a decade later, enter the Vans Warped Tour every summer. I wasn’t exactly blessed with the musical talents required to be in a band, so I ended up learning about all the business that goes into being in a band. I was determined to be a tour manager & got my degree in Music Business. I worked selling merch for artists & running tour VIP packages. which gave me a crash course in everything from logistics and customer experience to all the other little behind the scenes bits in the business side of the music industry. I learned a lot about how businesses work, how people interact with them, and what makes a place successful.
That eventually led me into the restaurant industry, where I found that I really loved the fast pace, the people, and the organized chaos that comes with running a restaurant. What started as a part-time bartending gig has led me to be the HBIC.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh man! There have been plenty of twists, wrong turns, and a few moments where I had to completely reevaluate what I was doing with my life.
One of the biggest turning points for me was getting sober in 2021. I feel like we don’t talk enough about substance abuse in the music scene and the restaurant industry. Both worlds can be incredibly fun, creative, and exciting, but they can also normalize a lot of unhealthy behaviors. The late nights, drinking culture, constant social environment, and pressure to keep going can make it really easy to lose sight of where the line is. I didn’t see the line until long after I passed it.
Getting sober forced me to take a really honest look at myself, my choices, and the direction I was headed. Ultimately, though, getting sober has been one of the most important and rewarding things I’ve ever done. It gave me a much clearer sense of who I am and what I’m capable of. I became more confident, more intentional, and honestly, a much better leader.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a restaurant manager, glorified babysitter, micro-influencer, day-of coordinator extraordinaire, occasional therapist, professional problem solver, and full-time chaos coordinator. At the end of the day, my job is basically making sure the entire machine keeps moving: the staff, the guests, the business, the social media, the events, the unexpected disasters, and everything in between.
I think what sets me apart most is how much I genuinely care about the people I work with. I’ve always believed that if you show up for your people, they’ll show up for you. And I mean that pretty literally. From weddings and baby showers to funerals and sold out shows, I show up for my staff. I want them to know that they’re more than just employees filling a shift. They’re people I’m invested in, and their lives matter to me.
I’d say I’m pretty proud of the culture and relationships I’ve built along the way. Restaurants can be chaotic, demanding places, but I want the people who work with me to know that they have someone in their corner. I want to build a team that actually cares about each other and the place we’re creating together. Working summers in a beer garden in the Nashville heat is hard enough, I’m not here to make it worse.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I like most about Nashville is that there’s a weird little magic to it. It’s a city where you can go from a dive bar to a fancy restaurant to a festival all about tomates to a punk show all in the same night. There’s an incredible mix of people, industries, personalities, and fun little communities here, and I think that’s what makes Nashville feel like Nashville. Plus you never ever know who you’ll run into where!
What I like least? The traffic. The potholes. The traffic caused by everyone trying to avoid the potholes. But honestly, one of the things I hate most is watching so many talented people come through Nashville, build something amazing, blow up, and then move away. I’ve met some really incredible people here who I thought would be part of my life and this city for years, only to watch them move on to the next thing. But I totally get why: Nashville has changed a lot, and sometimes people outgrow it but it still sucks to lose the people who make the city feel special. However, I am so grateful to have them as a chapter in my book!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @iamnaomibaez
