Wooden Robot — Charlotte, NC
Lindsay Hayes, known for her beer content, has turned her account into doing good for the community in Charlotte and folks in the beer and brewery industry across the Carolinas. Lindsay talks about her journey to the city and what got her to where she is now as HoppyHayes and uses that to create a domino effect for powerful change to help others when needed.
Did you grow up in Charlotte? What was the journey like for you to the city? I’m from DC, and I went to East Carolina University, so that’s what led me to the Carolinas in the first place. After school, I got a job in Nashville, and I realized I missed the beach. I missed being closer to family and friends. I visited Charlotte a lot and just thought I’d make the move here, and five years later, here we are.”
Where did the passion for all of your content creation come from? “I didn’t want to be an influencer, I still don’t want to, I didn’t make it to become one. I’ve worked in beer for nine years now. I worked for Miller/Coors in College and learned a lot, but my parents were mad because I got a degree in health care and they wanted me to do something with it, so that’s when I moved to Nashville and got a really cool health care job but I still had a part-time job at a brewery there so I was still around it. 2019 is when I started HoppyHayes, and I created it to get a job here in Charlotte. I knew getting a health care job here was hard, but I knew getting a job in the brewery industry would be quick. I sent some emails just to get some feelers out. I must have emailed a dozen breweries, and no one was hiring. So, I just made the decision to move here and figure it out. I needed to show up and go to these breweries. Most were new at that point, so there was no turnover. That’s when I made the call to start my Instagram and work at that to post beer content, and it feels like I grew to 10k overnight. Reels weren’t a thing, so it was just posting photos — it was easy to keep up with it. Once I reached that point, I started reaching out to breweries on Instagram. I got eight interviews. Isn’t social media crazy? It was a visible photo resume that was a tool to make it. I was still trying to find a job in health care, but I got a bartending job, so I figured I'd give myself six months to figure it out, and then 2020 rolled around. I wouldn’t say I was stuck in it, but it definitely put me more in the industry to learn more. I worked at Catawba Brewing during COVID, so we were brainstorming ideas to keep sales going — whether it was growler deals or if you brought in a receipt from another local place that you supported, you got 10% off, so we wanted to think of ways to support other business and still make a profit. It was a great learning experience. I am such a busy bee, so I needed to work, and if I wasn’t, I would not be sane or be in the position I am now. We did whatever we could to survive.”
Did you think you’d be at this point now? “I love it; even if I left bartending full time, I would still work part-time on weekends. I would never work anywhere else, though. I told Dan, if I had to leave the beer industry, this would be my last one. Wooden Robot is such a big part of me, and it's just a family here. It’s home. My fiancé works here, all of our friends are here and especially with what we are going through lately, we want to be part of this place more than ever.”
Are you a goal-driven person, or do you roll with the flow? “No, I used to be a goal-driven person. I’m a planner, and I love being organized, but for me, it’s harder to set goals right now because I’m so confused about what I want to do right now. Every time I go in one direction, the universe is like, HAHA, just kidding, I’m very free-flowing right now. I love a good challenge; I’ll try it. But right now, life is just up in the air, and I’m rolling with what comes my way.”
What is a proud moment that has shaped you into who you are today? “There’s not like a defining moment. I’ve always been independent, and I’ve always been a self-driven person. My mom has always been like that — independent and always saying that you don’t need others to do the things you want to do. I love being on a team, but I’m a self-motivator; I moved by myself, went to college by myself.” Did you think those moves helped you? “Absolutely. I’m an extrovert. I’m very outgoing, and I thrive more when I’m places alone. Moving by myself was tough, but I was in my early 20, so I was ready to talk to anyone. I got unique and amazing opportunities because of sparking random conversations with people. You don’t know who you can meet and what can happen.”
Are there any important lessons that you have learned along the way that you take with you daily? “Since starting my account, I’m more careful about what I say and how I act in public because things are taken out of context easily. I’m very protective of people. So just me needing to chill the fuck out *laughs instead of making a change or doing something for this and thinking I’m the only voice. Sometimes, it's not my arena or my place. I’m proud of being authentic, so if you don’t know me, I’m the same person on social media as in real life. A few times a year, I think that there are 22,000 people who are looking at what I do. It’s cool and weird, but it's also a chance to do good. I feel that I was able to help our brewery raise funds, and I’ll do that for any brewery. It just takes one person to make a powerful change and create a domino effect. Then you see 65 billboards with your boss's name on them. I love it, but I see it and approach it differently.”
What’s next? “I’ve been to 24 different music festivals. My Dad was a drummer, and his side of the family was very creative. I grew up always being around music and going to concerts. Warped Tour was big for me; I’m a big emo and metalhead. I used to work at a music venue in Baltimore, and when I moved to Nashville, I did some promo things for different venues. Music is just a huge thing for me. I love all genres; I collect vinyl. My Dad gave me his collection, and it’s so special to me. Every time I look at it, I always hope that my kids can appreciate this as much as I do. I remember trying to play flute for a day in elementary school. That was one thing that just didn’t click *laughs. So what’s next, I don’t know. My big thing is that I want to go to every brewery in North Carolina. I have a spreadsheet on my phone. Then, of course, I need to plan a wedding, then we got a dog, and then the accident happened, and then my cousin passed away, so it’s just one thing after another. Its been hard to make it happen. I have made some progress with places I’ve been, but I will make it happen. I made a goal by the end of next year. I guess that’s a goal of mine, but it's more long-term.”
