- Deanna Dixon moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta and started Ubering full-time in 2023.
- After six months, she installed a dashcam and quickly became popular from her Uber content.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Deanna Dixon, a 39-year-old Uber driver in Atlanta, about how she earns extra money working for Uber. It's been edited for length and clarity.
About a year ago, I moved to Atlanta to give my daughter some structure and began driving for Uber to help pay the bills. Before then, I was singing in the Sunday Service Choir on tour with Kanye West and living in Los Angeles.
At first, I felt there was a stigma attached to driving for Uber and that I was stepping down from a glamorous life. However, Uber provided me with a new community. I wanted to install a dashcam in my car for safety reasons, but a passenger gave me the big idea to record my interactions with riders because of my friendly personality.
After about six months of driving, I set up a dashcam and started making content with my Uber passengers. Since then, my riders have blessed me in the most unexpected ways. I'm now known as "the Rideshare Queen" and make money through ads, sponsorships, and driving for Uber full time.
Here are four of the best ways I earn higher tips driving for Uber in Atlanta.
1. I focus on airport pickups
During the week, I have many passengers that are on business trips. The majority of my income comes from picking up these clients from the airport. These types of riders tend to tip very well.
I wake up early and do airport pickups from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. because there's very little traffic and congestion, and I can be home during the day to take care of my daughter.
Sometimes airport riders book their Uber trips in advance, so I have guaranteed pickups for those days. Uber sends me airport-reservation requests because I work that route routinely.
2. Sports fans help me make good money and good content
Sports fans usually help me create the most interesting content for my social media and are good tippers.
If I need to make some extra money, I'll pick up passengers at sports events, in addition to my usual airport route. I put my daughter in an after-school program and do this in the evenings between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sports fans tend to be the friendliest customers I have. They're often a bit intoxicated and having a fun time with friends or family — this makes them good tippers.
While some people worry that I'm a female driver picking up intoxicated strangers, 99% of my passengers have been very respectful. The worst thing that has happened to me is that someone threw up in my car.
3. I live in a busy area
I live near the Braves stadium and have a very busy and active community around me, so I don't have difficulty finding passengers.
There are many businesses in the area, such as restaurants and a mall, so I have primarily corporate customers. They tip well. When I need some extra money, I Uber around my community.
4. Ubering helps me find other clients
Location is important, but I also get special requests. Since I'm well known as an Uber driver, sometimes I have customers who request a ride from me outside the app — after watching my content online. One of these customers gave me a $3,000 tip for a ride.
Since my videos are wholesome and uplifting, I haven't gotten any complaints from Uber. This job has helped me create a whole new career. In addition to well-tipping customers, I've been invited to talk shows, I've had sponsorships, and I'm about to do a commercial.
Rhianna even follows me on Instagram, and she sent me a private message. I'm so grateful for what driving for Uber has done for me.