TIP by Dave Gordon

Author:Dave Gordon
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781119641483
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2019-12-10T12:00:00+00:00

13

Communicate Your Brand

“Jack’s going to be late,” Kelly called down the bar.

It was Friday of week number three, and Brian was starting to get familiar with the routines of Crossroads. He nodded to Kelly as he continued to cut the lemons and limes for the drink garnish trays.

He had never worked with Kelly alone. She was usually out on an audition or a rehearsal or shooting an episode of something and was always the last one in to work. This Friday she didn’t have anything going, and Jack needed to come in late.

He only broke one glass the previous Saturday and in only four shifts was beginning to pick up his pace enough to increase his tip contribution to “average.” Definitely a step up from being labeled “the monkey.”

“You’re doing better,” Kelly approached him.

“Well, it is just cutting lemons and limes. I think I should be able to handle fruit without an issue,” Brian responded.

She smiled.

“No. I mean the work. Taking care of the customers. You care about getting better. And, it’s showing. So, just wanted to say that.”

Brian felt a sense of pride. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone said something like that to him. Never underestimate the power of recognition.

“Thanks,” he said. “I’ll never be as fast as you, but you and Jack are good teachers.”

“No. No you won’t, and hopefully you’ll be out of here before you get really good at it. I’ve been bartending for a while now, as a means to an end, because it gives me the freedom to be the actress I want to be, and audition for the roles I find meaningful and important.”

Brian continued to cut the fruit.

“What’s it like? Auditioning and that sort of thing. I mean, I was a sales guy so I understand the whole rejection thing, but it has to be frustrating to keep putting yourself out there.”

Kelly thought for a moment and then gave an answer that sounded like she had been preparing her whole life.

“It’s when you stop putting yourself out there, and stop taking chances and stop feeling like the next time will be the moment your life is going to change . . . that’s worse than any rejection anyone could ever face. When you know who you are, and know there is a role out there that you’re born to fill, that’s all the motivation you should need.”

He never thought of it like that. Everyone has a role. They don’t have to be actors or actresses, but everyone at his company had a role that they were born, or at least trained, to play. The finance people were good with numbers. The operations people were good with processes and analytics. And the salespeople were good at making connections and solving problems for prospects and clients. That was his role, until it wasn’t.

“Have you ever been fired from an acting job?” Brian asked.

Kelly thought for a moment.

“No. Not fired, but by not being hired for a role when I audition, I always feel like I am being fired.

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