This weekend I have two of my most challenging gigs. And it represents some pretty awesome news. Over the last two weeks Tony Verhey, his son, and the amazing women that tend his bar taught me to be a bartender. From scratch. He asked me what I knew about bartending and I told him the truth.
“Tony, I was told to lie to a bar owner and tell em’ I had experience, but I am not going to do that. I once poured some beers in England. But I don’t know anything.”
“Nothin?”
“Nope”
But I explained from the bottom of my heart that I had this dream that if I wasn’t going to Jamaica to play with Italee this February, I was going to learn become a bartender. I could earn that freedom to return to Europe and play some real shows. Then I could come back and be a real asset to bar owners I love that give blood, sweat, and tears to support musicians.
Tony saw I have the potential and he has invested his resources in helping me. And I’m excited to help him.
But like that scene in Cocktails on Tom Cruise’s first night, my test is tomorrow at Tony V’s Garage is a Hip Hop show that will be a true test of both what I could absorb in two weeks and what I made of, as even my biggest cheerleaders in the bar said,
“Saturday, you are about to get your ass handed to you.”
When it comes at me I’m going do my best to remain calm and strong in the trenches, and think of the experiences that await with Tadej Tadiman Tratnik in Slovenia on stage if I pass this test.
And then Sunday I have one more test. I have to close the bar by myself. I’ll be there 6 pm to close. Jeremy From-Steel Beans and Brian Dicaprio are planning to come and see me about shows I want to support.
Like I told Tony, I may be a bit dyslexic, I couldn’t afford the test. I may need to write down notes, and there is a lot to memorize and this bar is his baby. I am being entrusted with a lot of responsibility and I’m proud of that. I’ve had keys to a pot shop for two years.
But I know I got the other stuff I need inside me to be good at this job. If it was that easy, everyone would do it.
When I sang at hundreds of shows my eyes would wander towards the bar to the bartenders I would make bust out laughing and dance as I did my thang, and I often wondered, could I do what they do?
This weekend we shall see.
I have flashcards in front of me and the training of bartenders like Hanna Booth in my heart.
All I ever ask for is a shot. And I want to help Tony V and his bar reach the top. It’s a great club. Everett has a Crocodile and I see it.
– Musician and writer Davin Michael Stedman has many ventures, such as the AMAZING blog, 100milesofmusic.com. Davin’s recent song has become a global earworm and Caribbean dancehall hit. Listen here on Reggaeville: DAVIN MICHAEL STEDMAN & ANTHONY RED ROSE – FREE YOUR MIND FEAT. SLY & ROBBIE WITH LENKY MARSDEN. The video is now available on Youtube: Tuff Gong Television. His single with British band Sherlock Soul is available here.
