Of Ideologies and Emotions
As we approach the new year, we tend to look back on the year behind and correct our course for the next. Whether with "New year resolutions" or with more silent convictions of what needs to be done, it has become the period of global introspection.
This year has been kind to me. Seven years of crazy hours in the F&B industry and endless tinkering with crazy ideas for years before have helped us create a product that people love.
I spend days thinking about what it is that people love. Is it the music? The cocktails? The food? The people? Since the day we began, we have hectic internal discussions, to assess if our decisions are ethical and moral (Thank you Nikhil, I will never ever stop appreciating the ability you have to keep us in check with your incredible observations and your honest and open conversation). What is moral? What is ethical? Doesn't everyone have a different frame of reference? Isn't the very fact that everyone has a different frame of reference the reason why a guy like Trump was elected, while the rest of us reel away in disgust at the very sight of the man or the mention of his name.
To each his own, yes?
The closest I have come to understand about what we do, is that we have inadvertently and subconsciously (and fortunately, I might add) created the place based on our ideology and belief system, as opposed to trying to create a product people might like. That creates a deeper sense of understanding and resonance with people who feel the same, deep down.
Belief system doesn't mean religion, I won't talk about that as my views on religion aren't flowery. It means the core values that are critical to me. I love that people who come to The Piano Man say "thank you" to my service team. I love that they know the names of the people that serve them. I love that they hold the door open for other guests and even for the staff. I love that they will frown upon and even tick of other patrons who might be disrespectful to the staff or to musicians. I love the look of respect and admiration they wear when they listen to or talk to musicians. These are manifestations of the core values of our patrons.
As we cross into the new year, I will dedicate the editorial space of the Newsletter to talk about these essential values of life that I am learning everyday, and hope that you will contribute to this education. I hope to build a deeper understanding of who I am and who we are which will make it easier to express our understanding of things and hopefully, one day, there will be no Trumps to scare us in our sleep.
At the end of the day, music is the medium we have found to share love, respect, knowledge and beauty. And we would love for you to be a part of it, everyday.
Have yourself a Merry Musical Christmas! And, of course, we have some fabulous musicians playing, it'll one of our rare double billed evenings (no, we won't double your bill, there are two fab bands performing)
With love
Arjun
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