We added Chrissie Hynde to the line-up!
and more to our already sold-out show
On Sept. 22, 1981, The Pretenders played at my college, Washington University in Graham Chapel, I was in charge of security (and some backstage hospitality) and therefore had a front row seat “to do my job” :) I believe that was the first and last time I saw Chrissie Hynde in the flesh. Now, 44 years later, I can’t wait to see her again for our Patti Smith celebration coming up the end of March.
But this is why I love what I do, the chance to meet cool people and the connections along the path of life, if not serendipity, between us all. When it was time to create the poster and marketing center-piece for the Carnegie Hall tribute show this year, Patti wanted us to use an image from the great rock and roll photographer, renaissance person, Lynn Goldsmith. I was thrilled, and after some emails, a phone call, a check lost in the mail, Lynn and I finally connected and learned that her new and 16th photography book on Patti could be bought and we arranged for the first 150 VIP ticket buyers for the show to receive them.
We sold out quickly and the great photography book “Before Easter After”, published by Rizzoli, is now a prized part of this show for some deep fans.
Of course, we almost forgot a few weeks later, that we had offered a “signed copy” of the book to these fans, and that almost big goof, led to my enticing Lynn to lunch at City Winery where we piled up 150 books for her to autograph while she and I ate a Caesar salads with chicken. In those two hours, we traded stories, although her journey through Rock and Roll history is much more fascinating than mine, I think we became friends. I handed her my book for her to read on the way back home to Nashville and hugged goodbye.
Anyway, a few weeks ago she sent me a text saying she finished my book, liked it, but thinks our food is not as great as I painted it in the book (she is right and I think our new menu rolling out this month will fix it, I hope—it’s not easy to serve 300 people who all come to a show at the same time in 10 different cities every night, but that is my gig.)
Most of last week, I spent with our team getting our new menu out to our customers, answering complaints about our new minimum, and directly engaging with about 200 customers who love our programming, but are more challenged with our food offering. Even getting Chrissie on the show is a positive, covered in Rolling Stone, but is circles back food. I think back about that Pretenders show, I don’t really remember doing any work providing food backstage, just mesmerized from the front of stage pretending to do security in a haze of musical dream.
How about a tic waiting list for the $70 seats for us starving westbeth musician community partners of the Winery!??
Why don't you do a license deal with a good restaurant operator? You don't want to run kitchens anyway and you've never been, well, I guess no one comes for the food, but...And please, a taxi light on the north face of the building. That would be win-win for you and RXR.