Aggressive Hospitality May Save America
The craft sector of the hospitality industry is more politically active than ever before. This is a risk for both individuals as well as establishments because it runs the risk of alienating a large segment of their clientele. Still, fundraisers in the form of nights of charity or percentage of a particular drinks sales in the name of party affiliation or issues are becoming much more common. I am a partner in a venture called Coup that donates 100% of its profits to causes like Planned Parenthood and immigration services. Recently we threw a fundraiser for Texas senate candidate Beto O'Rourke in New York City. We're really trying to impress upon people that it's great to get involved in local politics, but it's also value and importance to pay attention to national politics.
I'm not sure that my quest is entirely political in nature. Rather, I'm seeking to make the world I live in more hospitable. I've dedicated my entire career to the hospitality industry. As a young boy working at my dad's bar I'd lug cases of beer up from the cellar for coins to immediately plug into the stand-up arcade games we had. Missile Command and Asteroids were always my favorites. Plus, in retrospect, what a great deal it was for my dad, right?
My lifetime of service has ingrained in me a need to care for people, and by care, I mean simply treat people with respect and be gracious while I do it. I am not alone. There is a movement within the craft-driven sector of my industry to go beyond offering a service and add value by being actively, if not aggressively, hospitable. We refer to ourselves as "Hospitalitarians." We engage in long Facebook talks regarding how each of us is being more hospitable than the other and we cite examples in an ongoing game of one-upsmanship.
And our guests are extremely receptive to the movement, especially in the politicial environment of today. Each week seems to bring with it a new outrage or a new cause to either champion or vehemently oppose. Frankly, there's never been a time in my career where there were more "reasons" to need a drink. The climate is inhospitable, and when I can offer people an opportunity to "do good while being bad" they take me up on it in droves.
