“I don’t know if I can do this…I mean…it’s just…so much” Brian’s voice trailed off as he looked at the table adorned with plates brimming with food and decorated with glasses filled to the top with alcohol. The word ‘cornucopia’ might well have described the feast before us. Yet another bar/restaurant had pulled out the stops to make sure we had all we needed, and more. Now, since all the photos had been taken it was time to dig in. Sometimes my work is, how shall I put it, pretty awesome.
The hours are long and most of the time it’s hard to see any real progress Pretty much from the time I wake up in the morning until my eyes close at night (I mean actually fall asleep because I do quite a bit of planning in those moments before) my mind is on how to do what I’m doing even better. Photos, ad sales, events, future projects, it’s all a jumble under the heading of Alcoholmanac in my skull. A constant stream of thought coursing through me only interrupted on a few occasions.
Those occasions are when I get to enjoy a few perks of the job.
Some people, as they look at us in the restaurant chowing down platefuls of food with camera gear to one side, or talk about how lucky we are to get to try some of the liquors we do for free, don’t really realize how much went into creating that scene. Those perks are hard earned.
Building the relationships, the reputation of the publication, the friendships to make it happen doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it took Brian 4 years to get to this point. Hat’s off to him for that.
The perks are pretty awesome. Like I said, free food, liquor, and an occasional tasting.
Sitting back after an awesome meal at a place we chose for an editors pick, tipping back a glass full of $150 a bottle tequila, listening to brand ambassadors laud their product, those are the rare times we can actually relax.
But you know what? I just realized that we can’t actually relax then either.
As we’re eating that meal we’re also taking notes on the food for an article. Same goes for the liquor. And as we’re listening to those talks we’re also thinking about possible advertising and networking with those reps.
Even though the work never stops I still think the perks of the job are pretty cool. I mean, how many people can actually claim to have a better liquor selection than a bar?
A big thanks to all the restaurants, distillers, brewers, distributors, bars, and people who make all of this possible for Alcoholmanac. Another big thank you to the bars/restaurants in issue 4-3. They include Stonefly Brewery, Hi Hat Lounge, the Irish Pub, County Clare, O’sullivans, Liquid Johnny’s. and Hotch-a-do.
