It's Still in Conversations

Newspapers are the best way for me to get the gossip of the town. A fair majority of my customers probably don't even look at the newspaper anymore; but we do have a couple individuals (regulars at that) who read the news instead of watch television. They're the customers sitting in the store, ceramic mug left idle on the table, with their fingers massaging the leafs of the grey pages lined with opinionated jargon edited to the point of nostalgia. This is not what I consider news; nor do I consider the ramblings of media journalists who've placed themselves in the pockets of media outlets in order to procure their dream job (but this is beside the point). The most recent set of nostalgic articles has been about the legalization of marijuana in Colorado; and since I live in Colorado our newspapers LOVE dispensing the latest happenings in the ongoing struggle to secure recreational pot and figuring out a way to make it as free-flowing as alcohol, though I daresay that's still several years off.

I'm annoyed, to say the least, that the news continues to sensationalize something as innocuous as legalizing a plant... I understand the implications to society at large and the overall sensation, as well as the legal, political, and social aspects this occurrence has afforded, but when I see more important news through simple investigations of my own I get a little frazzled. For instance: Nederland just approved it's first recreational marijuana dispensary the other day. For those of you who don't know Nederland here in Colorado, it's a small town up Boulder Canyon that's known for it's hippie vibe, it's mountain man outlook on the world, and generally being a pretty relaxed place. Marijuana is no stranger to Nederland, nor are other recreational drugs that stimulate the mind in various ways. So this little factoid about Nederland approving a 'pot-shop' seemed a little less interesting. Granted, my customers typically felt the same way about this headline. This was not news to them. This was expected, foreseen, and known as an inevitability. Why then should it have been on the front page of a newspaper.

Ever since the major shift to the myriad of multi-media sources for news I had hoped print would figure a way into delivering the less known, the investigative, the deeper side of journalism; harkening to its roots in a flailing attempt to recover its integrity in the minds of the populace. Not be serial, popcorn news that blares readily and menially as visual stimuli. Good news, in my opinion, comes from random YouTube channels that I've become accustomed to; who deliver news deciphered from explicitly cited and explained evidence. We're lead to believe that the journalists are the honorable voices for the evidence and deliver such evidence in a clear voice. Now, however, the news presented in print prepares us for the simpler concerns in life. Remember: It's for this particular plant to exist on this planet again... In Colorado and Washington States...

When will print change? When will any media outlet change? ... When the masses change their viewpoint and ask for something new. That's the only way change will happen; and until that shift occurs I'll be stuck conversing over simple headlines about the community I live in. I'm glad it's an easy talking point and puts us somewhere to start off (I do appreciate that), but I dislike how simple it is. I've been learning so much about the dynamics of space, our sun, and the connections and trends we see all around us that aren't acknowledged in the news; but have such a huge impact on the way we're going to be living our lives in the near future. Unfortunately, it's all wrapped up in conspiracy because the news outlets won't put any airtime to these facts (yes, facts... observed and recorded and distributed by government funded agencies). This is where I lead conversations when I can: to the science. I live in Boulder... Science is our token money-maker.

I wonder how much of an impact I can make in my conversations with customers if I really rely on the science... That won't be very hard. It's all at my finger-tips thanks to the same multi-media that you're using to read this post. And hopefully, Marijuana won't be the main talking point for very long. I'm at work enough to really shift the concentration of ongoing conversations if I really work at it... I'll see what I can do.

Counter Conversations: The Long and The Short of It

It's hard to have a full conversation with customers when you're working as a barista, and this is probably a frequent occurrence in the service industry. A basic function of creating that atmosphere which calls to The Regulars is building conversations of depth, stretching beyond the boundaries of formality which permeate commerce. It's hard to have a meaningful conversation with someone you're taking money from and providing a service, especially if you tend to focus a little too much when stressed, like I do. I'm fortunate enough to have found a space of calm in my mind to retreat to in those moments, but it still doesn't help me talk to my customers; but when I do, the real conversations are extraordinary! That's how I build my community, my friendships...

Normally, an entire interaction with one of my customers goes through several essential steps: the casual greeting and smile, the taking of the order, a quick innocuous question, and then the guest waits for their drink, usually away from the counter and on his or her cell phone, the calling out of the drink, the thank you, and it's over. This is potentially as short as three minutes, or as long as seven if there's a line. I really enjoy when those short minutes are filled to the brim. There are a few of my Regulars who start on a strong foot and drive the conversation, which is an immense relief after being so repetitive throughout my shifts. One in particular has his life so focused on the secrets of energy connections that each time he talks with me he's trying to work out the grand themes and find the path through the yet unknown. I've learned a lot from him, and have been inspired into new themes for my own creative, spiritual, and every day activities. One woman just introduced me (specifically) to her family that was in town. We ended up talking about living in Virginia and suffering through traffic in the Belt. Some customers want to throw their confusion, anger, or misunderstandings or politics into the mix, wending their thoughts through a quick rebuttal or a thoughtful analysis. Those are the trickier moments. Language and reactions can be delicate, and sometimes what seems like a harmless interjection can harvest a fire which threatens insult like the edge of a knife pressing into skin. I find it difficult to plunge into more in depth conversations, especially with an older clientele, but when it happens I glean so much more to ponder that my days feel more rewarding than simply "taking time off."

As I mentioned, my main issue in striking up conversation is breaking away from my focus. When I'm on bar, I strive to make the best quality beverage in the shortest amount of time. If there's a rush my eyesight blanks out the amount of people, the number of empty cups to fill, and basically everything but the basics of my actions. What I hear in this state are the noises of the business: the proper sound of stretching milk, the names of drinks being ordered, the words of acknowledgment of a drink that I've handed off, the beeps, and questions, and other general sounds. I'm in the zone by this point, and my mouth goes numb, my stance is fluid as I dance around flinging drinks across the hand-off plane. Now I'm teaching myself to set the drink to be made, and then look at my guests waiting for my masterpiece. This is where I'm weakest, even looking up across the bar. If I can take this first step, I can usually get a customer talking to me, but I have to get there first. That's the next skill to hone. I see this as a reoccurring problem with most baristas, and I totally understand why. That zone is comfortable! It's invigorating at times, and you feel accomplished when you can clean up and step back. But that's just the "beginner's zone." The master baristas, bar maestros at the Brewing Market, are the next level above, and you can see the experience and quality when they seamlessly make drinks and have that in depth conversation with whomever is standing before them. That's where I want to be when I'm at work! And I'm learning how to get there.