Pagliacci
And now a break from corporation bashing......
As I entered Sunset Bowl in the early evening a couple Sundays ago a deep, staccato voice in the back of my head muttered something about a different dimension and a signpost up ahead. I suddenly became visually aware of the fact that my home while I don't have a home had been re-decorated. Hand printed signs above each lane announced various Seattle neighborhoods and suburbs...Freemont, U-Distict. Bellvue, etc. The bowlers were different. I didn't see anyone I recognized as a regular league bowler, pull tab junkie, or lounge lizard. But, as there was a spot open at one of the tables behind the lanes, I sat down and turned my computer on as usual. I'm used to the feeling of being watched in the bowling alley. Bowlers are like cops and doctors, no matter how different they may be individually, they universally watch out for each other. A non bowler in a bowling alley is like an ex-con in a precinct lobby or an undertaker in a staff only hospital commissary. I was being watched from point blank range, and I knew if I made one false move ... baby the lights go out. While there was nothing unusual about the lone wolf boy with the laptop drawing the scrutiny of the pack, this scrutiny was different, and it made me itch. I scratched at the inside of my head for a minute or two and dawned on me...the creamsicle slice of awareness peeked over the eastern horizon of my consciousness with one word. Pagliacci. I was in the midst of Pagliacci Pizza Company's yearly Christmas Party. Sunset Bowl was technically closed for a private party, but their had been no signs on the door, so technically the bowling alley was still open to the public despite the fact that all of the lanes had been reserved for the entire evening. At first I decided to be pissy and obnoxious, and began throwing out the Dennis Hopper "Don't you fuckin look at me" vibe. But within a half hour or so I realized it was mean spirited and dickish to act like that around Christmas, so I packed up my stuff and headed back down to Tullys until they closed at 9 pm.
When I got back to Sunset Bowl the place was packed like a tin of anchovies, and guess who was the only sardine in the room. I was considering turning around and taking a two or three hour bus ride. But then I caught Tony's eye behind the front counter and he shook his head and gave me a "Shoo" motion with both hands. Now, Tony's a good guy, we're friends, but he just turned 21 and he can be a little prick at times. He picked a bad time to shoo me off. I went Travis Bickel on him, "You talkin' to me?", I mouthed at him, picked up my backpack and computer case, and with a loud, "Excuse me," marched aggressively through the throng of professional pizza peddlers. I knew there was no chance of finding enough room to use the laptop, so I grabbed a Mountain Dew and sat down on one of the bar stools in front of a bank(no pun intended) of pull tab machines. I NEVER throw money away on pull tabs, so I kinda just sat there and watched for awhile. The stares were even more pronounced now. Without the laptop in front of me I was just another bum loitering in the middle of somebody elses banquet and even if I could dance like Fred Astaire nobody was gonna invite this Leo Sayer to the banquet table. A local undesirable staggered in wearing wearing a Santa Claus hat and went straight to the food and began helping himself. Tony walked by a minute or so later and being the respectable loiterer I am, I caught his eye and pointed to the miscreant St. Nick. Tony made his second mistake of the night with me by assuming that my gesture meant, "get me some food." He gave me a slightly disdainful shake of the head and walked away. Travis returned to my brain, and this time he was pissed. When I saw Tony come back in my direction, I stood up and put my five foot 8 inch frame directly in his path. When he stopped 2 feet away from me I took a step forward, closing the gap to six inches. "I was pointing out that drunk over there eating Pagliacci's food ya jerk", I sneered. "You need to remember who you're talking to, and spell that memory R-E-S-P-E-C-T." "Oh shit", he stammered and moved quickly away to remove the guy. A discussion about the pizza business was taking place close to me and suddenly I felt a wave of mischief mixed with a need to assert my non-loser status. When the taller guy said, "You know, we increased our sales in that unit by 50% just by making a management change I turned to them and said, "So, when a a pizza restaurant increases sales by 50%, does the increase remain stable to the bottom line or are their detrimental cost factors inherent in the increase?"
To the guys credit, he didn't flinch. "They don't burden us with that type of information."
"Really...interesting. I would see that information as a motivational tool, not a burden. Thanks, I was just wondering," I said and turned away, slightly dismissively, chuckling to myself as I put myself back in my accustomed role as the person causing the itch instead of the one needing to scratch. A little while later, just as I was starting to get a little bored, a tall, purposeful swatch of purple caught my eye as it began to come towards me. A single thought invaded my consciousness..."Uh-oh, Mr. Pagliacci approaches." The man stopped only slightly further away from me than I had been from Tony when I had been in his face a little earlier.
"Do you know this is a private party?", he said, locking his eyes to mine.
"Yes", I said, returning his stare.
"Well, do you know that you can't be here?"
"Oh yes I can. I kinda live here"
"What's that?"
"I said I kinda live here. I'm not trying to be a smart ass, I've been living here almost 2 years."
"Well, I'll just go get the management."
"Ok. Please do."
In the 45 seconds he was gone, I had a chance to reflect on the situation. The guy had not been asshole-ish, and he appeared to be sober. I decided the situation could go either way, and I honestly didn't care. I felt I had stood my ground well.
I saw the man and Larry, one of the management people coming towards me. They got about 20 feet away and Larry saw it was me. He stopped and touched Mr Pagliacci on the arm. "He's ok, he's one of the house bodyguards", I heard him say. I had won...but the moment of truth remained. Mr. Pagliacci lifted both hands slightly to Larry. "Ok, thanks", he said, and when he turned back to me his earlier, authoritative demeanor was gone. He strode directly towards me, smiled, and extended his hand. "My apologies", he said as we shook hands. "No problem," I smiled in return, "I apologize for the confusion."
"No no, my mistake, I'm very sorry"
"Heh, it's okay, really, not a problem in the least"
"Okay, thanks for understanding, have a good evening"
"Thank you, you too."
"Thanks."
And with that Mr. Pagliacci strode purposefully back to his employees. I hope he felt as good as I did in that moment.
In the following days I did some research on Pagliacci's. Folks....I was very very impressed. This seems to be a company with a social conscience. I urge those of you in Seattle to give them your support through your business. I realize most of you likely already do because besides being socially aware, they make the best damn pizza in town.
http://www.pagliacci.com
As I entered Sunset Bowl in the early evening a couple Sundays ago a deep, staccato voice in the back of my head muttered something about a different dimension and a signpost up ahead. I suddenly became visually aware of the fact that my home while I don't have a home had been re-decorated. Hand printed signs above each lane announced various Seattle neighborhoods and suburbs...Freemont, U-Distict. Bellvue, etc. The bowlers were different. I didn't see anyone I recognized as a regular league bowler, pull tab junkie, or lounge lizard. But, as there was a spot open at one of the tables behind the lanes, I sat down and turned my computer on as usual. I'm used to the feeling of being watched in the bowling alley. Bowlers are like cops and doctors, no matter how different they may be individually, they universally watch out for each other. A non bowler in a bowling alley is like an ex-con in a precinct lobby or an undertaker in a staff only hospital commissary. I was being watched from point blank range, and I knew if I made one false move ... baby the lights go out. While there was nothing unusual about the lone wolf boy with the laptop drawing the scrutiny of the pack, this scrutiny was different, and it made me itch. I scratched at the inside of my head for a minute or two and dawned on me...the creamsicle slice of awareness peeked over the eastern horizon of my consciousness with one word. Pagliacci. I was in the midst of Pagliacci Pizza Company's yearly Christmas Party. Sunset Bowl was technically closed for a private party, but their had been no signs on the door, so technically the bowling alley was still open to the public despite the fact that all of the lanes had been reserved for the entire evening. At first I decided to be pissy and obnoxious, and began throwing out the Dennis Hopper "Don't you fuckin look at me" vibe. But within a half hour or so I realized it was mean spirited and dickish to act like that around Christmas, so I packed up my stuff and headed back down to Tullys until they closed at 9 pm.
When I got back to Sunset Bowl the place was packed like a tin of anchovies, and guess who was the only sardine in the room. I was considering turning around and taking a two or three hour bus ride. But then I caught Tony's eye behind the front counter and he shook his head and gave me a "Shoo" motion with both hands. Now, Tony's a good guy, we're friends, but he just turned 21 and he can be a little prick at times. He picked a bad time to shoo me off. I went Travis Bickel on him, "You talkin' to me?", I mouthed at him, picked up my backpack and computer case, and with a loud, "Excuse me," marched aggressively through the throng of professional pizza peddlers. I knew there was no chance of finding enough room to use the laptop, so I grabbed a Mountain Dew and sat down on one of the bar stools in front of a bank(no pun intended) of pull tab machines. I NEVER throw money away on pull tabs, so I kinda just sat there and watched for awhile. The stares were even more pronounced now. Without the laptop in front of me I was just another bum loitering in the middle of somebody elses banquet and even if I could dance like Fred Astaire nobody was gonna invite this Leo Sayer to the banquet table. A local undesirable staggered in wearing wearing a Santa Claus hat and went straight to the food and began helping himself. Tony walked by a minute or so later and being the respectable loiterer I am, I caught his eye and pointed to the miscreant St. Nick. Tony made his second mistake of the night with me by assuming that my gesture meant, "get me some food." He gave me a slightly disdainful shake of the head and walked away. Travis returned to my brain, and this time he was pissed. When I saw Tony come back in my direction, I stood up and put my five foot 8 inch frame directly in his path. When he stopped 2 feet away from me I took a step forward, closing the gap to six inches. "I was pointing out that drunk over there eating Pagliacci's food ya jerk", I sneered. "You need to remember who you're talking to, and spell that memory R-E-S-P-E-C-T." "Oh shit", he stammered and moved quickly away to remove the guy. A discussion about the pizza business was taking place close to me and suddenly I felt a wave of mischief mixed with a need to assert my non-loser status. When the taller guy said, "You know, we increased our sales in that unit by 50% just by making a management change I turned to them and said, "So, when a a pizza restaurant increases sales by 50%, does the increase remain stable to the bottom line or are their detrimental cost factors inherent in the increase?"
To the guys credit, he didn't flinch. "They don't burden us with that type of information."
"Really...interesting. I would see that information as a motivational tool, not a burden. Thanks, I was just wondering," I said and turned away, slightly dismissively, chuckling to myself as I put myself back in my accustomed role as the person causing the itch instead of the one needing to scratch. A little while later, just as I was starting to get a little bored, a tall, purposeful swatch of purple caught my eye as it began to come towards me. A single thought invaded my consciousness..."Uh-oh, Mr. Pagliacci approaches." The man stopped only slightly further away from me than I had been from Tony when I had been in his face a little earlier.
"Do you know this is a private party?", he said, locking his eyes to mine.
"Yes", I said, returning his stare.
"Well, do you know that you can't be here?"
"Oh yes I can. I kinda live here"
"What's that?"
"I said I kinda live here. I'm not trying to be a smart ass, I've been living here almost 2 years."
"Well, I'll just go get the management."
"Ok. Please do."
In the 45 seconds he was gone, I had a chance to reflect on the situation. The guy had not been asshole-ish, and he appeared to be sober. I decided the situation could go either way, and I honestly didn't care. I felt I had stood my ground well.
I saw the man and Larry, one of the management people coming towards me. They got about 20 feet away and Larry saw it was me. He stopped and touched Mr Pagliacci on the arm. "He's ok, he's one of the house bodyguards", I heard him say. I had won...but the moment of truth remained. Mr. Pagliacci lifted both hands slightly to Larry. "Ok, thanks", he said, and when he turned back to me his earlier, authoritative demeanor was gone. He strode directly towards me, smiled, and extended his hand. "My apologies", he said as we shook hands. "No problem," I smiled in return, "I apologize for the confusion."
"No no, my mistake, I'm very sorry"
"Heh, it's okay, really, not a problem in the least"
"Okay, thanks for understanding, have a good evening"
"Thank you, you too."
"Thanks."
And with that Mr. Pagliacci strode purposefully back to his employees. I hope he felt as good as I did in that moment.
In the following days I did some research on Pagliacci's. Folks....I was very very impressed. This seems to be a company with a social conscience. I urge those of you in Seattle to give them your support through your business. I realize most of you likely already do because besides being socially aware, they make the best damn pizza in town.
http://www.pagliacci.com