Through the Looking Glass… By Whitney Farmer – Un Pop Culture

March 30, 2011 Whitney Farmer 14 Comments

Whitney runs a rock music venue on the beach in L.A. She has an M.B.A, and may have a swim party on her birthday this year.

Someone – Moriarty? – wrote to me on the blog last week to look in the mirror. As I read that, I was sitting in the office at the club and did as I was told. From my perspective, I didn’t see anything new, but I saw with new eyes.  Seated at my desk that night, I did math and wrote checks and ate with chopsticks with earplugs shoved as far in as they could go. The music from the stage on the other side of the wall shook debris from the ceiling onto my keyboard. I kept the lid on my dinner and coffee at all times. I work in a place with a lost-and-found that includes an orange prison jumpsuit, a sex toy, and a Native American headdress. We are on a first name basis with all branches of emergency response. All this is familiar and comfortable to us, but I want you to understand what it’s like here.

When I visit someone’s home, I’ll look at their bookshelf if they’ll let me. That is where you can find a person’s heart and head, the person that they are.  For a business, it is at the desk where the true story is told.  I remember once in grad school, a professor showed the class a picture of a desk and told us to guess who was the owner. From what I saw, I guessed Alan Greenspan, and I nailed it.

This is my desk, such as it is. Inherited from whoever came before and shared with whoever needs it during the day shift, it does the job…such as it is. Looking at it, you can understand more of what this place is like.

At the top of my mirror is written “Make a joyful NOISE…” from Psalm 100:1. I used a washable marker in case I change my sentiment, but this still seems to fit perfectly.

Beside the mirror in the upper right corner is a Certificate of Achievement awarded to Keith Valencia, for ‘Excellence in Backtalking to Whitney’. When I presented it to him, he said, “I do NOT backtalk!”

Below this is a sketch an employee did of the front of the building. One day, I think we should put it on t-shirts. Until then, I’ll keep it on my wall like a proud mom with her kid’s finger-painting.

Below this, next to a pink post-it is a mug shot of a woman who must never ever be allowed to set foot into the club again. Ever. Next to this is the direct line for a local cop.

On my desk is the checkbook (open as I write deposits on contracts for future shows), a gigantic coffee from 7-11 (a true bargain), and my special order dinner that Mama-san on the pier makes for me in her open air food stall.  Skinless chicken, broccoli, sweet red peppers, and an egg stir-fried with soy sauce. With chopsticks, of course. I think she is glad I request those.

In my pen holder is a silk paddle fan that I got for $1 near my old place in Chinatown. It’s about the time of year when I might need to use it again, especially if a band contractually prohibits us from turning on air conditioning during their set.

Barely visible below the desk is a pair of faux zebra patent leather Emergency Loafers. The purpose of them is to be used by a boy or girl (they’re unisex…) who might need them for whatever reason. I’ve used them twice. The most recent time they were used was by the drummer for Iron Maidens when Paul Dianno of Iron Maiden got snowed out of the city and couldn’t make his show. The Maidens had arrived as civilians just to have fun. When we learned that Interstate-5 was closed in the mountains and our scheduled band was diverted eastbound through the desert, we asked the Maidens to jump on stage and take over. Since the drummer had been wearing impossible pumps, she needed to borrow the Emergency Loafers to perform. The guitarist from Motorhead and one of the lead singers from Anthrax also were there to watch the show. We shoved them on the stage, too. Got a full amazing performance that ended up costing us a plate of spaghetti.  So, the Emergency Loafers stay.

On the left, on top of the re-purposed shoe rack which I use for office supplies is a Converse shoe box full of ‘Help Yourself’ toiletries. This top shelf is the Wellness Center which also contains items that are free to all. These include but are not limited to bandages, antacids, pain relievers, gum, cough drops, and gummi worm multivitamins.

In the far left corner are two tribal spears. Once upon a time, we used to use them as decoration in the venue. I have no idea what we were thinking. Now, I keep them in the corner of the office as a silent threatening mystery to assist me in troublesome meetings.

On the other side of the looking glass, all of these things make sense. They all have unexpected and essential purposes. In this world beneath the world, those of us who find our way and make our living here are like these strange things: We fit together and we make sense in unexpected ways. For many different reasons, I believe that all of us have been stripped down and left with only what is essential. But in exchange for that, we can now see in the dark.

Quotes of the Blog, a conversation between Mark Adkins, lead singer of Guttermouth, and Ed, Dude of Light and Fog, after Mark vomited merlot and Red Bull all over our house gear on stage during a performance: “Hey old hippie guy, are you mad at me?”, Mark asked. Ed replied, “Nah, you threw up all over everything on the ground. I do lights. All my stuff is up above.”