We realize how most people perceive playing live music in a band. Some see it as exciting. Some see it as glamorous. Some think that it’s easy, fun or even lucrative. Honestly, it can be any of those things from time to time; but mostly, it’s just plain, hard work.
And as hard as Carl and I work, there are many others who labor tirelessly to support us.
While it goes without saying that our family and friends are always there for us, with love, nourishment, encouragement, and enthusiasm, there are some other people without whom we would ultimately be lost. 
I’m talking about the real rock stars: the staff and owner Bumper’s Landing.
Saturday’s in March are an exciting reason to bring people back out of winter hibernation. March Madness to be exact. Basketball
The games bring them out to the bars, and we benefit from the residual action. Make no mistake, it’s the local venue that is their ultimate destination, and the staff that makes the venue run.
Since the big game was on, Carl and I had time to sit and take everything in; the customers, the regulars and the staff. The interaction was interesting, to say the least.
I thought that I had a pretty good idea of how hard the staff worked to make any even happen, but I was wrong.
They never stop!
From the moment they arrive to the moment they turn out the lights at the end of their very long day, they do not stop. And many times, they need to be back in only a few short hours to re-open with smiles on their faces and a spring in their step.
We watch all of this and are amazed at their work ethic.
Cheerful, purposeful and patient; they approach each customer as if they were having their first experience at Bumper’s and wanted to make it a great one. They listen, they learn and they help each other maximize their time behind the bar. One will always help out or pick the other one up when needed. Wether its running food, taking orders or even cleaning up after unruly or unpleasant customers, they have each other’s back.
The more we observe, the more we have time to get to know them, the more we are amazed at how good they are at what they do. Just like the old adage, when you are really good at something, you make it look easy.
And these ladies do!
It is very frustrating to me when people take to social media to condemn a business or establishment. If they didn’t get their order completely correct, quickly and perfectly, it is someone’s fault and they are going to be held accountable! Never mind what else was going on, what the server had to finish or deal with perviously, or even how many other customers there were waiting, all expecting their own needs to be met first.
If every single nuisance of their dining experience doesn’t go to their liking, they are now armed with power of the poison pen to achieve justice!
So for anyone who works tirelessly, (sometimes twelve hour days), serving hundreds of customers, and one of them has an ax to grind because their pizza had the wrong toppings on it; we see it. We know and understand it.
We, get it!
You gals are the Rock Stars!
You make it all work. You don’t get any glamour, any glitz or much credit, really. You just work and work and work and work!
So this post is not about Bob or Carl, its about Brandy and Kim and Heather and Kat. Chris, Natasha, Kristie and Kim. There are more of course, and they all do a remarkable job. Without them and the bar backs and cooks and security, we would have no place to play.
It would simply not last if it weren’t for these hardworking ladies and gentlemen.
This is our tribute to the staff and owner of Bumper’s Landing.
We know it’s tough. We realize how much you give of yourself without hesitation, because you believe in what you are doing, and the people that you work for and with.
The big game was on, and when it concluded, Carl and I took over and played out the night. It was another amazing evening at one of Michigan’s real treasures.
We get a lot of the glory and credit. We get the praise, the thanks and the handshakes. But the real rockstars wherever we play go mostly unnoticed. They arrive long before us and are still cleaning up when we are home in bed.
For them, we have great admiration. For them we have nothing but praise and humility.
They are the real Rock Stars; the wind beneath our wings.
Rb
