about the hollywood mixtress
I am the little red writer. a local los angeles inhabitant; born and raised in southern california for the majority of my formative years. I've moved around a bit. done a live-in stint tour of several major west-coast cities (including seattle, san francisco, orange county and portland). but here I am. in the city I most closely associate with the cozy word "home". I spent my rebellious adolescence running away and raving in the whereabouts of sunny california's lower region. in the ten subsequent years (following high school graduation) I've been a noticeable fixture of la's counter culture. I've also worked the gamut of esteemed events and hip venues.
I know these scenes and people with the seasoned eyes of a veteran insider.
I wouldn't exactly call it "living the dream", but as for now (and mostly by default) it's the life I've chosen. the life of a nocturnal mixtress. I'm a professional in the world of befuddlement. this job is far too interesting for me to go on with it being undocumented.
bars are the connective tissue of modern civilization. they are hubs for communication and energy exchange. they neutralize professional hierarchy, bridge social gaps, and bring people together who otherwise would have no common ground or reason to cross paths. taboos and insecurities are coat checked at the door with the veil of sober conduct. the canteen culture has it's own categorical p's and q's. I used to want to be a therapist, and have achieved that role and position in a round-a-bout way. I have the experiential equivalent of a PhD in psychology, achieved with a backhanded approach through my long-standing involvement with the nightlife.
as with any job, bartending has its quirks, its perks, and fill of crazy shit. I've encountered nearly every character quiddity and flaw, every neurosis, every "type", seen every drug, and the effects of these constituent's in almost every concievable combination. I continually deal with innumerable high profile clientelle and freaks. every gig has it's distinctive merits. every night has it's own flavor, token celebrities, conflict, drama and success stories. it may not be the ultimate career choice, but slinging drinks offers a unique perspective of the human animals muddled production. this is how it appears to me from behind the bar while looking through the glass.
all likenesses these writings have to actual events, places, or people are 100% intentional and totally true. by no means is any of this a work of fiction. it is all veritable experience retold through the filter of my own perspective and language. occasionally I will replace or avoid using real names with respect for privacy, but anyone with the audacity to cross my path will not be spared. if you have a problem with that: go hide under some obscure rock and cry about it.
cheers!