Do very bad things, with very good people.
Alright, sexies. Underpants on. We're going out.
One of the weirdest times in anyone's life is when you find yourself without a regular group of friends. I felt this way after I'd moved into my new neighborhood. I was living by myself in a one-bedroom apartment, and everyone else I had known, hung out with, and spent the majority of my time with all lived an hour away in Allston. Going out with them suddenly required a lot of planning, and staying in watching TV show after boring TV show was not my shot of bourbon, if you know what I mean. I had no one to just call up and say, "hey, I feel like grabbing a drink, want to go out?"
After indulging the old group for a while, planning for days, spending hours on the T and even more money on cab rides home, I decided to just get over myself and go out on my own. I started by going to a bar close to my house on an uncrowded off night, just to sit and drink a beer, write in a journal, hash out set design plans or otherwise just listen to the guy playing cover songs on an acoustic guitar. A few weeks into my regular "quiet" evening out, I got to chatting with the bartender, the door guy, the musicians, and the other folks who also spent their off nights out at the same bar. Very organically, over a little while, I had landed into a group of friends. A group of fun, downtown, late-night, funny, caring friends. With whom I still do very bad things. And even more good things, too.
It's good to have friends who want to do bad things with you. Everyone makes questionable decisions when they're out and about. That's what nights out are FOR. But having awesome people for terrible merry-making means that you'll keep an eye on each other, and will back you up if necessary. They'll put you in a cab if you need it. They'll order you another drink if you want it. They'll escort that asshole out if they're making you uncomfortable; but only after you give them the sign that it's gone too far. And they'll never tell you that what you did was wrong or talk shit about you later, because you were all in it together.
So: how do you find those people? It's easy: BE. NICE.
Yeah. Be nice. Be nice if there's a line outside the bar. Be nice if there's a cover at the door. Be nice when the bartender is harried and hasn't gotten to you yet. Be nice when you put down your tip. Be nice to the guy clearing your glass off the table. Be nice to the other regulars who want to chitchat about some sporting event or whatnot. Be nice to the dudes playing music for you five hours and getting a few bucks at the end of it. Be nice to that group of girls who are tipsy and dancing. Be nice to the guy who shouts out "CLOSING UP EVERYBODY FINISH UP AND GET OUT!" Because in a very short time, you'll find that the cover is waived, or that you get a hug and a wave in from the door guy instead of a spot at the end of the line, or that the bartender comped you a beer and other regulars bought your other ones, or that you get that tap on your shoulder and the bouncer says, "take your time, guys" as he's ushering everyone else out the door, and you get to hang with your very good people, once again, doing very bad things.
So, folks, Go Out and do Very Bad Things. But make sure you do them with Very Good People.
No comments:
Post a Comment