Today is all about change. BIG CHANGE. Starting tomorrow Friday, I will not be in the “real working world”. I will not have a “day job” to provide me with beer (and other) money. It is a roll of the financial dice. There is no net or bungee cord attached to my ankle to prevent a large and clattering crash.
But I have been inspired by countless people in the craft beer world who have risked so much more. Investing in thousands of dollars in equipment, in the hope that one day they can work full time in a brewery. Because it is what they want to do. They weren’t born to be bankers or administrative assistants. And neither am I.
I talk a lot of a skill set usually when discussing why the Portland Trailblazers haven’t played well this year. We all have one and our jobs either utilize them or not. I can make a laundry list of beer related jobs that I cannot do but more importantly I have realized in conversations with beer people that my skill set lies in talking about craft beer but also listening to people talk about it. And both are very important and very connected.
There is a bounty of information out there that needs to get to people who can use it. There is also a load of information that needs to get to people to “turn” them to the craft beer side. But you can’t just throw the interwebs at a newbie and expect them to be helped. It needs to be filtered and tailored.
Conversely, there are many consumers out there with questions, concerns and issues that need to be heard out. I have heard the term Chief Listening Officer bandied about and I like it. Facebook, Twitter and Untapped and full craft beer bars all show that people really want to communicate, no matter the conduit for doing so. And many breweries and bars do an admirable job with the limited time allotted to that effort.
That is where I come in. I want to be the person that gets butts into bar seats and then gives them the outlet to talk about their experience. And not just the jaded beer dude, but everyone. Grandparents, wives and whoever else is under represented as craft beer consumers. That is how I will make my contribution to better beer scene in Los Angeles and beyond.
I have been doing that through this blog but I also want to do it for bars and breweries. Show me your websites, Social Media and outreach and I can give you ideas on how to improve it. Set me loose in your bar or tap room and I can find other ways to make the beer experience better for all.
All I will ask for in return is for a little money to keep me going. Fair trade?