Chapter Fourteen
RAVEN
LEANING BACK in my chair, the old dry wood creaks under me as I close my laptop.
All three screens shut down at once, leaving me in a darker space, literally and figuratively.
The creaking sound is a reminder that the rolling chair is just another thing in need of replacement, a relic of this place’s past that is slowly falling apart.
Old sound systems, old chairs, old roofing.
Outdated fire suppression systems and lapsed licenses.
The longer I sit here, the deeper my annoyance becomes.
The piano tuner was in earlier today and it finally sounded like it’s supposed to by the time she was finished.
I played it a few days ago in the early morning when no one else was in which is what prompted me to call her in the first place.
I’m betting it sounds lovely and it’s calling to me to be played.
“Goddammit,” I say, pushing my glasses up to my forehead and rubbing my eyes hard.
“What’s wrong?” I hear Hen’s voice moving around in the main space.
Shit, I didn’t even realize he was here. I thought I was alone this late in the day.
“Hendrix?” I ask loudly to confirm.
“Yeah.” A moment later, he pops up in my door frame. “I forgot my backpack for tonight. I was just swinging by to pick it up before I head out to hang with some friends.”
Glad I was stewing in this chair instead of at the piano.
I haven’t played for an audience in years and tonight was not the night I wanted to test my stage fright.
“No worries, I just thought I was alone. Yeah, come on in, take a seat.”
He slips into the room and gets comfortable. He’s changed from when I saw him earlier this afternoon. He looks ready to spend time at a park or a lake, wearing shorts, sunglasses, and a summer-themed shirt.
“What’s up?” he asks.
Pausing, I take a quiet moment to reorder my thoughts.
“I just got out of a meeting with the CEO and board members.”
“Did things not go well?”
“Mmm…well is up for debate at the moment. When I originally took this assignment, I thought I might be here for ten weeks. Twelve max. I expected to spend a week or two doing updates, and then the doors would open.”
“And then you got here and actually saw the state of things,” he offers.
I chuckle, although the sound is a little sad.
“Yeah. The sound system issue alone has put us back a full three weeks. Three weeks, we should have been digging ourselves out of the financial hole we are currently in.”
“I follow,” he nods along.
“Well, during that conference call with the voting members of Headliner Acquisitions board, I basically explained the situation and let them know about some of the major issues I’ve encountered.
I explained to them that with all the realities of this venue, the original ten to twelve weeks are insufficient.
I mean, we haven’t even hosted one crowd yet. ”
All I have right now is money going out the door: money to keep two bands on contract, money for the updates and inspections, money to keep Hendrix and Danica on staff. And not a dime coming back.
“And they were uninterested?” Hendrix guesses.
Pretty damn close to the truth.
“Some of them expressed understanding, but not exactly sympathy. I got one of those all part of the job speeches. Even when I asked directly for a reevaluation of the timeline, the board declined to change that deadline.”
“Shit, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah,” I lean back once more, looking up at the ceiling tiles for a moment.
“Alice tried to downplay the decision, saying that the original twelve-week deadline at the end of August will remain on the books, but it will be more like a check-in. But we both know the other members are expecting to see major improvements, i.e., revenue, by that meeting. They will not be happy with ‘well…you know… at least now the building is up to code’ or the fact that we now have a sound system that was actually designed for this space, not just random speakers placed at odd angles, so now our audience might actually enjoy the music without risking ear damage.”
As I speak, I feel my annoyance cresting again. Sometimes other people’s priorities astound me. I know I work for a for-profit business, but creating a safe and welcoming space is more important to this place’s long-term success than opening the doors prematurely.
Hendrix takes a long, deep breath as well.
“And here it is almost August, and we’re still not open,” he says.
“Okay, so you see the problem. I’m going to have maybe four weeks to turn some kind of profit. In a live performance-based industry.”
Impossible? No.
Something I’ve ever attempted before? Also no.
“The cursing makes sense,” Hendrix says. “Sounds like you need a drink. Or five.”
“Only if that drink is coffee.”
Liquor makes me jump people in alleyways I have no business jumping.
“You’re a grown woman, but it’s a little late for coffee, don’t you think?” he teases.
“I blame you. I already had a problem, and then you introduced me to that maple-infused coffee.”
“They have a decaf version.”
I shake my head. “Oh no. You know you just made the habit worse, not better, right?”
“It’s my modus operandi, getting my friends, family, and coworkers hooked on the same things I love. That way, no matter whose house I’m at, I can always find a favorite item. Hand soaps, coffees, chocolates…”
“That’s both diabolical and genius. I’ve got to start doing that.”
Hendrix smiles briefly before his lips flatten back into a line.
“So, I hate to add to the bad news train regarding work…I mean, I can wait until the morning if you prefer.”
That moment of levity I was feeling sweeps away, the chair creaking loudly as I sit forward, placing my arms on the desk in front of me. It’s my brace position for any kind of bad news.
“Go ahead.”
“Actually, some of it is informational and some of it is bad.”
“Still listening.”
“We’ve had a few DMs sent to our account asking specifically when the Nightshades first night is going to be.”
Soon hopefully.
“Let them know that our most up-to-date calendar is on our website.”
“Yeah, I did try that, but they just kept asking. Like five times in a row, just in different ways.”
“Hmm…well it could be a bot account,” I say thoughtfully. “Or it could just be someone who doesn’t like your answer. Either way, don’t be afraid to block accounts if you need to.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, we’re a business and have the right to block people online and refuse service in person. Just like any other business or person.”
“Okay, I’m happy to hear you say that, because I really wanted to block them. It was getting kind of aggressive, but I wasn’t sure if that was bad business.”
“Block away.” After a pause, I say, “Was that the bad news? Hopefully.”
“Sorry,” Hen says apologetically, “Yeah, so…Zack texted me earlier today letting me know he took a full-time job at an area bar. He’s thinking he won’t come back when we finally do get the doors open.”
Fuck.
Phil left the moment it became clear it would be weeks before we reopened our doors.
I wasn’t at all surprised, but hoped we would be able to maintain the rest of the staff.
But Jacob Kaplan made the same choice a week later.
Now that Zack, our most senior bartender, is gone, we are officially short-staffed for a venue this size.
Hendrix, Ella, Karmen, and Barry are all that make up the front of staff now.
That’s not nearly enough staff to cover the front door, the floor, and the bar when we are at our maximum capacity.
And that doesn’t even cover the security personnel needed for an 800-person venue.
It’s like this place is conspiring against me, forcing me to spend more of my hours working to keep some semblance of an actual schedule.
My fingers begin tapping out the notes of a favorite piano solo, my anxious mind beginning to make lists of everything that still needs to get done with less than ten days before relaunch.
“So we need to hire at least one more bartender and another two people for the door and floor. Maybe even three on very busy nights. Plus a new sound engineer.”
Money out the door.
“On that front, I at least have an option. I have some experience with sound boards and light systems. At least enough to play A2 for a while.”
That would save me at least a little bit of time and the business some money. I hardly have any time to do the work that still needs doing, and adding hiring a qualified sound engineer to that list was not on my bingo card.
“That would be a huge help, Hen. You’re up for the task?”
“Absolutely, Avi and I…oh, I guess we can call him Jacob now, since he’s the only one here. Anyway, we get along well, and honestly, it’s a skill I’ve wanted to improve on for a while. I did a little of it when I was in school, and I enjoyed it. Now seems the perfect chance to keep learning.”
“It is,” I agree.
“Well, I’m going to get out of here and meet up with my friends.”
“Enjoy your evening,” I say as he stands. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Hendrix is at the door before he turns back towards me.
“Hey, don’t stay here too late,” he says. “This place is going to eat your free time like starving wolves let loose in a buffet if you let it.”
Don’t I know it.