On going project.
"During this strange time, I've had the time to slow down and reflect on what I value, what I Miss About my loved ones, my strengths and where I can grow. I'm already a minimalistic kind of guy but during these times i am relearning how to conserve and appreciate everything I have"
-Ky, Empire
"I miss my regulars and friends that I see daily. We need human interactions of some sort at some time. At the same time, I don't mind just hanging out alone, haha, Financially, it's been devastating. Ive gone through most of my emergency fund, I have rent and enough for a bill, but that's it. What's next?"
- Justin,Thristy
"I know I'm not alone in saying this, especially for bartenders, but as a social butterfly, the separation of myself and the public has been a difficult one. I have 2 degrees, and still choose to be a bartender because I love being around people. Lots of people.
Financially I have suffered as well. We are a little over a month in and my apartment complex has done absolutely nothing to help with housing costs for anyone living here. My bar, thankfully, has been pulling their hardest to get us paid somehow, some way. Its stressful for everyone involved.
I will say, however, I'm happy that I've been in Austin during this time. No service industry I've ever worked in, in any other city, feels like this one. It's a very tight knit group of people here in Austin. And it's the closest thing I've got to family in this state. The response within the service industry community during this time has been incredible."
-Jess, StarBar
"Fuck. its been emotionally exhausting and devastating, very isolating. This is something that we've never had to deal with and its fucking scary. Mostly because we don't know how much worse it's going to get or how long it will last. Even with unemployment checks coming in, that is maybe ¼ or ⅓ of what i was making before. I've had to defer and cancel as many bills and payments as possible."
-Vanessa, Shiner's Saloon
