Troy McNaughtonCafe Quirks: Unplugged
July 2nd 2006 18:04
It’s like Julia Baird says, (she of the SMH Good Weekend pseudo mag, ‘Flaws for thought,’ 24 June) and it applies equally to people, political parties and coffee houses who are trying to walk the middle line in a bid to snare the majority for their favour:
“Boring though, isn’t it? The pursuit of this brittle, impossible ideal is tedious, and the final product is worse.”
So amidst all the musak and the subdued neutral hues and the perfectly unremarkable thermostat controlled temperature of Sydney cafes, why don’t we have any of this? Yes, I’m aware our friend Tian is lamenting the faux pas of the caffeinated live performer. Yes, I have already whinged about Sofitel Wentworth’s choice of performers. But we also like to bag out rugby league players, and how boring would life be without THEM? (How safe, how un-misogynistic, how dignified…) Honestly, who else would sit on street sweepers for our anecdotal entertainment?
But I’m so jealous Tian has the experience to bag these guys out. If you don’t count our run-in with the duo from easy listening hell, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a life performer in a café in Australia. A restaurant, a bar, a nightclub, yes. But never a café.
Oh, I lie. There used to be a piano guy at Belaroma in Lindfield. He got away with it because it was a white piano and he played genuinely classic jazz and oldschool stuff without the R&B interpretation. My clearest memory is of him playing As Time Goes By. Or perhaps I just watched Casablanca around that time…I don't think he's still there.
Music is so important for atmosphere. It’s hard to get the right mixtape, the right volume, the right style to appeal to your patrons. Most places, playing it safe, don’t play any. This to me is not the answer.
Particularly if you’re coffeeing on your own, music can be a welcome rest from your internal monologue, otherwise you find yourself chatting up a waiter you’re not the slightest bit interested in just for the human interaction.
At any rate, if anyone knows of any cafes in Sydney that have the odd amateur acoustic guitarist or something, I’d love to know about it! (Comment below)
As long as the choice remains – to be deep in conversation or watching the performer – it can only be a good addition to a café with character.
*For Phoebe's lyrical genius, click here.
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Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by edward
Rocky's Running Diary
And whats wrong in friendly waitresses, Cibby?
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by amy
Don't spend a lot of time in Potts Point, but I'll be sure to keep a lookout for more cafes with unfriendly waitresses (and pretty ones at that).