About to walk into the Trident on a Saturday  evening to begin my shift... place is full...one shift ending , another beginning.....customers   everywhere... rock and roll.... beautiful women.... one hour wait  ...sensory  overload ...I NEED TO FOCUS !!!!!! signing waitresses out in the cloak room..making sure everyone has shown up for their shift......adjust the music level to match the intensity of the room as it undulates...unread the log and check in with the floor manager... say hello to  PIERRE....(scarey if he is not smiling )..can't let him see my fear  .........no room for mistakes..... any drunks roaming the room ?...coke heads...heroine ?...hells angels ??,.....anyone harassing the girls.... where is Ron Mxcannon.. hope he is not here to add craziness to the situation....here comes FRANK AND DIANE...need to welcome them... I know frank will notice the one thing in the room that is out of place,and he will definitely tell me about it !....   PRESSURE  but that is what it takes to makes the TRIDENT what it is..one of the most exciting, fun, dynamic restaurants in the world... everyone of us is proud to be part of the event  ....working harder than we have ever worked in our lives !!!smiling..buzzed..stoned...most of us keeping our balance..someone usually losing it.....I'm manager, counselor, friend and mentor.....is that a plain clothes policeman in the corner ?....the local police get us...they know!!    but they, like the girls  appreciate  the smiles they get.. they give us space.....the room is calming down.. need to put softer music on to calm the tribe... I get to eat now....o.k. here we go... a full night of spontaneous interactions as the clientele enter our room.. in whatever condition they are in.. and with whatever attitude the choose....keep it flowing.. watch every detail as we interact and present our magic food... time to go into the office and put on the fan and smoke a joint....there that's better.. now I fell more harmonious with the event.. oh oh..BOBBY wants me to 86 a drunk from the bar..stay neutral, be firm...DONE....need a lift.. alittle coke will help.. there now I AM ON TOP OF IT AGAIN...only a few hours to go... time for my first drink...TEQUILA SUNRISE.....relaxed but staying alert.....can never let it down.. things can happen fast... oh no... did that lady just throw the ashtray at her date ???   calm them down or  walk them out.....room is starting to empty out...good.....start sending some of the staff home...the clean up crew is beginning to show up for their all night shift... here comes MILTON AND PATRICK..close  the doors.. put the money away.....now the big lights come on and they destroy the illusion  .. food everywhere, dirty tables, dirty floors, kitchen needs to be deconstructed and cleaned... by morning the guys have brought it back to perfection for the next shift... and here we go again... I DID THIS FOR TEN YEARS WITH THE HELP OF THE MOST DYNAMIC, CREATIVE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET !!!!!    LOVE TO YOU ALL.....   RICHARD        
Richard Lipfield Then:
 
Leah and Richard

Not sure what the dress code was for this evening, but...

Sue C and Marshall

Carol, Richard, Leah, and unidentified dog

Let them eat cake...

Richard Then:

and now....
Email Richard at: RLipfield@aol.com

Stay tuned for Part Two: Deja Views...a Retrospective
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