Today I found myself back in Cambridge, Wisconsin, drinking. Two of my dear friends and restaurant owners went with me to Dancing Goat Distillery and—after trying a lot of different varieties—picked out a barrel of rye to bottle and serve in our neighborhood in Rockford.
I often get asked if I feel threatened when new restaurants pop up near mine. The answer has always been ‘no.’ Business owners all need each other. I really can’t tell you how many times I’ve called my friends in restaurants, asking to borrow chafing dishes or limes, sometimes asking if their bussers could come help us for an hour during lunch rush.
In addition to needing each other for support, the customers need the diversity. The world would be a less interesting place without a variety of cuisines. My restaurant serves a lot of Nordic food, and even I can only eat so much pickled herring.
Reader, I’ve said it before: none of us can be for everyone. When someone walks into my restaurant and doesn’t like the menu, rather than feel hurt, I send them right up the street to a friends’ restaurant. Then I tell them to say hi to the owner for me. Because the other restaurant folks are not my competition: they’re my people. We’re connected.
And I feel the same about music. My music isn’t for everybody. That’s why we need lots of people making different kinds of music. Not just for the listeners, but to be able to inspire each other with our individuality. I can say with certainty: the more you can appreciate the folks in your industry, the more your world opens up. Let's love our "competition'" this week, and I’ll see you next Monday. -Em
