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Reminiscing


Today I was thinking of the old gang where I use to work and the fun & crazy times we had.  For many years I worked PT at the Festival Banquet Centre as their security doorman, The Festival is a venue for wedding receptions and Man! the stories I have would knock your socks off.  Working there I learned to be assertive and observant and to use diplomacy and tact whenever possible with irate inebriated guests.  It's not like a bar or a tavern the guests are usually well behaved I only had to get physical once when a drunken guest tried walking out with a bottle of expensive wine. The wedding party and their guests were dressed in their finest attire.  Limos, evening gowns, tuxedos and plenty of perfume in the air I’ve seen many brides who looked stunning and we treated them like princesses. :)
The staff…what a great group of people I actually looked forward going to work. Albert the proprietor who I nicknamed The Boss, him & I got along well and he does have a temper if things didn’t go smoothly in the kitchen.  A wedding reception could be from 100-300 people, I was allowed full reign of the reception/foyer area and trusted to keep an eye on things as the evening progressed. It was at the Festival where I got to experience and appreciate so many cultures and traditions.  The food, the people, the music and dancing - from the Italians, Portuguese, Greek, Asian, Black, Scottish, Croatian/Serbian, Hindu and all the way to the Natives.  Once I was called in to work at a small Native wedding and I have to say never allow an open bar at a Native wedding reception, at the end of the evening the bride and groom were drunk and arguing.  I had to physically carry a passed out native female into a cab, the Boss was so glad I was there that night. :)  We close at 1 am and it usually takes about 1 hour to clear the guests out after that I lock the entrance door, I removed my bow tie, opened up my tuxedo shirt and relax.  I gave the boss the thumbs up everything went OK then changed to my street clothes, signed out and walked home carrying my bucket of leftover banquet hall wedding food.  :)

Comments

Tony King said…
It should be noted the first year I moved here Urban Native Homes Inc. held a Christmas party at the Festival Banquet Centre and all the tenants were invited. This gave me the opportunity to say hello to the Festival staff and introduce a young family member to Albert. Since I've seen many lavish Weddings and Christmas parties at the hall I was not impressed that UNH's went for the simple basics. no Christmas music, no dancing instead they offered tacky 50/50 raffles and a M.C.(sorry Franklin) who couldn't sing Christmas carols. But as always the Festival food was awesome that alone was worth the trip. :)
May 21, 2012 at 11:47:00 AM EDT
Tony King said…
What a surprise I ran into Albert @ the YMCA.. we shook hands and said hello, it was nice to see him...it's been awhile. :)
February 15, 2014 at 10:26:00 AM EST
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